Obama License Plates: Illinois Selling Commemorative Plates For $50

Illinois has found a new way to cash in on its favorite son: Barack Obama license plates.

Months after being deluged with calls about a commemorative plate, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White unveiled an "Illinois Salutes Barack Obama" temporary license plate Friday.

The plates, featuring President Obama's smiling face on top of a waving American flag, can be used for 60 days, beginning Feb. 17 and ending April 17. They cost $50 and all proceeds benefit state libraries.

The plates are available at www.ila.org/obama and the Chicago Auto Show, which begins this weekend.

Comments

[NickUSA]

This is Wonderful - a Fantatic way to support Illinois State Libraries. This will help to increase literacy and help to reduce IGNORANCE and racism. It also costs the Taxpayer nothing and is paid by private citizens who support our new President. This is TERRIFIC!

[oneblackvote]

Can I buy them if I'm from California?

[kshawNCvoter]

omg i wish we had one in my state. *wants

[mamacat]

Well, I really like the Obamas, but there is an element of politics in having license plates patterned after a likeness of a living president. I imagine the right-wing will be wanting something anti-Obama for their license plates, given the partisan nature of things.
I'll just stick to a bumper sticker.

[awckid3]

If it wasn't temporary, I'd buy one.

[iswideopen]

I live in CA. Why not open up sales of the plates for keepsake historical purposes to all states that are interested. Goodness knows CA could use the money to help with the schools.

[rbarry647]

I just ordered mine

[Solja]

I don't understand why, if the plates are temporary, why can't people buy them without owning a vehicle?

[SurrealPumpkin]

Does Illinois have tags in the front of vehicles? If not why not switch it to the front after the temporary use ends.

[awckid3]

We have no tags on our vehicles and your idea is brilliant.

[Lerrin]

As an Illinois citizen, I think it's a terrific idea (goodness knows the State of IL needs some incoming cashflow, and the libraries are deserving).

Would like to see the State of IL generate more $$ generating ideas to capitalize both on Obama, but Lincoln as well, given our current financial mess.

But why only a *temporary* plate?

[Solja]

Yeah, I'm mad it's temporary. Who wants to buy a tag that last only 2 months then have to buy another set? Leave it to Beaver.

[ChiProgressive]

So they can cash in later this year with another set of commemorative plates.

[Mayoyo]

Why is it temporary????

[ChiProgressive]

So they can cash in later this year with another set of commemorative plates.

[judithod]

It shouldn't even be temporary. This glorification of Obama is a mistake. When I worked for a major publisher of children's reading textbooks, the policy was that no one living was featured in a story, with the reason being that the person might commit an act that would be unethical or criminal. Similarly, it's too early to canonize Obama's; his "story" as a president, as a person, has yet to play out.

[IllinoisTexan43]

Yeah, we learned our lesson with 'Saint' Ronnie Reagan. No more deification, gotcha!

[Emlyn]

that's wonderful. What a great gift for the Illinois libraries!