Ford sux- Page 3

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 12/7/05 at 3:50pm

Yawper, if you read the link PJ provided earlier in this thread, you'd see that Ford now admits that they were bowing to pressure from hate mongers. Who's uninformed here?

[Yawper]

Posted: 12/7/05 at 3:51pm

As far as I'm concerned Ford didn't pull advertising to concede to the AFA and there's no reason to believe they did.

My stance is bolstered by the FACT that Ford didn't pull ALL of their ads, just the underperforming lines, and they have not pulled any event funding either.

I also KNOW that Ford is struggling financially and cut advertising is NOTHING compared to the fact that they are laying off AT LEAST 6% of their North American workforce


Updated On: 12/7/05 at 03:51 PM

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 12/7/05 at 3:54pm

Even after they admit it...someone needs to back their Dodge Ram over Yawper. Any takers?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/7/05 at 4:01pm

Well, Yawper you are wrong. Dead wrong.

From John Aravosis, who clearly knows more about this situation than you do:

Ford spokesman Mike Moran confirmed that Ford pulled its gay ads as a direct result of the meetings Ford had with the gay-hating extremist group American Family Association (AFA). Moran confirmed this to Sean Bugg, a well-known DC-based gay journalist, and editor of the popular DC gay publication, Metro Weekly. I have known Sean for years, and he is 100% credible....
When asked if the advertising was being discontinued because of the threatened AFA boycott, Moran said, "Ceasing advertising is an outgrowth of those meetings."

...

I called every name on the list I forwarded to you, and actually reached one guy on his cell phone, Jim Cain of Ford pr. We had a lengthy and civil, if tense, discussion. He clearly confirmed that Ford was pulling ads from "advocacy publications," which seems to cover every gay magazine and newspaper in the country since they "advocate" a "gay rights agenda." Cain said that this all started due to Ford ads in Europe, which apparently include some gay people/couples in a positive way.

But he did confirm that Ford had indeed reached a formal settlement with AFA, and this specifically includes withdrawing advertising for certain Ford vehicles from LGBT publications/media. He tried to wiggle out of it by saying that (a) Ford had a good track record re the LGBT community, and (b) Jaguar and other divisions are "almost like separate companies."?

Ford spokesmen Jim Cain and Mike Moran admit company caved to religious right demands

Updated On: 12/7/05 at 04:01 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/7/05 at 4:16pm

Here's the link to the DC Metro Weekly article. Be patient--the demands on their server are big today ebcause of this. It may take a little time to load.

Next I'll post some action links if you want to get involved. All of the big gay groups have united on this topic--a rare event in gay politics.

This is BIG, people.
Roll Over: Ford puts itself at the center of the latest battle over gays and corporate America

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/7/05 at 4:20pm

A friend put these together:

---

CNN and other major media have been reporting on this since the major national LGBT organizations issued their unity statement on this days ago .

Rather than reinvent the wheel, energies might most constructively be spent in support of the existing efforts already organized by our national organizations:

http://www.thetaskforce.org/aboutus/fordafa.cfm
(provides detailed background, plus contact info to protest to William Clay Ford, Jr., Ford's chairman of the board and CEO)

http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/campaign/askford_reaffirm/
(has automatic e-mail you can send to Ford (the company) and Ford [the CEO])

And stay tuned; undoubtedly, there will be more to come.
From GLAAD: additional contact info for protesting to Ford

[Yawper]

Posted: 12/7/05 at 5:07pm

know what? I really don't ****ing care anymore how you try to spin it. This is the reality of the situation:

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051207/AUTO01/512070322

http://detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0508/30/A01-297331.htm

http://detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0508/25/C02-292508.htm

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051207/AUTO01/512070325

and nobody in this country, even those who of you who think you're immune because you aren't directly affiliated with the American auto industry, is going to escape the economic fallout. Advertising pulled from media targeting a niche market is just one of the first drops of the coming storm.
Updated On: 12/7/05 at 05:07 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 1:07pm

Update from a friend in the advertising industry:

---

My sources say that the folks at the Volvo division were totally sideswiped (ahem...) by the decision and furious about this. Apparently the advertising and promotions with GLBT organizations were working well and they were very happy with both the spirit and results of the program. Stay tuned...

Updated On: 12/8/05 at 01:07 PM

[WindyCityActor]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 1:18pm

"I kind of detest people who advertise their homosexuality with flags and stickers."

"Yeah, you're gay. Get over it."

Ya know, I get kinda sick of seeing straight couples holding hands and kissing on the train. Yeah, you're straight. Get over it.

Captain, I occassionally block you because of some callous and assinine comment you've made, then I think I'm just being too hard on you. But, honey, your are blocked for life now.

