GE Turns Out the Light on Paul Harvey

CNSNews.com ^ | 12/23/2003 | Susan Jones

[Constitutionalist Conservative]

(CNSNews.com) - General Electric, in response to Muslim complaints, has decided to pull its lighting advertisements from Paul Harvey's syndicated radio show, at least for the time being.

On Dec. 4, the 84-year-old Harvey was describing cockfighting in Iraq when he made the following comment on-air: "Add to the thirst for blood a religion which encourages killing, and it is entirely understandable if Americans came to this bloody party unprepared."

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil rights group, objected to the phrase "a religion which encourages killing," and it demanded an apology.

About a week later, Harvey issued a statement through a fill-in host. He didn't apologize, but he did say that Islam is a "religion of peace."

On Monday, CAIR distributed an e-mail that General Electric's Corporate Feedback Team sent to a Muslim who complained about Harvey's remark.

"Thank you for your recent inquiry on ge.com," the email read.

"We have received your E-mail about the comments of Paul Harvey on December 4, 2003. GE certainly doesn't endorse the comment and regrets any offense that it may have caused. While we look into the matter further, we have pulled GE's advertisements from Mr. Harvey's show. We appreciate voicing your concerns to us."

A GE spokesman was quoted as saying that the company hasn't yet decided whether to resume its advertising on Harvey's syndicated radio show.

[Orangedog]

This is low! I won't be buying any GE products for quite a while.

[bmwcyle]

Global companies will have no backbone.

[The Great RJ]

If he had spoken out against Christianity they would have defended him to the death. Sadly another victory for political correctness.

[Isolationist]

Not surprised that GE gave into the PR and Legal arm for the religion of DEATH.

[Dont Mention the War]

This is low! I won't be buying any GE products for quite a while.

Remember, that means no NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, ShopNBC, SciFi Channel, Trio or USA channels.

GE won't be gone too long though. Boycotting Paul Harvey is a great way to insure lower profits. It's insane to pass up the number of consumers he reaches.

[Sunshine Sister]

Ever heard the work Jihad? Ever heard of genital mutilation? Ever heard of honor killings? What did Mr. Harvey say that was untrue?

[Jaysun]

I'm selling my GE stock and won't be buying any of their products. I'm sure that they'll never notice the $5,000 in sold stock or the $3.57 I spend annually on light bulbs, but I still don't feel right supporting them anymore. This is a spineless move. I'm sick of seeing people contort themselves to avoid "offending" Muslims. Here's what I think about it: Muslims worship a false God and their blasphemous "religion" promotes violence all over the world.

[nuconvert]

I object to the phrase too.
But I wouldn't give a darn what a terrorist group like CAIR thought.
GE should have told them they don't CARE what Hamas thinks.

[Labyrinthos]

Ever heard the work Jihad? Ever heard of genital mutilation? Ever heard of honor killings? What did Mr. Harvey say that was untrue?

Don't forget the slavery stuff.

[Las Vegas Dave]

GE terminated their engineering departments in Cleveland on a Friday afternoon some 20 years ago, they invited the employees to stay with them if they worked through a (temporary agency) called matsa(?)OWNED BY GE, same pay, no benes. Some took the offer, and left as soon as they found a better paying job.

I know designers that went through that and today they refuse to buy anything GE, including lightbulbs.

[HenryLeeII]

Orangedog: This is low! I won't be buying any GE products for quite a while.

Dont Mention the War: Remember, that means no NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, ShopNBC, SciFi Channel, Trio or USA channels.

Well, how am I going to boycott them if I don't watch any of 'em (although I have started watching some of Scarborough's show)?

[flamefront]

George Putnam's radio in Los Angeles on KPLS show ends this Friday as well. A new Hispanic owner is changing the programming.

[nuconvert]

I like your tag line. It's one of my favorite phrases.

[SGCOS]

..And now you know...the...end of the story.

[PAR35]

It's understandable that they need to cut back on advertising in the US, since they are spending their money on outreach efforts to those whom they support:

GE Lights Up the Champs-Elysées
GE Lighting is celebrating this season by becoming the exclusive partner of the 2003-2004 Champs-Elysées illuminations in Paris, France. From Place de la Concorde up to Etoile, a total of 135,000 GE light bulbs have transformed the world's most famous avenue into a 2.5-km sparkling gem.

[Rockitz]

As David Letterman used to say as an NBC/GE employee, "GE Sucks!"

[TommyDale]

I'm replacing all my GE light bulbs with another brand from this day forward.

[Mr. Mojo]

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil rights group, objected to the phrase "a religion which encourages killing,"

The truth hurts, doesn't it Jihadis?

About a week later, Harvey issued a statement through a fill-in host. He didn't apologize, but he did say that Islam is a "religion of peace."

Very disappointing, Paul.

[Mr. Mojo]

I'm replacing all my GE light bulbs with another brand from this day forward.

Me too, and I'm going to write them and tell them why.