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Vodka-Maker Absolut Apologizes for Ads
AP via SFGate ^ | 4/8/8 | MARK STEVENSON, Associated Press Writer

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 ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: absolut; ads; apology; aztlan; malkin
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Absolut-ly NOT!
1 posted on 04/08/2008 9:36:03 AM PDT by SmithL
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To: SmithL

Good now I can go buy a couple bottles again. Glad they apologized. They are now in good standing again.


2 posted on 04/08/2008 9:38:52 AM PDT by napscoordinator
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To: SmithL

They can still go hang.


3 posted on 04/08/2008 9:39:32 AM PDT by mancini
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To: SmithL
Wonder when this ad will be released???

In an Absolut World


4 posted on 04/08/2008 9:39:33 AM PDT by Always Right (Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?)
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To: SmithL

5 posted on 04/08/2008 9:39:43 AM PDT by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle (McCain "conservatives" = hardcore liberals who nonetheless appreciate the occasional tax cut.)
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To: napscoordinator

We’re so sorry that we got caught, . . .


6 posted on 04/08/2008 9:40:01 AM PDT by SmithL (Reject Obama's Half-Vast Wright-Wing Conspiracy)
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To: SmithL
Apology accepted.

But I'll still never buy Absolut again.

7 posted on 04/08/2008 9:40:26 AM PDT by Ghost of Philip Marlowe (If Hillary is elected, her legacy will be telling the American people: Better put some ice on that.)
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To: napscoordinator

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.


8 posted on 04/08/2008 9:40:52 AM PDT by Wally_Kalbacken (Seldom right but never in doubt)
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To: SmithL
"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.

What's that squeaking sound?

Ah! I know. It sounds like someone pedaling backwards.

9 posted on 04/08/2008 9:40:54 AM PDT by Lazamataz (Secondhand Aztlan Smoke causes drug addiction obesity in global warming cancer immigrant terrorists.)
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To: napscoordinator

Really? Are you being sarcastic, or honestly going to buy their product again? Just curious....


10 posted on 04/08/2008 9:41:18 AM PDT by theDentist (Qwerty ergo typo : I type, therefore I misspelll.)
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To: SmithL

I don’t drink vodka, but if I ever take it up, Absolut has helped me to decide what brand not to buy.


11 posted on 04/08/2008 9:41:18 AM PDT by Southside_Chicago_Republican
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To: SmithL

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?


12 posted on 04/08/2008 9:41:36 AM PDT by poobear (UAN)
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To: SmithL
Psst, Mexicans: Absolut just rolled over for the Yankee imperialists. You aren't going to take that, are you? Maybe you should boycott them too.
13 posted on 04/08/2008 9:41:38 AM PDT by KarlInOhio (Rattenschadenfreude: joy at a Democrat's pain, especially Hillary's pain caused by Obama.)
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To: SmithL
"Never apologize, it makes you look weak."

Forget who said it, but I always liked that. Of course it isn't true, but I liked the line.

14 posted on 04/08/2008 9:41:47 AM PDT by BallyBill (Serial Hit-N-Run poster)
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To: napscoordinator
Do you really think so?

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.

15 posted on 04/08/2008 9:42:11 AM PDT by Ghost of Philip Marlowe (If Hillary is elected, her legacy will be telling the American people: Better put some ice on that.)
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To: SmithL

An idea worse than New Coke.


16 posted on 04/08/2008 9:42:32 AM PDT by bmwcyle (McCain has yet to give conservatives a reason to vote for him)
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To: SmithL

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.


17 posted on 04/08/2008 9:43:22 AM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: theDentist

Being funny. I never bought Absolute or any type of alcohol except beer in my life.


18 posted on 04/08/2008 9:43:30 AM PDT by napscoordinator
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To: napscoordinator
ABSOLUT goes gay. (biz.yahoo.com April 8, 2008 PRNnewswire)

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

19 posted on 04/08/2008 9:43:30 AM PDT by weegee (March 18th, 2008 Obama~"I did NOT listen to the sermons of that man, Jeremiah Wright...")
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To: SmithL
nor does it advocate an altering of borders, nor does it lend support to any anti-American sentiment, nor does it reflect immigration issues,

Of course it doesn't!

Hell of an "apology" there. The boycott of Pernod-Ricard is still on!

20 posted on 04/08/2008 9:43:36 AM PDT by Yossarian (Everyday, somewhere on the globe, somebody is pushing the frontier of stupidity...)
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