Democrats say Taco bell poll is rigged (NOT A JOKE!)

San Mateo Daily Journal ^ | August 27, 2003 | Daily Journal wire report

[mabelkitty]

California Democratic Party leaders yesterday blasted the Taco Bell restaurant chain for a sales promotion that counts sales of different menu items as votes in a mock California recall election.

Last week the Mexican-style fast food chain launched the campaign, urging Californians to “put their vote where their mouth is.” Taco Bell restaurants statewide are tallying each purchase of a crunchy beef taco as a “vote” for Republican challenger Arnold Schwarzenegger and each purchase of a chicken soft taco as a “vote” for not recalling Gov. Gray Davis. In the first week of the unofficial poll, “votes” for any of the remaining 134 candidates could be cast by buying a Grilled Stuft Burrito.

Taco Bell announced the first installment of its Taco Poll results yesterday, in which 54 percent of the votes went to Schwarzenegger and his crunchy beef taco, and just three percent of the votes went to Davis and his chicken soft taco. All other candidates received 43 percent of votes through purchases of the chain’s Grilled Stuft Burrito.

Unhappy with the mock poll results, the chairman of the California Democratic Party, former state Sen. Art Torres said yesterday that “Taco Bell should stick to making tacos, not rigging elections.”

In a press statement released yesterday, Torres said beef tacos always outsell chicken tacos, which cost twice as much at the restaurant chain. In Sacramento, Torres said, Taco Bell sells beef tacos for 74 cents and chicken tacos for $1.50.

Bob Mulholland, campaign advisor for the California Democratic Party, says the Taco Poll is also “an investment scam to benefit Schwarzenegger.” He pointed to the actor’s ownership of about $1 million of stock in Pepsico Inc. The company is the former owner of Taco Bell and is still its exclusive soft drink supplier, Mulholland says.

Meanwhile, Taco Bell announced yesterday that after an overwhelming response from consumers to include Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante in the Taco Poll, patrons can now “vote” for Bustamante by purchasing a Chalupa.

Customers can “vote” as often as they like at more than 1,000 California Taco Bell restaurants until the day before the Oct. 7 special recall election. The results are tallied and released every Tuesday, and can be viewed at www.tacobell.com.

[in the Arena]

Pretty funny they chose a "chicken" taco for Davis...considering that huge egg he's laid...

[Diddle E. Squat]

When did Taco Bell start using beef?

When they started importing horses from Australia...

[Greybird]

In times like these, we are all called to make sacrifices ...

Like hell we are! Real Californians go to Del Taco instead, anyway. (And In-n-Out Burger.)

[in the Arena]

Taco Bell must have a pretty good PR guy. They placed a target in the middle of the South Pacific and promissed free tacos for everyone if the Mir strikes it...

[pogo101]

Dammit, those Dems are onto me and my wife. We "cast" 4 "votes" for Arnold at our local Taco Bell just last night. Because WE'RE ALL IN ON THE SCHEME! *music crescendo*

[3Lean]

Evidently you missed the reality of this - IT IS NOT A POLL!!!

This is a clever ad campaign to boost the sales of Taco Bell restaurants - nothing else.
Of course Taco Bell chose Arnold for the beef taco, they know Arnold will poll the highest so they picked this item to represent him. It would have been pretty stupid for them to have the beef taco represent Larry Flynt (or any other fringe candidate) as it would have depressed sales of beef tacos. I'm pretty sure if you read the Taco Bell description of this "poll" they will tell you this is a non-scientific tabulation - and do you know what? No ones choice of food at Taco Bell locks them into voting for that candidate on October 7th.
Anyone who is concerned about this "poll" being a campaign violation has a serious shortage of real problems to worry about.

[Paulus Invictus]

Beef? You must be kidding! But they do use the finest quality CA redwood sawdust for their tacos etc.

[Caipirabob]

ROTFLMAO!!!

The most relevant point posted this thread...

[Mike Darancette]

Who got the greasy bean burrito?

[pogo101]

Who got the greasy bean burrito?

Arianna. She secretly loves 'em.

[Slings and Arrows]

Well they do dress funny...

IIRC, they're all combat-branch NCO's or Warrant Officers of at least 29 years experience. Who's going to tell them?

[Charles Martel]

"...a GROWN MAN talking about THE POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS OF FAST FOOD."

Well, now we know how Taco Bell will manage to be the only "restaurant" to survive the Franchise Wars (San Angeles, circa 2032).

[Charles Martel]

Who got the greasy bean burrito?

Arianna. She secretly loves 'em.

LOL! I've got this mental picture of a dark limousine pulling up to the take-out window and a socialite arm (with fresh manicure and jewel-encrusted bracelet) reaching out to grab a grease-soaked Taco Bell bag. :-)

[Republic]

I am so in LOVE with Taco Bell for initiating this humorous take on the election....I am ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!! I love America......and I especially love that the Taco Bell poll pissed off Arty!!! LOL

Taco Bell, using food as a voting mechanism.....PRICELESS!!!!!

[BSunday]

Unhappy with the mock poll results, the chairman of the California Democratic Party, former state Sen. Art Torres said yesterday that “Taco Bell should stick to making tacos, not rigging elections.” Torres should have added " because thats our job "

BUWAHAHAHAHAH

[BSunday]

IMO Taco Bell is mucho better than McDonalds

[Petronski]

Taco Bell's numbers should be certified and Arnold should be declared the new governor. At least dead people don't vote in this "election".

True, although people voting in this "election" often smell dead after a few hours.

[mabelkitty]

Um, I don't think so.

I'm intelligent. I would never have given the opposing side the opportunity to take a regional promotion and elevate it to making my team a laughing stock on national news.

Nobody cares about anything other than "Democrats complain Taco Bell poll rigged". Leno is going to go nuts with this.

I bet the guy who came up with this promotion is a VP with stock options by the end of the week.

[edchambers]

Pepsico, parent company of Taco Bell sponsored the 2000 Republican National Convention in Philadelphia to the tune of $500,000.00

Ah ha! now if only they sold Coors PS I knew somebody was going to bitch about this taco bell poll expect a lawsuit soon I still think they should have made the big grilled stuft burrito a vote for Bustemonte.

[mabelkitty]

Do you always copy and paste from DU?

Just curious.

Pepsico also gave oodles to DNC.

It's called hedging your bet.