Jesse Jackson Pressures Auto Giant to Use Minority Firms in Ad Deal

CNSNews.com ^ | 6/13/02 | Marc Morano

[Jean S]

(CNSNews.com) - Jesse Jackson met with DaimlerChrysler officials last month to pressure the auto giant to continue using minority owned firms for its $40 million a year multi-cultural advertising division, a spokesman for DaimlerChrysler confirmed.

Chrysler had earlier come under fire from both Jackson and civil rights activist Al Sharpton for considering the use of a non-minority owned firms. DaimlerChrysler's final selection of the multi-cultural advertising agencies is scheduled by the end of June.

DaimlerChrysler spokesman James Kenyon told CNSNews.com that meetings with Jackson and Sharpton were "very constructive" and "the dialogue was good."

"They came in because they had questions about the process ... they had some concerns that the review be carried out in a fair manner because it did involve multi-cultural agencies and their multi-cultural staff," said Kenyon.

Kenyon said DaimlerChrysler and Jackson "may have had two meetings -- no more than that" to address Jackson's concerns. "[Jackson] wanted to get an understanding on whether this [ad] business was going to a non-minority agency."

According to Kenyon, "There was some confusion about that ... We are not considering totally non-minority agencies. Most of the agencies are minority owned, there are certainly some non-minority on the staff, but they are all minority owned. There was some confusion initially that some were not minority owned."

In order for a company to be considered "minority owned," at least 51 percent of it must be owned by minorities.

Kenyon added, "Everyone understands our position and we understand their positions and the dialogue was good and we all left with a good understanding."

Jackson's session with DaimlerChrysler officials followed an April 13 letter to the auto giant, in which he insisted on a meeting with the company. Jackson met with James Schroer, DaimlerChrysler executive vice president of sales and marketing, and Jeff Bell, vice president of marketing communications.

In an April interview with the publication, Advertising Age, Jackson complained that DaimlerChrysler "sees us as consumers, as workers and as shareholders, yet they can't seem to see us as trading partners."

When asked by the magazine whether he would initiate a boycott against DaimlerChrysler if the company did not satisfy his concerns, Jackson replied, "Let me tell you what our process is -- research, education, negotiation. If that fails, there's demonstration."

In 1996, Jackson joined the National Organization for Woman (NOW) in launching a boycott against Mitsubishi Motor and DaimlerChrysler for alleged sexual and racial harassment.

In 1997, DaimlerChrysler gave Jackson's organization, Push For Excellence Project, $30,000, according to the Washington, D.C.-based Capital Research Center. DaimlerChrysler also gave $50,000 to Jackson's Citizenship Education Fund in 1998 and another $50,000 in 1999.

Spokesmen for Jackson and Sharpton were unavailable at press time.

[Commiewatcher]

"DaimlerChrysler's final selection of the multi-cultural advertising agencies is scheduled by the end of June."

Caving in to the extortion artists, big mistake DaimlerChrysler. More extortion to follow.

[sheik yerbouty]

If they can use the RICO act on all these other people, why not on race racketeers like Jackson?

[chiefqc]

I see the jesse jackass is lose again, must be a backed up sewer somewere.

[3AngelaD]

I thought shakedowns and extortion were against the law. Perhaps we can't expect Mr. Jackson to obey the law , because he is a minority, disadvantage individual. Oh, sorry, nevermind, that would be a racist attitude.

[RGSpincich]

. Most of the agencies are minority owned, there are certainly some non-minority on the staff, but they are all minority owned. There was some confusion initially that some were not minority ....yadayadayada"

WTF is a minority anymore? The lines have been mixed for centuries and now no race is exclusive to itself. So what exactly is a minority?

[Sunshine Sister]

I see the people at Daimler Chrysler have not read Shake Down yet, and when they do they will be kicking themselves in the sit down part.

[concerned about politics]

When asked by the magazine whether he would initiate a boycott against DaimlerChrysler if the company did not satisfy his concerns, Jackson replied, "Let me tell you what our process is -- research, education, negotiation. If that fails, there's demonstration."

= Extortion. Plain and simple.

In 1997, DaimlerChrysler gave Jackson's organization, Push For Excellence Project, $30,000, according to the Washington, D.C.-based Capital Research Center. DaimlerChrysler also gave $50,000 to Jackson's Citizenship Education Fund in 1998 and another $50,000 in 1999.

Jackson is a corporate vampire. When is someone going to prosecute this guy?

[1Old Pro]

Jackson's session with DaimlerChrysler officials followed an April 13 letter to the auto giant, in which he insisted on a meeting with the company.

Doesn't anyone have the guts to tell this jerk to go scratch.

[DoctorMichael]

When will we declare war on the real enemy?

[stainlessbanner]

D*mn-You Chrysler! I was gonna buy a new Jeep for my wife, now I'm having second thoughts. Chrysler is in the trashcan with Toyota for funding these clowns.

Maybe I'll just fix my old cars up....Jesse won't get my money.

[stainlessbanner]

One company (was it a Bud distributor?) told Jackson to shove it. He showed up for a shakedown session and they said, before we start, you ought to read this report. The execs pushed a notebook in front of him - it showed all the dirt on Jesse, apparently. Jackson grabbed his coat, and left the room without a word.

Anyone know which company this was?

[Chi-Town Lady]

How about Mark Furhman? After he gets done with Clintoon of course!