TV Ads Say S.U.V. Owners Support Terrorists

New York Times ^ | Jan. 7, 2003 | KATHARINE Q. SEELYE

[MrLeRoy]

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 — Ratcheting up the debate over sport utility vehicles, new television commercials suggest that people who buy the vehicles are supporting terrorists. The commercials are so provocative that some television stations are refusing to run them.

Patterned after the commercials that try to discourage drug use by suggesting that profits from illegal drugs go to terrorists, the new commercials say that money for gas needed for S.U.V.'s goes to terrorists.

"This is George," a girl's voice says of an oblivious man at a gas station. "This is the gas that George bought for his S.U.V." The screen then shows a map of the Middle East. "These are the countries where the executives bought the oil that made the gas that George bought for his S.U.V." The picture switches to a scene of armed terrorists in a desert. "And these are the terrorists who get money from those countries every time George fills up his S.U.V."

A second commercial depicts a series of ordinary Americans saying things like: "I helped hijack an airplane"; "I gave money to a terrorist training camp in a foreign country"; "What if I need to go off-road?"

At the close, the screen is filled with the words: "What is your S.U.V. doing to our national security?"

The two 30-second commercials are the brainchild of the author and columnist Arianna Huffington. Her target audience, she said, is Detroit and Congress, especially the Republicans and Democrats who last year voted against a bill, sponsored by Senators John McCain, Republican of Arizona, and John Kerry, Democrat of Massachusetts, that would have raised fuel-efficiency standards.

Spokesmen for the automakers dismissed the commercials.

Eron Shosteck, a spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, said of Ms. Huffington, "Her opinion is out-voted every year by Americans who buy S.U.V.'s for their safety, comfort and versatility." He said that S.U.V.'s now account for 21 percent of the market.

In an interview, Senator Kerry distanced himself from the commercials. He said that rather than oppose S.U.V.'s outright, he believed they should be more efficient.

"I haven't seen these commercials," he said, "but anybody can drive as large an S.U.V. as they want, though it can be more efficient than it is today."

Ms. Huffington's group, which calls itself the Detroit Project, has bought almost $200,000 of air time for the commercials, to run from Sunday to Thursday. While the group may lose some viewers if stations refuse to run the advertisements, the message is attracting attention through news coverage.

The advertisements are to be broadcast on "Meet The Press," "Face the Nation" and "This Week With George Stephanopoulos" in Detroit, Los Angeles, New York and Washington.

But some local affiliates say they will not run them. At the ABC affiliate in New York, Art Moore, director of programming, said, "There were a lot of statements being made that were not backed up, and they're talking about hot-button issues."

Ms. Huffington said she got the idea for the commercials while watching the antidrug commercials, sponsored by the Bush administration. In her syndicated column, she asked readers if they would be willing to pay for "a people's ad campaign to jolt our leaders into reality."

She said she received 5,000 e-mail messages and eventually raised $50,000 from the public. Bigger contributors included Steve Bing, the film producer; Larry David, the comedian and "Seinfeld" co-creator; and Norman Lear, the television producer.

[Axenolith]

She's nuts. Remember once upon a time she was a conservative? Ha ha.

Yes, but she became single in So Cal and switching liberal is probably a good way to get dates among the glitterati.

[mewzilla]

Well, they're also known as Saudi Utility Vehicles for a reason.

[mewzilla]

Just out of curiosity, do you know how mpg is figured and do you think most folks get that kind of mileage throughout the life of their car?

[Axenolith]

I guess they use a different type of oil to fill up little cars.

Progressoline, smells like patchouli oil and "treads lightly upon the earth goddess mother"...

[Mark]

Yo! Steve Bing, Larry David, and Norman Lear, your drivers are outside in your cars:

[bootyist-monk]

Here's the email I just sent her...

