Posted on 08/18/2009 1:59:38 PM PDT by montag813
Yet another of the Astroturfing Activists' Claims Turn to Dust Under Scruitiny
Hate to say it, but we told you so.
Even though our community of Glenn Beck fans have contacted Best Buy to protest their well-hyped supposed boycott of Beck's #2-rated show at Fox News Channel, we demurred from adding ANY of these new advertisers to our "turncoat" list. Simply because we can't believe anything Color of Change prints.
Whether it is their petitions, which always suspiciously seem to have "75,000 signatures" (#1) (#2), or whether it is company after company we actually SPEAK to who deny their claims and then continue to place ads with Beck, such as Roche's AccuChek, placing ads on Beck on every show since their supposed "boycott", and denying it to us as well by email.
Even though thousands of emails were likely being sent to them today, we took the time to clear all this with Best Buy before adding them to the boycotting list. At last, around 3:00, they got back to us...
(Excerpt) Read more at defendglenn.com ...
".. Color of Change is claiming that WalMart, CVS, BestBuy, and Allergan have "pulled" their ads. It appears that only Allergan has actually confirmed this. BestBuy has not, and strangely, WalMart and CVS were not even sponsors of Glenn's to begin with!
Also: the Best Buy language merely matches the language of others, such as Roche, who on 8/12 told CoC their ads were "a mistake", yet Roche ads ran on Glenn's show on 8/14. This is the type of double talk which the Left gets all excited, but means nothing. Roche confirmed to us yesterday that they would continue to advertise on Beck..."
I was about to say — I DVR Glenn and I’ve never seen an ad from BEST BUY. Although I find it amusing that the only time Best Buy would see those parasites from Color of Lies in their stores would be on a looting spree during a national disaster.
Best Buy is probably about to go the way that Circuit City went, OUT OF BUSINESS.
Mike Malloy on XM/Sirius radio has been bragging for days about how advertisers have canceled ads at Fox.
>>>>Mike Malloy on XM/Sirius radio has been bragging for days about how advertisers have canceled ads at Fox.<<<<<
Oh thats real smart... take your ads off the #1 rated station.
Go ahead, let them boycott. There will be another sponsor right in behind them to take their place.
After two days and 4 emails back and forth, GEICO has decided not to answer why they caved while stating that they take no position. They dodged my questions.
A$$holes.
Warren Bufett speaks.
"Dear GEICO Policyholder:
Thank you, first of all for your business and also for your interest in this matter.
This week we took action to move our marketing messages from the Glenn Beck show and you are wondering why.
Well you deserve an answer.
If the inflammatory nature of the comments on a program overshadows our message and causes GEICO to be drawn into a national debate, we are likely to reconsider where we place our marketing messages, which is what we did.
GEICO delivers very important messages through its major marketing campaigns: we?re saving customers? dollars, we?re easy to do business with, we?re looking out for our policyholders. That?s what we hope the public hears and sees and focuses on.
As a company, we do not take positions on controversial issues.
As an advertiser, while a national debate on issues can be healthy and appropriate, we don?t see ourselves in the role of taking part in those debates.
Our business is auto insurance. We want to bring people value and we attempt to reach large audiences with that message.
It is of little benefit to us if a program gets so much attention that our message is drowned out. We appreciate your business and look forward to serving your insurance needs for years to come.
GEICO Corporate Communications
They don't give a damn.
I wanted to cancel, too, but daughter just recently got a speeding ticket. The timing wasn’t good. LOL
When David Letterman made a contemptible "joke" about raping of a 14 year old girl, I told you I would consider leaving if you continued advertising on the Late Show. Now, instead, you have pulled your advertising from Glen Beck.
I question how often GEICO has not pulled advertising when Jon Stewart and Rosie ODonnell and others have claimed President Bush was racist, a terrorist, and various other vulgarities. Unlike the comments from David Letterman, I consider their speech protected as political opinion, just like that of Glen Beck. So I think it is reasonable that I allow you to show even handed distribution of advertising.
Please reply by the end of this week indicating that you have either resumed sponsorship of Glen Beck, or detailing your history of removing advertising from similar opposing shows for similar speech. If you dont I will discontinue insuring with GEICO. I will publish your response, or lack of response, to other conservatives to either support you, or to encourage them to leave GEICO.
I have been a customer for many years and have been very satisfied. I dont want to leave, but I will not support a company that targets conservatives and conservative speech. And frankly, when you adjust your rates to insure only the blue demographic I will not be able to afford GEICO anyway. [I like that line...]
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
I think that is reasonable, but if it is true they should be able to tell me when they pulled advertising from Letterman, the View, Jon Stewart (I honestly do not know if they have advertised w/ the last two) or anyone else who has made inflamitory comments. If they cannot show this I am gone.
You can cancel later. Never forget who you are dealing with companies that clearly states their position with little concern of the country’s welfare of being lead by a Socialistic Government who is Socializing Our American Health Care System.
Their actions to pull their ads clearly indicates that they have lost touch with America!
Good response. Do you mind if I copy and paste and alter some of it and use it to protest the boycot of Glenn’s show?
The defend Glen site makes some good points that I missed in my email, but I suppose including "specific points" may cause them to ignore some emails, so I may be better off. We'll see. I do plan to post whatever response I receive.
OK! After emailing GEICO I received their form letter. My response is below, but I also called them to reitterate my outrage and to request my coverage amounts in preparation for leaving. If they cannot support at least a politically neutral policy in advertising I will leave. I strongly encourage you all to do the same.
As requested, here is the Tracking number: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx(redacted)
Yes, thank you. I had already seen that form letter, and do not disagree with the corporate position you have indicated.
But if that is indeed your position, and you had read my initial complaint you would know that I asked for information on similar situations where you have pulled advertising from shows other than Glen Beck for similar comments. Did you pull advertising fron the Late show with David Letterman? What other shows have ou pulled advertising from?
This should be an easy thing. You must have someone there in your advertising department that is able to catalog this information. Show, Pull date, nature of comment, etc.
I reitterate my statement: you have until the end of the week to 1) restore your sponsorship of Glen Beck’s show or 2) show me your history of even-handed treatment of liberals and conservatives, republicans and democrats in accordance with you form letter.
I will publish your responses, both positive and negative for other conservatives to act upon.
If you do not comply with my request I will leave GEICO and will encourage others to do the same.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.