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Dell Refutes Allegation of Support for HCI
http://www.newsbytes.com/ ^ | 2/28/2002 | Brian McWilliams

Posted on 03/01/2002 10:00:45 AM PST by TheDon

A spat between Dell Computer [NASDAQ:DELL] and some gun owners continued to rage today, despite a formal mea culpa from the computer maker's chairman.

In a message to supporters, Jack Weigand, owner of Pennsylvania-based Weigand Combat Handguns Inc., claimed today that Dell Computer is "connected" to Handgun Control Inc., a lobbying group that changed its name to The Brady Campaign last June.

Representatives of Dell Computer and the Brady Campaign refuted the statement.

Weigand touched off a firestorm Tuesday when he posted a notice at his site and in several gun forums, describing how Dell initially canceled his order for an Inspiron notebook computer earlier this month after his company's name triggered an automated order screening system put in place by Dell following the Sept. 11 attacks on America.

In a statement released Wednesday, Chairman Michael Dell confirmed that the computer maker does "carefully review customer orders for prohibited destinations and activities" and red-flagged Weigand's order because of the word "combat" in his company name.

But, according to Dell, the computer company made a mistake in its handling of the cancellation of Weigand's purchase.

Although Dell has offered to ship him the computer at no charge, Weigand said he refused.

"I know every gun owner in America will appreciate my not accepting the computer I was offered," said Weigand in the message, noting that Dell is listed as a merchant at a Web site entitled the Handgun Control, Inc. Online Shopping Mall.

"This is a handgun control support site. Please come to your own conclusions," said Weigand.

According to a banner at the HCI online shopping mall, clicking links in a directory of dozens of online retailers and making purchases there raises money for the gun control organization.

Dell spokesperson Cathie Hargett said the computer company was not aware of the HCI online mall, but she confirmed that the company participates in a number of online affiliate programs "on both sides of issues."

According to Hargett, Dell "has not taken a position on the issue of gun control. Not in our sponsorships, not in our giving, and not in our public policy."

A spokesperson for The Brady Campaign told Newsbytes today that the organization did not authorize the creation of the HCI online mall, nor has the lobbying group ever received any funds from the site.

According to Amy Stilwell, communications director, the Brady Campaign has also never received donations directly from Dell Computer or Michael Dell.

The site hosting the HCI mall, Progressivefunds.com, "hosts online virtual shopping malls on behalf of affiliating organizations" according to its terms and conditions page. The site is registered to David Cole of Hallsville, Texas, according to domain records. Cole was not immediately available for comment.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: banglist
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To: misterman;Hacksaw
Weigand is a knee-jerk reactionary

He had some company on this thread and, at the risk of getting flamed some more, I have to again say they were a bunch of "hair-trigger hotheads" whose shoot-first behavior gives ammo to the anti-gun crowd.
41 posted on 03/01/2002 2:08:02 PM PST by pt17
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To: FirstFreedom
Well then I had better see him spending some of the millions he spends in advertising money going to NRA and other pro Gun publications before I would ever consider buying a Dell mouse.

If it's all right with you, this gun owner would prefer Dell use that money to employ people and reduce the price of their products.
42 posted on 03/01/2002 2:15:28 PM PST by pt17
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To: Billthedrill
A spokesperson for The Brady Campaign told Newsbytes today that the organization did not authorize the creation of the HCI online mall, nor has the lobbying group ever received any funds from the site.

The lobbying group? Is that the PAC (if they have one, and I think they do...) or the 501(c)4? Does that mean that the 501(c)3 rec'd the money? They are a bit too specific for my tastes....

SAS intends on applying for the an affiliate position, we'll see.

43 posted on 03/01/2002 2:15:31 PM PST by technochick99
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To: technochick99
It should be read either 'the affiliate program' or 'an affiliate position'. Guess I still can't make up my mind!
44 posted on 03/01/2002 2:16:37 PM PST by technochick99
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To: technochick99
Precisely why I wondered. The Brady bunch was so quick in denying that they get money from this site that I have to wonder if somebody's getting a little something under the table, under another name. But that would be...illegal...now, wouldn't it?
45 posted on 03/01/2002 2:20:51 PM PST by Billthedrill
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To: Billthedrill
Not really, it would go to one of their 3 groups. They only denied receiving the money in one group. Not illegal, not really a lie, but certainly misleading.
46 posted on 03/01/2002 3:42:33 PM PST by technochick99
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To: technochick99
Not illegal, not really a lie, but certainly misleading.

