Being the President of the United States, Barack Obama is seen on TV, front covers of Newspapers, and appears in everyday conversation.

So it's only natural that, being a celebrity, advirtising companies would use him in an attempt to boost sales.

The above billboard appeared in New York Times Square this morning, featuring Barack Obama in a "Weatherproof" brand jacket on the Great Wall of China.

The White House has asked Weatherproof to remove the billboard, as it misleads consumers into thinking that Weatherproof recieved endorsement by Obama and the White House.

A recent PETA add showed featured four celebrities on the cover, including Oprah Winfrey, Tyra Banks, and Carrie Underwood, all who have said they are PETA Supporters. The forth person is Michelle Obama, who both has not given her permission for PETA to use her picture and is not allowed to endorse private products as the First Lady. But PETA claims she once said she was against fur, so that "justifies" using her picture.

This sort of thing has happened to presidents in the past, but accorind to David Jackson of USAToday, "it appears that Obama -- and wife Michelle -- are considered more glamorous than previous White House occupants, and therefore more appealing to advertisers looking to push a book, a magazine, a cause, or a product."

As one of most powerful and influencial people in the world today, the President of the United States cannot help but recieve great publicity and gratuitous name recognition, and being a public Icon it makes sense that companies would want to use the President to try to boost sales, like some companies put pictures of scantily clad women in thier adds to try to boost sales. At least the latter seek permission.

So as Leo Standforda of the Daily News saids, "President Obama is the leader of the free world, but don't mistake him for "A Leader in Style."