Unauthorized Outerwear Ad Features Obama

A day after a photo of first lady Michelle Obama was featured in an unauthorized PETA advertisement, President Obama's outerwear-garbed image went up on a Times Square billboard. The Weatherproof garment company used a news photo of Obama at the Great Wall of China, showing him wearing one of its. The ad's tagline: "A Leader in Style."

The company purchased rights to the photo from the Associated Press, but did not seek permission to use it from the White House. "It's just a great looking jacket on a great looking president," Weatherproof President Eddie Stollmack told the AP. Stollack said he was drawn to the striking image of the president, and used a magnifying glass to identify his company's logo on the jacket.

Using Obama as a pitchman has been popular in New York City since his election. Earlier this year, the White House objected to a string of fried chicken restaurants changing their names to "Obama Fried Chicken." The White House continued its disapproval of such marketing ploys, saying it would ask Weatherproof to remove its billboard.