Spanish McDonald's ad prompts talk of a boycott; Bergen town's mayor calls billboard 'divisive'

STAR LEDGER ^ | Saturday, July 08, 2006 | ANA M. ALAYA Star-Ledger Staff

[Liz]

The mayor of a small Bergen County, New Jersey town is calling for a McDonald's boycott if the fast-food chain does not take down a Spanish-language billboard.... Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan said the advertisement is "offensive" and "divisive"......"The true things that bind us together as neighbors and community is our belief in the American flag and our common language," Lonegan said. "And when McDonald's sends a different message, that we're going to be different now, that causes resentment."

Representatives for McDonald's and CBS Outdoor in New York, the company that owns the billboard on River Road in Bogota, defended the advertisement....said Jodi Senese, executive vice president for marketing for CBS Outdoor.

Jennifer Nagy, a marketing manager of McDonald's NY Metro Region, stood by the advertisement.

Lonegan was dismissive of the statement yesterday. "I think that their boilerplate press release is totally meaningless," Lonegan said. "It shows their utter disregard for this community."

Martin Perez, president of the Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey, an umbrella group of 250 Hispanic organizations, said there is an "anti-Latino" sentiment behind the opposition to the advertisement.

Deborah Jacobs, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, said McDonald's has a first amendment right to advertise in Spanish.

[Liz]

United we Stand, Divided we Fall. A sovereign country is designated by LANGUAGE, BORDERS, AND CULTURE. Spanish is like broken windows and a closed building in a neighborhood. WE ARE IN AMERICA. The corporation is RACIST for choosing to communicate and pander to only one ethnic group.

A-a-a-a-men.

[TommyDale]

"Unlike Spanish which is only associated with Mexicans."

Would you like to tell that to all the Spaniards and the other Latin American countries?

[TommyDale]

"Just because you can does not bean you should."

I promise to not make a "beaner" joke out of this!

[Ben Ficklin]

It should be noted that Mayor Lonegan is a republican.

Apparently, he thinks that his position on this devisive issue will benefit him in his next campaign for governer.

[Liz]

We are threatened by an invading foreign force with no allegiance to our Nation that has threatened to takeover with the vote and with violence, if necessary.

One of the mosy insightful comments was posted by FReeper eakole after one of the infamous street marches: "These scofflaws and criminals do not only want American jobs, they also want all the rights of American Citizens with the intent to inflict upon us the failed customs, politics, and ignorance that frame the foundation of Mexico’s class-conscious tyranny, universal lawlessness and eternal poverty."

Americans are defending our precious citizenship against those who would devalue it, who are dragging our country down into anarchy. As we American patriots gathered to celebrate our 230 years of independence as a great nation, we are reminded how easily our freedoms, and our way of life, can be taken away from us.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

And this invasion of spanish speakers is not costing Americans their jobs?? What about a finance manager at a auto dealer? That is a six figure American job. Where do you draw the line? Do you draw a line?

You really are missing the point. You know that, do you?

[Liz]

From all of the available data, it appears anti-illegal is a consensus issue that cuts across the entire political spectrum. Legislators on both sides of the aisle are getting the same constituent message.

[stephenjohnbanker]

""These scofflaws and criminals do not only want American jobs, they also want all the rights of American Citizens with the intent to inflict upon us the failed customs, politics, and ignorance that frame the foundation of Mexico’s class-conscious tyranny, universal lawlessness and eternal poverty." "

I have seen them in the flesh, and it is ugly. By the way, they do this every weekend in Panorama City, Ca.

[Balding_Eagle]

But can't they just do it without making an ass out of themselves?

I was sincere in my question: How would one do that?

[stephenjohnbanker]

And the point IS?

[Buffettfan]

And we also have a first amendment right NOT to buy their sh$tty wormburgers.

[CodeToad]

" McDonalds should adapt to their market."


Sure, but not while actively aiding illegals aliens and performing acts of sedition.

[John Robertson]

Bravo. And thanks for posting eakole's statement--I missed it till now, and it is genius.

Those who defend the lawlessness that the illegals wreak upon us, our culture and our country...ALWAYS have a dog in the fight, but never admit it. There is no idealogical or logical argument that supports millions of illegals sucking the life-, cultural- and financial energies from this nation. The apologist-stooges will happily sell out our future for some short-term personal gain.

[Liz]

There is no idealogical or logical argument that supports millions of illegals sucking the life- cultural- and financial energies from this nation.

You nailed it. We can't think for even a minute that they come here because they want to be Americans.

Mexico is a satrap ruled by a despotic government-of-the-wealthy that tosses citizens it considers useless over the US border, to become wards of American taxpayers, and the US welfare system.

Now Mexico demands veto power over US immigration policy. And some in our own Congress are prepared to ignore the US Constitution and have signed on to the Mexican agenda.

[Liz]

The arrogant lawbreakers own a parasitic sense of entitlement. The street protests were not about "underprivileged" immigrants being denied basic rights, but individuals out to extort privileges, handouts and freebies to be paid for by working class Americans, and to usurp American laws for their selfish aims.

Americans are decent people. No American wanted to deprive poor people of a decent living and hope for a better future from their miserable existences in Third World countries. That is to say, until we saw them in our streets, waving foreign flags, planning to establish a separate subculture of foreign-speaking illegals, and live off US bounty.......all paid for by American taxpayers.

The rallies and proposals for more laws detrimental to our country, throw a light on the reasons why these mental midgets are subjugated by their antediluvian Mexican, South and Central American home countries-----and remain stuck in those countries' subservient class.

God only knows if the US grants them the right to citizenship what havoc they will bring to our precious democracy.

[Porterville]

Boo frickin' hoo... It's their business, not any of yours.

[John Robertson]

You're being very quotable today. Thank you.

[Liz]

Must be nice for you to live in a total vacuum.

[raybbr]

One of my all time favorites posts by Sheana:

Well I guess it is okay to offend me, an American citizen voter, because they figure I will vote for them anyway. Afterall they are better than the Democrats.

Well not anymore Kenny boy (Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman), I am sick of being told to "sit down and shut up" because a Hispanic vote is worth more than mine. My vote is worth something too and will not be taken for granted anymore. Work for it! This is how I feel about ILLEGAL ALIENS.

The current immigration system isn’t “broken” or “failed;” it's just unenforced. Not unenforceable, mind you, just ignored. Americans don’t want so-called “immigration reform, they want strict enforcement of immigration laws, an end to illegal immigration and amnesties, and an end to the rampant lawlessness engendered by politically-correct refusal to enforce our civil laws.

There's free food, subsidized housing, reduced mortgages, food stamps, free medical and education, reduced tuition and suspension of out of state tuition fees--all of this is your reward for breaking the law, but only if you aren't already an American. If you're an American, forget about it; you have to pay your way through life. This is your reward for obeying the law.

Americans have to pay full price for their education, medical care, homes, and on top of that, our taxes go to pay for criminals--that is what illegal aliens are, make no mistake: they are criminals--who get all of that for little or even for nothing. This makes it possible--even easy--for them to work for $10 an hour or less. How many of us could afford to work for peanuts IF our homes, medical, food and education were all paid for? I know that the bulk of our bills are student loans and medical; take away those bills and you take away 90% of our debt. And I know too many people my age in the same boat...so calling it a national epidemic is probably an understatement.

After all, we're the real Americans...that means we have to pay for things that immigrants--including/especially illegals--get for free so long as they have a pulse and a sob story.

[Liz]

Aw, shucks (blush).