Arianna,

Just a question. How much energy does Larry David's mansion use? Or Stephen Bing's? Or yours? The private jets run on solar power, right? Leaf blowers for the tennis courts use natural gas? Wind power provides the heat for the pool?

I didn't realize that the latest Bentleys, Ferraris, Mercedes or Jaguars had been converted to hydrogen fuel. Of course, I'm just a one of the great unwashed, so details like this escape me. However, it is nice to know that Mr. Bing's packed garage doesn't include anything so obscene as a terrorism-sponsoring, fossil-fueled Land Rover. And I'm sure that he only hands out 10-speed bikes to his various mistresses, being a patriotic American, and all.

Yep, you windbags suck up more energy in a month than most of us serfs do in a year, and yet you have the gall to lecture us about our choice of vehicle. Tell you what, when you and the rest of the your moron friends on the Westside learn to live in 1800 square feet, I'll learn to drive something other than an SUV. Until then, do like your ex and suck tailpipe.

Bootyist

Send her one yourself. It's fun and theraputic. arianna@ariannaonline.com

[Axenolith]

a great threat to pedestrians.

The slow ones are worth less points...

[Charles Martel]

A Volvo. Isn't that the car of choice for spacey liberal academics?

Yes, except when said Volvo is stuffed full of efficient, clean-burning, tire-shredding AMERICAN V-8 power! :-) I reckon the tree-huggers would be a bit perplexed by such a set of wheels - especially if it's a sport wagon with gun racks on the rear side windows!

[Axenolith]

Yes, and I personally get better than the stated mileage when I'm not going fast or driving in the middle of nowhere. On my previous sedan I got anywhere from 22 to 35 mpg, It just depended on how much of a hurry I was in and if there was much stop and go. Heck, it got 27 with the cruise control set on 100 for ~5 hours...

[Inspectorette]

WooHoo!!!! You kick ZsaZsa's butt!!!

[ImaGraftedBranch]

I drive the speed limit. I follow all traffic laws. I am a very conscientious driver.

I also drive a GMC Savana conversion van, with every safety feature available.

It gets about 14mpg.

I could give a rats a*s what people think about my mileage. I'll be safe.

[Constitution Day]

Until then, do like your ex and suck tailpipe.

Excellent work!

[Mark]

The bimbo is on Sean Hannity's radio show now. Didn't like being called a terrorist supporter while she is flying in private jets-- avoids answering his questions, especially square footage of her house. "None of your business!" What a liberal air-head!

[Mark]

I hope Sean puts this interview on his site-- PRICELESS!

[MrLeRoy]

The "SUVS support terrorism" ads are no less idiotic than the "drugs support terrorism" ads. Whatever their intent, the SUV ads doa public service by highlighting this fact.

[CCWoody]

But I have 4 kids and a dog. Do you think that if I packed them into a Yugo for vacation I'd be charged with child abuse or spouse abuse?

Perhaps everybody who has a large family somehow sponsors terrorism. After all, 4 kids loose on a neighborhood has to be scary for the neighbors.

[Petronski]

Boycott the Mercedes-driving master-'mind' of this garbage, film producer Lawrence Bender.

Also, Larry David, Arianna Huffington, Norman Lear, etc.

[OPS4]

Remember, Paper not plastic at the grocery store, or you are supporting terrorism, but watch out for tree huggers.

A pile of B.S. and Arianna has lost it!

Drugs and SUV's apples and oranges, dont fall into
the non sense zone. PleaseMrLeRoy????

Ops4 God Bless America

[tractorman]

Does this mean that if we all drive Yugos all the terrorists will have to trade in their AK47's for .22's?

[Grig]

This should be co-opted:

"This is George,"
"This is the gas that George bought for his S.U.V."
"This is the oilfield in Alaska that could fuel George's SUV for xxxx years."
"These are the Democrats that won't let anyone develop the oil field.
"These are the countries where we have to buy oil from becasue of the Democrats"
"And these are the terrorists who get money from those countries becasue of the Democrats."