Posted on 04/08/2008 9:31:51 AM PDT by SmithL
MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AP) --
The Absolut vodka company apologized Saturday for an ad campaign depicting the southwestern U.S. as part of Mexico amid angry calls for a boycott by U.S. consumers.
The campaign, which promotes ideal scenarios under the slogan "In an Absolut World," showed a 1830s-era map when Mexico included California, Texas and other southwestern states. Mexico still resents losing that territory in the 1848 Mexican-American War and the fight for Texas independence.
But the ads, which ran only in Mexico and have since ended, were less than ideal for Americans undergoing a border buildup and embroiled in an emotional debate over illegal immigration from their southern neighbor.
More than a dozen calls to boycott Absolut were posted on michellemalkin.com, a Web site operated by conservative columnist Michelle Malkin. The ads sparked heated comment on a half-dozen other Internet sites and blogs.
"In no way was it meant to offend or disparage, nor does it advocate an altering of borders, nor does it lend support to any anti-American sentiment, nor does it reflect immigration issues," Absolut said in a statement left on its consumer inquiry phone line.
Some fringe U.S. groups also claim the land is rightfully part of Mexico, while extreme immigration foes argue parts of the U.S. already are being overtaken by Mexico.
"In an Absolut world, a company that produces vodka fires its entire marketing department in a desperate attempt to win back enraged North American customers after a disastrous ad campaign backfires," a person using the moniker "SalsaNChips" wrote on Malkin's Web site.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Good now I can go buy a couple bottles again. Glad they apologized. They are now in good standing again.
They can still go hang.
In an Absolut World
We’re so sorry that we got caught, . . .
But I'll still never buy Absolut again.
Wally does not drink Vodka, so there is nothing he can do to stick it to Absolut, except to continue to not buy their product.
What's that squeaking sound?
Ah! I know. It sounds like someone pedaling backwards.
Really? Are you being sarcastic, or honestly going to buy their product again? Just curious....
I don’t drink vodka, but if I ever take it up, Absolut has helped me to decide what brand not to buy.
Aren’t the sale of French wines STILL down since they ticked off Americans? What did they think this ad would do, give us a laugh?
Forget who said it, but I always liked that. Of course it isn't true, but I liked the line.
They ran an ad insulting America's acquisition of land we paid for and won in a war. From a country that made lots of money off the Nazis leading up to and during most of WWII, knowing what the Nazis were up to.
The only mistake is that they thought if they ran the ad only in Mexico that America would never know of the insult.
I'll never buy Absolut again.
An idea worse than New Coke.
They’re only sorry like the kid that got caught in the cookie jar. Not sorry that they did something wrong, sorry that they got caught and are going to lose business.
Too bad for them.
Being funny. I never bought Absolute or any type of alcohol except beer in my life.
In an ABSOLUT World All Men Are Created 'Equal' and Gay Marriage Is a Celebrated Reality Monday April 7, 9:00 am ET World's Most Iconic Vodka Unveils First-Ever Gay and Lesbian Creative as Part of its 'In An ABSOLUT World' Campaign
Of course it doesn't!
Hell of an "apology" there. The boycott of Pernod-Ricard is still on!
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