prisoner6
Posted on 01/23/2003 3:43:22 AM PST by kattracks
(CNSNews.com) - Complaints about DaimlerChrysler continued to grow Wednesday as the company again refused to retract a top executive's comment that conservatives had a "myopic view of the world."
The National Center for Public Policy Research, which has sought an apology since Friday, threatened to take up the matter with conservative members of Congress. Amy Ridenour, president of the conservative group, said DaimlerChrysler, which manufactures Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and Mercedes vehicles, might reconsider its position if elected officials broached the topic with the company's lobbyists.
Meanwhile, several people, including some who are shopping for new vehicles, told CNSNews.com they would never again buy a DaimlerChrysler automobile; the small-scale boycotts designed to protest the company's support of the Rev. Jesse Jackson's pet projects and the "myopic" remark by Senior Vice President for Government Affairs Frank Fountain.
Ridenour said the company probably does not view conservatives in a negative light but, based on its handling of this situation, she said it certainly appears that way. For that reason, she said, a boycott might be an effective way for conservatives to show solidarity.
Several consumers contacted by CNSNews.com said they were expressing their dismay with the company by boycotting DaimlerChrysler vehicles, calling the incident enough of an incentive to stop buying the company's products.
Jim Crawford, an antique car enthusiast who runs an energy consulting business in Maryland, said he was planning to buy a new Jeep a few days before reading Fountain's comments. Crawford said he is now considering a Chevrolet instead.
"People have longer memories than these corporate giants understand," Crawford said. "I'm only one consumer, but for every one like me, there are hundreds of thousands of people who won't say a word but will likely copy my buying habits."
Dan Cron, a retired police officer from California, drives a Jeep that is about 10 years old. He was planning to buy another Jeep soon, but not anymore, he said.
"The more I find out about companies like DaimlerChrysler, the better it is for me because that way, I'm not endorsing anti-American and anti-conservative views," he said.
Another Californian, Charles Whiteaker, a retired steel company executive, said he enjoys his 10-year-old Jeep Eagle Vision, but his feelings toward DaimlerChrysler soured once he found out the company helped pay for Jackson's project.
"It doesn't bother me as much that this guy mouths off about conservatives but that all these companies are supporting Jesse Jackson and his shakedown," Whiteaker said. "There's a lot of [automobile] choices out there today, and there are a lot of other companies that don't support organizations like this that I can buy from."
It was at Jackson's Wall Street Project last week that Fountain told CNSNews.com : "Most of [Jackson's] critics are conservatives; they have a rather myopic view of the world."
That comment immediately prompted a reaction from Ridenour, who said she is tired of unfounded criticism of conservatives.
"It's time that we conservatives, who are usually the people getting attacked, stand up and say, 'Either apologize for that slur or prove it's accurate,' " Ridenour said. "If we let people get away with calling us names all the time, we'll never get down to business."
Fountain, who was not available for comment Wednesday, turned down Ridenour's request to apologize.
"I was referring to no specific organization or individual, so I don't feel that there is any apology in order," Fountain said Friday.
When contacted Wednesday, DaimlerChrysler spokeswoman Debra Nelson dismissed the initial report, claiming at one point that Fountain never made his comment about myopic conservatives, which was made during a tape-recorded interview.
Nelson also argued that, "Fountain's comments were taken out of context and were not intended to characterize individuals of any political perspective," she said. Nelson refused to explain the context in which Fountain made the comments.
Fountain originally said that DaimlerChrysler had contributed money "in the six figures" for the Wall Street Project, but Nelson contradicted the executive, calling the figure inaccurate. The total amount the company gave Jackson for this year's event is unknown, but Nelson said it has contributed to his causes in the past.
In 2000, the company gave $50,000 to Jackson's PUSH for Excellence education initiative, according to the Capital Research Center, which tracks corporate philanthropy.
Christopher Morris, editor of the group's publication Patterns of Corporate Philanthropy , said that, based on his review of DaimlerChrysler's donations, there is not a bias toward liberal or conservative causes.
E-mail a news tip to Robert B. Bluey.
Send a Letter to the Editor about this article.
prisoner6
Sure he can have an opinion and say what he believes.
But, when he makes PUBLIC statements, other people have a right to draw conclusions from his statements, and to decide to support or not support his organization.
BOYCOTT DaimlerChrysler.
Check out the minivan ad where the brain surgeon is doing surgery on an SUV owner who sounds like he has an IQ of about 70(white male, no risk of offending anyone). Last time I checked, Chrysler has an entire company line which makes nothing but SUV's!(jeep) Still, they don't mind saying that you are dumb as a box of rocks to buy one.
This money is chump change to a corporation of this size. They spend more on toilet paper or paper clips. Jackson is a flea... it itches, you scratch. As for the dickweed who made the comments.... well that's different. Maybe he should make a contribution to the DAV or VFW or Salvation Army in the same amount.
I'm not going to defend this hump for making comments about conservatives. I think that I'd rather stick it to Disney than Dodge but to each his own. We can all decide to buy a Hummer 2 instead or upscale Caddie or Lexus....instead of a Mercedes. I do think that each time a lib flames a conservative we should get back in their face and blast them back however. So post a e-mail, fax or snail mail address and I'm there to flame away.
Lets Get it ON !!
I wish Chrysler well in these economic times when alienating half of their consumer base could be the kiss of death to an industry who rightfully should already be on the ropes. Here's my own kiss...
Muleteam1
Fountain's salary amounts to a kickback. If Daimler didn't feel the need to coddle groups like Jackson's, Fountain would not have that job.
executivefirstname.executivelastname@daimlerchrysler.com
In some cases there are abbreviations.
I've fired a couple off and will check in if I get any responses.
prisoner6
prisoner6
Vorstand: (frühere)
(bleibt für drei Jahre in der Struktur bestehen)
(Bezüge 1999: 108.350.000 DM)
Aufsichtsrat: (frühere)
(von Daimler eingebrachte Leute)
(Tantiemen 1999: 2.350.000 DM)
) dieser Seite: 27.12.2000Stuttgart, Germany
January 22, 2003
Dear Customer:
thank you very much for your e-mail regarding Frank Fountain, which you sent to Investor Relations. The article in which Mr. Fountain is quoted contains several inaccuracies. For example, DaimlerChrysler was not a "six-figure" sponsor of the Wall Street Project Conference. Frank Fountain's comments were taken out of context and were not intended to characterize individuals of any political perspective. DaimlerChrysler supports many community-based groups and non-profit organizations throughout the U.S. These organizations most often serve to further the quality of life in their respective communities and support the interests of various constituencies important to DaimlerChrysler.
Sincerely,
Rolf Bassermann
DaimlerChrysler AG
Investor Relations
Head of Private Investors &
Investor Relations Internet HPC 0323
70546 Stuttgart
Great choice. I have a '96 Ranger now doing great (knock on wood), just flipped to 100K. Next truck F150 at least, F250 I hope, F350--a dream come true!
My next door neighbor is a master mechanic, he knows everything there is to know about vehicles. Works on his and others race cars and he's a Ford man.
NO WAY NOW... They just lost a continuing customer, one that purchases/leases every 2-3 years.
Too bad D-C... We can live without you, can you continue to survive by pissing off your customers ???
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