Boycotts can work both ways, Wal-Mart
We read:
"Wal-Mart has joined a handful of craven corporations caving to demands from the radical Left that they withdraw their advertising from Glenn Beck's Fox News program to protest what the repressive zealots view as unacceptable speech by the controversial cable host.
Beck's critics are four political activists with an outfit called ColorofChange.org. They are outraged that Beck called President Obama a "racist" with "an abiding hatred of white people." Is Beck correct? I have no idea, but he has a right to voice his opinion, just as the four people with ColorofChange have a right to theirs.
But this quartet beating the drums for repression aren't satisfied just to publicize their disagreement with Beck, they also want to silence him because, they claim, he is trying "to convince the American public that President Obama's agenda is about serving the needs of Black communities at White people's expense."
Beck's views are, according to ColorofChange.org, "repulsive, divisive and shouldn't be on the air." Funny, I don't recall that the First Amendment guarantees freedom of expression to everybody except those whose opinions the four members of ColorofChange.og find "repulsive and divisive."
There is more to be said later in this space on ColorofChange. For the moment, the focus here is on Wal-Mart, which has joined Geico, Men's Warehouse, Proctor & Gamble, Progressive Insurance, Sargento, and a few others in pulling advertising from Fox that might have been slated to run during Beck's 5 pm slot.
Shareholders in these corporate monuments to brainless marketing will be interested to know that Beck's audience is bigger than those watching all of his competitors on MSNBC, CNN, CNBC and HLN combined. Don't be surprised if those same shareholders also wonder who should be served first - the millions of potential customers watching Beck or the Potemkin creation of a former MoveOn.org organizer and his three cohorts.
My guess is that many among Beck's viewers - and millions more people who have never watched his show - would be outraged to know these corporations are aiding and abetting a vicious, hypocritical campaign to slander him by an outfit apparently created for just such a purpose. Many of these viewers will also want to know what they can do to help Beck.
I have a suggestion for them - Boycott Wal-Mart. Remind these corporate cop-outs that politically inspired boycotts can go both ways, but the economic consequences are likely to be far more devastating to those who depend on consumers whose political views span the ideological spectrum. Or, to put it more bluntly for the marketing geniuses in Wal-Mart's Bentonville, Arkansas, headquarters, there are far more Americans who agree with Beck and/or simply love the freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment than the anti-free speech comissars on the extreme fringe of the far Left who are trying to shut him up.
And, given the likely demographic overlap of Beck viewers and Wal-Mart shoppers, the monster Big Box store chain is the perfect target of a counter-boycott. Can you guess who is more likely to feel pain first - the cable news guy whose ratings are skyrocketing as Obama's plunge or Wal-Mart?
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14 comments:
I watched Beck once when he was on CNN and thought to myself, "this asshole should be on Fox" The rest is history.
First of all, if you take an honest look at what Obummer has done so far, you will notice that most things are geared toward helping blacks, in one way or another, like the 30% increase in welfare benefits as soon as he took office. Did any other people get a 30% increase in their benefits? What about the hundreds-of-millions in tax payer money to Acorn? Only a fuzzy-brained liberal would not be able (see: refuse) to see the truth.
As for this group of leftist whiners, apparently, it is now the easiest thing in the world to start your own organization, especially if you're part of the radical Left. These groups rarely have more than a few "members", but create the illusion that they are Millions strong! Having an org. and a web site, or facebook page, or UTube video, or Tweetering/Twattering/Twootering, or whatever other crap is out there, gives these Leftist psycho's the "appearance" of legitimacy. But they're still psycho's!
One of the best ways to spot a true racist is to take a close and honest look at those who are always complaining about racism.
How about country radio and their boycott of the Dixie chicks? I seem to remember a lot of support on that action back then. So is it only OK to boycott the left or...?
Seriously, corporations ought to make decisions based on laws and profit margin. As outsiders we may criticize and ridicule the decision makers for their poor judgment but that's about it.
"I watched Beck once when he was on CNN and thought to myself, "this asshole should be on Fox" The rest is history."
---The man is not an asshole, the man is a patriot, a hero of people who love common sense and freedom.
"Seriously, corporations ought to make decisions based on laws and profit margin."
The banks made decisions based on laws and profit margins, and look where they are now. Companies should also have an obligation to act in the public interest.
Meaning, if they have a choice of doing something, but if they do it'll fuck things up royally for everyone else, but they'll make a shit load of money doing it, they shouldn't do it.
