Explorers Lewis and Clark "discover" gaming machines but not much else in a campaign for the Oregon Lottery that has since been pulled from the airwaves. Still image from RWestMarketing / YouTube
The head of the Oregon Lottery was fired on Tuesday but Gov. Kate Brown (D) insists her decision was not linked to an ill-conceived Lewis and Clark-themed advertising campaign. Brown's spokesperson instead said Jack Roberts, a Republican, was removed due to "management problems," The Oregonian reported. When asked about the Lewis and Clark ads that were pulled over the weekend, the spokesperson said "this has nothing to do with that." The Coquille Tribe complained about the spots, which depicted explorers Lewis and Clark and an animated bear "discovering" gaming machines in the wild. The ads implied that Native people were non-existent in their own homeland. Brown said she ordered the ads to be pulled after learning of the complaints. Get the Story:
Kate Brown fires Oregon Lottery director over 'management problems' (The Oregonian 4/26)
Gov. Brown Fires Oregon Lottery Director Over Agency Management (Oregon Public Broadcasting 4/26)
Gov. Kate Brown Removes Jack Roberts As Director of the Oregon Lottery (The Willamette Week 4/26)
Ouster at Oregon Lottery stems from COO dispute (AP 4/26)
State pulls offensive lottery ads (The Coos Bay World 4/27) Federal Register Notice:
Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Coquille Indian Tribe Fee-to-Trust and Casino Project, City of Medford, Jackson County, Oregon (January 15, 2015)
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