You mean...we've just been Clintonized...

47 posted on 03/01/2002 4:15:22 PM PST by Billthedrill
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To: sinkspur
...it's not playing anywhere but the Internet, either. Which means it ain't playing.

Need I remind you that Clinton's legacy at one time didn't play anywhere but the internet, either. For that matter, a Gore presidency was defeated via the internet. Not that I'm a Bush lover.

48 posted on 03/01/2002 4:29:51 PM PST by Osinski
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To: pt17
...at the risk of getting flamed some more, I have to again say they were a bunch of "hair-trigger hotheads"...

That opinion ain't even worth a flame.

49 posted on 03/01/2002 4:34:19 PM PST by Osinski
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To: lodwick
what more does he want?

I'll tell you what I (and many others) want. I want to hear Michael Dell tell us straight up what he thinks about the Second Amendment. He sets the tone for corporate attitudes. He's getting rich off Americans who fully support the Second Amendment. His explanations so far have been mealy-mouthed.

50 posted on 03/01/2002 4:39:36 PM PST by Kevin Curry
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To: pt17
Your insults are having the opposite effect that you intend. Keep it up, though. You sound desperate.
51 posted on 03/01/2002 4:42:16 PM PST by Kevin Curry
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To: TheDon
I don't do business with anti-Second Amendment bigots, and that includes Bill Gates, who's been a very generous contributor to both Planned Parenthood and Handgun Control, Inc.
52 posted on 03/01/2002 4:49:23 PM PST by Standing Wolf
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To: Standing Wolf
Whew! I'm glad to hear that Apple makes no contributions to those groups! Do you know if General Mills does?
53 posted on 03/01/2002 6:58:20 PM PST by TheDon
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To: Kevin Curry;Osinski
That opinion ain't even worth a flame. - Your insults are having the opposite effect that you intend. Keep it up, though. You sound desperate.

What it sounds like is that I touched a nerve. I would have valued, if not agreed with, your opinions had you presented them.
54 posted on 03/02/2002 3:12:21 AM PST by pt17
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To: Spiff
I'm telling you, it's going to hurt us, not help us

Exactly right. I've been trying to offer a level-headed perspective on these threads for days and most just don't want to listen. At the point when Mr. Weigand blew off the admission of a mistake and turned down a free notebook--a gesture I can't imagine ANY other computer manufacturer making--he became a grandstander. And when he started talking about the utter nonsense of Dell "supporting" an anti-gun group simply because a site is one of untold THOUSANDS of affiliate sites that are signed up and approved with NO screening process, he started to sound ignorant to anyone with the faintest understanding of how e-commerce affiliate relationships work. In case folks have not yet figured it out, Dell is probably the ONLY conservative major computer maker in the world. Keep it up; maybe our own people will manage to drive them to the other side of the fence out of sheer stupidity.

MM

55 posted on 03/02/2002 8:54:54 AM PST by MississippiMan
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To: BlueLancer
Thanks for the info. It looks like HCI has to figure out who is using their "good name" to collect money from people entering the Dell website from this "Online Mall".

Oh? And what about Dell? What about their good name?

Someone posted their terms and conditions for affiliate sites the other day. One item said that Dell reserves the right to cancel any affiliates that they deem offensive or inappropriate (or words to that effect).

Draw your own conclusions.

56 posted on 03/04/2002 9:57:45 AM PST by Don Joe
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To: fivetoes
Is that Steven or the Tourist Guy?

Has anyone ever seen them together in the same place at the same time?

57 posted on 03/04/2002 9:59:05 AM PST by Don Joe
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Could it be...?

"Dude, yer gettin' a trigger lock!"

Perhaps Dell should only sell computers with keyboard locks, to prevent them from being used for kiddie porn, terrorist activities, etc.

After all, the pen is mightier than the sword, and by extention, the keyboard is mightier than then gun. If trigger locks are of such obvious necessity to prevent gun crimes, then it stands to reason (using the same "logic") that it is the height of irresponsibility to sell computers without keyboard locks.

58 posted on 03/04/2002 10:02:41 AM PST by Don Joe
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To: AdA$tra
Has anyone noticed that Dell's logo uses the same style "E" as another famous company?
59 posted on 03/04/2002 10:05:09 AM PST by Don Joe
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To: misterman
"Michael Dell is a gun owner himself."

Point being, what? Seems like I've read that SarahB and DiFi are gun owners too.

60 posted on 03/04/2002 10:06:33 AM PST by Don Joe
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