BAY MINETTE, Ala. -- An anti-CITGO billboard in Alabama that's caught the television media's attention also has drawn a response from CITGO Petroleum Corp. itself.
Initially, local media coverage began because of the sign's larger-than-life use of a three-letter curse word. But the sign's message --- Don't buy gas from this ass --- and the photo of Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez holding a CITGO logo have stolen the spotlight for the corporation.
CITGO Petroleum Corp. works day in and day out to uphold its commitment to [image-nocss] responsibly provide the quality energy products the U.S. market needs, CITGO responded in a statement released late Thursday. This is a commitment to our employees, business partners, direct customers and U.S. consumers.
We emphatically reject the use of our brand image to insult the president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, and by extension, the Venezuelan people, the ultimate shareholders of our parent company.
John McCombs owns the billboard in Bay Minette, Ala., according to a report from WKRG TV. He told the channel's local news team that he had some free space so he put up that message. He believes that if people truly understand world events, they will be a little less opposed to that three-letter word.
"He [Chavez] called my president the devil, so I don't like him, McCombs said. He's in with Iran's president, and he hates America. That's the main thing."
So McCombs said he has no plans to take the sign down and might even move it around the county.
Workers at a nearby BP station told the TV station they have talked to the city about getting it taken down.
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