Posted on 10/06/2004 7:17:33 PM PDT by Republican Extremist
Regarding this thread http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1231976/posts, where I outlined Leatherman Tools support of the treasonous John Kerry, I received this e-mail from them today:
Dear Sir or Madam:
I assure you I have personally read your e-mail. However, due to the volume of messages received, I cannot give a personalized response to each to you.
However, here in a nutshell is a general response:
Because I publicly stated how I am going to cast my vote, almost all of you have threatened a boycott against my company.
So be it.
I took a position, and now I will accept the consequences.
I am still going to do my absolute best to make great tools and hope that you and all Americans, of every political affiliation, will find them of value. If not today, someday. Tim Leatherman President Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
I agree that we can't boycott everything.
I agree that a liberal boycott of a Bush supporter would upset me.
Nevertheless, when someone takes a public stand of fighting against our American traditions, I'm not going to be a customer, if I can help it.
It's hard to imagine what's "distasteful" about boycotting a company over the kinds of things they use their money and/or their name to support. Yes, they are free to spend their profits as they please, but I am equally free to spend my money elsewhere. I no longer buy Levi's jeans because of their support for both the abortion and the homosexual lobbies. To me, boycotts are as American as apple pie, baseball and free markets.
He is probably trying to be a profiteer by supporting Kerry. He may think that if Kerry is elected, Kerry might swing the pocket tool contract away from Gerber to him.
I would keep my politics out of it also. It is just good for business. I wonder how many of those on here calling for a boycott of Leatherman would do the same. The better way to prove the point is just to work to ensure Bush wins the election.
I have -- twice. But never will again, they're on my Permanent BoycottTM list now.
"Permanent BoycottTM" simply means "What you did offended me so much that I won't even bother to remember what you did to cause the boycott, I just won't buy your product again." Not invoked readily (because I don't really want to keep a long list), and a little counter-productive, perhaps, because it assumes no change in behavior of the corporation. (One company recently managed to get off, because I just happened to recall their offense when I read they'd renounced their offensive action.)
For all of you who think it's a great idea to boycott s company for it owners political views, I note you are certainly free to do so.
Would you think it a good idea if your neighbors did a similar thing to you because you had a Bush sign on your lawn?
Do it if you want, but don't expect me to join you.
Thanks for posting this. I allways wanted one of these tools. Now I know to look for another brand. Does anyone know a liberal who would use one of these?
If they let me know, I'm willing to make a good effort.
Well, after a while you probably can't hardly do business with anybody anymore because somebody in that company has done something anti-american.
However, I still hold on to a few boycotts for 'worthy causes': I still boycott everything FRENCH. (website 'francesucks') Also, I avoid movies or music from idiotic, unpatriotic Hollywood actors and musicians. And, for good measure, I've quit buying Slimfast and Unilever products such as Dove Soap. (the Whoopie Goldberg effect).
My email response to Leatherman:
I’ve had a Leatherman Super Tool in my kit for quite some time now. Nice tool, has a few quirks, but overall, it’s been pretty useful. But I see that your President, Tim Leatherman, has chosen to support a traitor and a trial lawyer for the highest offices in the land. He says that he’s taken a position, and is willing to accept the consequences.
Perhaps I’m a bit old-fashioned in that I still judge a man by the company he keeps. And perhaps I’m even more old-fashioned in that I am a man of conviction, and that I live by my principles. Accordingly, I’ve taken a position, too.
So here are some more of those consequences: I will neither buy nor own the products of a man who applauds those who stabbed his countrymen and brothers in arms in the back as did John Kerry. I can say with some assurance that my family, friends and many other acquaintances of mine will also reject your products for the foreseeable future.
It’s long past time to call things by their proper names. Tim Leatherman’s endorsement of a traitor is tantamount to treason itself. As I see it, a simple rejection of Leatherman products isn’t nearly enough. It’s time to spread the word. And that’s precisely what I’ll do.
Ward Dorrity
This is bad. I see Columbia Sportsware and Patagonia are on the list. I think I can make do with The North Face, Browning, Sierra Designs, and Danner Boots though.
Tim Leatherman really has to consider the core users and/or primary purchasers of his products. If you could gather all the people coast-to-coast wearing multi-tools on their belts, you would overwhelmingly find them to be Republicans supporting the re-election of President Bush.
People who purchase this type of tool tend to be self-reliant, self-starting, independent-minded folks. They ain't sheeple, that's for sure. Poor decision on the part of the CEO of this firm. His competition will welcome the influx of new customers.
Was considering a Charge Ti or Charge XTi, but I'll clearly take a look at the alternatives. All things being equal, I'm not going to support a businessman who is "OK" with my rights and freedoms being eroded.
~ Blue Jays ~
See, that's where the right of free association comes in. As a businessman, I would never put political signs in my building, on my website, etc. I would put them in the yard of my home, and on my personal vehicle (and I have), but in my best Tony Soprano voice, "it's bad for business". These whiners are going to have to find out the hard way I guess.
I've got a Gerber Bolt Action that must be a little over 20 years old now. It's one of my favorite folding knives, although I now have taken to carrying a Benchmade 690.
I wouldn't get so upset about a company endorsing some politician, except that I don't see Kerry as just some politician and I don't see the Democrats as just some political party. They have made themselves enemies in thought, word, and deed.
I got a leatherman as a Christmas gift a couple of years ago. It was real handy, but I lost it recently. Glad this story was posted. I'll be replacing it with a different brand.
That Gerber looks great.
Consider a Victorinox Swiss Tool RS.
IMO, it's superior to all the other folding multi-tools out there, including my Wave. The only major design flaw is that neither blade opens with one hand. Victorinox is probably aware of this complaint and it wouldn't surprise me if they are working on correcting it.
Great letter, Ward! ;-)
Are you kidding? Kerry has never filed his own nails. He does not know how nail clippers work.
I use only S.O.G.
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