[callingAAhome]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 1:33pm

"the folks at the Volvo division were totally sideswiped (ahem...) by the decision"

by which decision? PlanetOut's decision to drop Volvo ads or Ford's decision to stop advertising Jaguar and Landrover with PlanetOut?

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 1:37pm

You know Windy - the irony in his statement about "Get Over It" is that he was so out and excited about his attending both San Jose and San Francisco's gay pride parade. Does it get any gayer than that?

And as for Volvo - again, I know more gay men driving Jags than Volvo's. I mean - if you are going for a "Family" freindly car...would you not pull the Volvo ads first?

[WindyCityActor]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 1:41pm

Ya would think that when the Conservative Christan's boycott of Disney failed completely, that Ford would have realized that AFA doesn't really have that much influence.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 1:45pm

Internalized homophobia raises it's ugly head again...poor Capn!

I was thrilled at that bizarre rant from Yawper after I logged off last nite...must've struck a nerve! Sounds as if he/she works in the auto industry and in the closet.

[WindyCityActor]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 1:52pm

Now leave Yawper alone!

Can't you tell from the links that he posted that Ford is struggling to stay afloat?! It's only good business to alienate the one group with the most disposable income.

HUH?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 1:53pm

Yawper = RodneyK on meds

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 1:59pm

Capn IS gay? Well, you sure as hell wouldn't know from these posts which clearly indicate one who is absolutely unaware of how many rights he does NOT have and just how many people would be happy seeing gay people hidden or even jailed or murdered.

What a lovely euphora THAT must be.

He'll wake up soon enough. Sadly, it may come the hard way.

[Plum]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 2:05pm

The pattern I've seen with C_O isn't so much internalized homophobia as an overwhelming desire to lead a life free of politics or any engagement with the world past the tip of his nose.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 2:08pm

Well, I am soooo glad he chooses to share that with all of us--especially in political threads.

I don't, quite frankly, want THAT lifestyle shoved in MY face.

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 2:09pm

he's kept and a twit. Nuf said.

[VinnieMeatball]

Posted: 12/8/05 at 3:21pm

That's exactly why RobbO drives one of these...

[WindyCityActor]

Posted: 12/9/05 at 11:45am

http://patriotboy.blogspot.com/

Charlie Holleran
Vice President, Ford Motor Company

Dear Mr. Holleran

We view Ford's decision to end advertising in homosexual publications and sponsorship of homosexual events as nothing more than a weak attempt to direct attention away from a greater problem--the subversion of your company by a homosexual fifth column. Denying it will serve no purpose. The evidence is obvious to those of us who are adept at spotting homosexual influences in our culture.

Every time I get behind the wheel of one of your products I'm assaulted with temptation. The dashboard's seduction is subtle at first. I'll reach for the volume control and I'll hear the word, "knob," in my head. Soon, my head reels as I consider that word's various connotations while my conscience screams in protest. The gearshift, sensing my weakness, calls out to my hand, lustfully commanding its immediate attention. My fingers respond, gently stroking the shaft and teasing the shift-lock button until I want to cry out, demanding release. Before I know it, I'm standing on a Broadway corner, wearing a sailor suit, and striking up a conversation with the first guy I see. And I'm 110% heterosexual. I can only imagine how much worse it must be for those who are cursed with a weaker commitment to heterosexuality.

This isn't a mere coincidence. Your cars are designed to do this, designed by subversive engineers bent on promoting their homosexual agenda.

So you see, changing your marketing practices won't be enough. You must also redesign the interior of all your cars. Until you do so, our boycott will continue.

Heterosexually yours,

Gen. JC Christian, patriot
Updated On: 12/9/05 at 11:45 AM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/14/05 at 8:39am

americablog t-shirt center

[Elphaba]

Posted: 12/14/05 at 10:11am

Oh Gee....the Detroit News.......one of the 2 newspapers (owned by the same company) in the car capital of the world.......why do I think ANYTHING they say is going to be biased towrds that industry, LOL....

[Elphaba]

Posted: 12/14/05 at 10:23am

I kind of detest people who advertise their homosexuality with flags and stickers.

Yeah, you're gay. Get over it.

WOW......but I guess you like all the Christian freaks with their little stickers, or all the American flag stickers? Maybe you want to crawl back into the closet and hide Capn, but those of us who have been on the planet a long time, NEVER will again.......that is a REALLY stupid statement.

did you destest Gay pride in SJ or SF? I DON'T THINK SO.......

[Yawper]

Posted: 12/14/05 at 11:31am

The Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press do not have the same owners and they aren't biased toward the auto companies. They are, understandably, much more familiar with goings on in the domestic auto industry than other general, non-industry newspapers.

That t-shirt would more accurately reflect its wearers if it read "I hate Ford"