As to the topic. If you really think a boycott of Walmart will work, knock yourself out. Personally, I think it'll last a day, maybe two, and then people will realize they need to buy things and that walmart is the cheapest place to get them.
"The banks made decisions based on laws and profit margins, and look where they are now."
---That's not a good example, banks loan money so they always take a risk. Wal-Mart and Best Buy sell goods, when their clients use a credit card they always get their money and if their clients default, it's the credit card companies that have to chase them.
"Companies should also have an obligation to act in the public interest."
---I disagree, charity is charity and business is business. The public interest doesn't matter unless it's good for business. For example, I would be happier if American Airlines offered a cheaper first class and bigger coach seats instead of donating x amount of money to Habitat for Humanity.
"As to the topic. If you really think a boycott of Walmart will work, knock yourself out. Personally, I think it'll last a day, maybe two, and then people will realize they need to buy things and that walmart is the cheapest place to get them."
---Liberals for the most part hate Wal-Mart, that means their average customer is blue collar and conservative. Do you really think they can afford to piss off 90% of their shoppers? Remember when Wal-Mart didn't want to say "Merry Christmas?" We set them straight.
And by the way, if Wal-Mart becomes a liberal company, I'm just gonna keep shopping at Target that place is nicer, cleaner, it has less people, the lines move faster and the prices are pretty good. So if Wal-Mart wants to get me back, they have to please my politics.
"That's not a good example, banks loan money so they always take a risk. Wal-Mart and Best Buy sell goods, when their clients use a credit card they always get their money and if their clients default, it's the credit card companies that have to chase them."
Fair enough.
"I disagree, charity is charity and business is business. The public interest doesn't matter unless it's good for business."
Charity work wasn't actually what I meant by public interest. I meant more like dumping industrial waste in a lake or river people swim in. Let's go back to before it was illegal. The companies saved money by not disposing of their waste properly, but the health of the public was put in jeopardy by their actions. Business practice and the public interest conflicted there.
"Liberals for the most part hate Wal-Mart, that means their average customer is blue collar and conservative."
I know many liberals who shop at Walmart, simply because of their prices. The extreme left do boycott them, but you don't become that powerful by only appealing to 50% of the country. Don't fool yourself into thinking that if you walk into one, most people there are conservative. That's simply not true
"...I'm just gonna keep shopping at Target that place is nicer, cleaner, it has less people, the lines move faster and the prices are pretty good. So if Wal-Mart wants to get me back, they have to please my politics."
Sounds to me like you should just shop at Target anyway. You seem to like them more.
It's pretty clear to see why Leftists hate Beck. He, unlike the rest of the MSM, shines a light on them and their activities. And like cockroachs, they don't like that. Even though i dislike his personal style, his is one of only a few voices "real" Americans have.
If the day ever comes when the American people can once again start thinking for themselves and find their will power, he will be one of the reasons why.
QUOTABLE QUOTES
" A revolt is afoot in the nation. The media and the political class might not understand the appeal of the Ron Pauls and Glenn Becks of the world. But even many of those who disagree with Paul and Beck on the specifics understand the draw. Something is resurfacing. Americans are increasingly unafraid to say the word "liberty". Politicians who don't share that trait may want to start updating their résumés."
– Tony Senik, Real Clear Politics
"The banks made decisions based on laws and profit margins, and look where they are now. Companies should also have an obligation to act in the public interest."
This kind of goes against the core of capitalism. Companies are there so the owners can make money and get a return on their investment. Greed is the driving force behind all this and that is OK as long as that greed is contained. That's where laws come in and your example of waste dumbs is a good one.
"Charity work wasn't actually what I meant by public interest. I meant more like dumping industrial waste in a lake or river people swim in. Let's go back to before it was illegal. The companies saved money by not disposing of their waste properly, but the health of the public was put in jeopardy by their actions. Business practice and the public interest conflicted there."
---In that case I agree with you.
"Sounds to me like you should just shop at Target anyway. You seem to like them more."
---I guess that's true, I do like them more although I admire Wal-Mart for selling guns.
I do not know if baroke odamna is a rascist, but i would rather listen to Beck all the time than the ober-fuhrer odamna.
Anyone who is accusing a president of being a racist based solely on conjecture is completely wrong, and definitely should suffer the wrath of a boycott. I, for one, will never buy another Kanye West album.
Walmart is just on the watch list. They are not on the turn-coat list. Go to defendglenn.com to see which companies to boycott and which ones to support.
Walmart is not doing any talk shows on any channel.
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