Slandering SUV drivers: Environmentalists go overboard with smear tactics

Union Leader ^ | 1/09/03

[kattracks]

THE ANTI-SUV division of the wacky wing of the environmental movement has outdone itself in its hysterical criticism of people who drive sport utility vehicles. Now they are running television ads accusing SUV drivers of financing terrorists, which is outrageous.

The ads were created by columnist and gadfly Arianna Huffington. She modeled them on the Bush administration’s anti-drug-use ads, which suggest that if you use narcotics you may be financing terrorism. The ads are so misleading that ABC’s New York affiliate won’t run them. An official from that station told The New York Times, “There were a lot of statements being made that were not backed up, and they’re talking about hot-button issues.”

If a connection between buying oil from the Middle East and funding terrorism exists, then everyone who buys petroleum products — from SUV drivers to long-haul trucking companies to Honda Civic drivers to people who grease their hair and dry clean their clothes — may indirectly contribute dollars to terrorists. But you would never see an ad suggesting that if you send your suits to the dry cleaners, you support terrorism.

In cities across the country, SUVs have been smeared with dog excrement, doused with acid and even burned by environmental activists. Yet no activists are attacking New England homes that use oil heat and are built with sawed down trees, or the owners of 20-year-old cars that get worse mileage and produce far more pollution than SUVs, or the owners of pickup trucks, which can get worse mileage than some SUVs and are better sellers.

If those in the anti-SUV crowd were rational, they would stop targeting SUVs and focus on retiring the fleet of aging gas guzzlers left over from the 1970s and ‘80s. These vehicles are much more damaging to the environment than are SUVS. But those old sedans aren’t driven by middle class and wealthy suburbanites, who are the real targets of hatred for the anti-SUV crowd. Can you imagine environmentalists shouting insults at a poor family in a 1978 Chevrolet or an old couple in a 1984 Cadillac? Of course not. But those people are doing more damage to the environment than a yuppie driving a 2002 Ford Explorer.

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

The eco-nuts keep trying to use labels that stick like"road hog" and "gas hog". I don't think these labels will get past Bezerkly and Eugene.

[Destructor]

I don't care what those enviro-@$$holes say- I will continue to drive an SUV, as long as I darn well please!

[mewzilla]

I just wonder if folks who love their Saudi Utility Vehicles have any idea how Detroit sees the buyers of these things? If the buyers know just how much profit the automaker makes off of one (personally, I have better things to do with mine), and how just unsafe the darn things really are (and not just for other folks on the road, but for the SUV occupants themselves). Just curious.

[mewzilla]

mine=my money

[lavaroise]

SUV drivers can get gas at Marathon, I believe, to get nonMiddle Eastern gas. A boycott on SUV is not the solution against terror oil. That said, we cannot destroy our autonomy either. If that is the issue with enviro wackos, then I'm all for selling my SUVs to buy myself some nukes.

[GailA]

And mine. When they put their actions where their mouths are then they could be taken seriously. NOT one will give up their pools, 9,000+ sq ft mansions, yachts, 2nd, third, and 4th homes, limos, yard care (probably by illegals), etc.

BUT they want YOU Joe 6 pack to give up YOUR SUV, Pool, boat and yard care.

[lavaroise]

I just wonder if folks who love their Saudi Utility Vehicles have any idea how Detroit sees the buyers of these things? If the buyers know just how much profit the automaker makes off of one (personally, I have better things to do with mine), and how just unsafe the darn things really are (and not just for other folks on the road, but for the SUV occupants themselves). Just curious.

Just curious where you come from with your lies and propaganda tripe. Idiot, there are more than one brand of SUVs. The armies accross the world uses them for UTILITY PURPOSES!!! and not to race down the highway. Well DOOOOOH!!! And those who profit are the drivers, not Detroit, wacko.

[mewzilla]

Maybe not :) But if you knew how your SUV was designed, made, and marketed you might.

[mewzilla]

When you can discuss this without name-calling, I'll be happy to educate you :)

[Lee_Atwater]

That is just terrible that an auto manufacturer would make any profit...jackass.

[Ditter]

Beat ya to it! We already have 2 SUV's, plus a pickup truck. Oh my, aren't we evil!

[Lee_Atwater]

Hey thanks for signing up today to enlighten us with your superior intellect.

To be serious, the solution to this imaginary "problem" you have is to retard American economic growth. However, you may not mind since you are more than likely a useless human being with a low IQ. But I only have your one inane post in which to judge.

(green)Peace!

[GailA]

Remember the Merril Streep Alar scare some years ago? Another JUNK SCIENCE celeb cause?Streep/alar

[GailA]

The following companies import ZERO oil from the middle east:

Citgo, Sunoco, Conoco, Sinclair, BP/Phillips, Hess.

Since BP serves this area, Sunoco the northeast and Conoco the west, you can drive all over america and never buy one gallon of gas from them Islamic fellers.

[mewzilla]

I didn't say that the profit, from four to the low five figures depending on the model, was terrible. Just that I had a lot better things to do with my money. How about you?

[kapn kuek]

I wonder how much mid-eastern oil is burned to heat and cool Arianna Huffington-Puffington's 9000 sq. ft. mansion? Enquiring minds wanna know.

Exactomendo!

[meyer]

I just wonder if folks who love their Saudi Utility Vehicles have any idea how Detroit sees the buyers of these things? If the buyers know just how much profit the automaker makes off of one (personally, I have better things to do with mine), and how just unsafe the darn things really are (and not just for other folks on the road, but for the SUV occupants themselves). Just curious.

Without SUV's and light truck sales, there would be no Detroit.

Unsafe? Not if the driver understands high school physics (and applies them).

[kapn kuek]

Spit out my coffee, so early in the morning! What a picture!

[kapn kuek]

Enlighten us please.