Let me preface this article by saying I am a huge fan of both Oreo cookies and Hallmark greeting cards. Both proved to be successful in a marketplace of ideas and products and have become household names in every corner of the nation and much of the world. Additionally, I’m not one of the many calling for boycotts of any particular corporation because I realize such actions rarely have any meaningful long-term results. I do understand, however, why so many are upset, and if you’re not already familiar with the stories, you will soon understand, too.
Beginning with the ubiquitous Nabisco’s recent support of the gay community through it’s rainbow-colored Oreo cookie ad, this week started with a corporation’s blatant interference into a hotly-contested political debate. With about 40,000 comments under the ad on Oreo’s Facebook page, it’s obvious that the campaign sparked a reaction from a considerable portion of its social media followers. Granted, many of the responses were positive, as one would expect considering the community of posters are on the record as “liking” the product, but there were many comments opposing Nabisco’s decision to embrace the gay agenda.
Oreo included the caption, “Proudly support love,” apparently not recognizing the fact that, to millions of Americans, such “love” is considered an abomination of God’s will. Sure, I know everyone sins, but since when did it become the role of a major corporation to openly support any other sin? I don’t recall Chrysler’s pro-theft ad, and I’ve never seen Coca-Cola run spots in favor of adultery. My point is that Nabisco should want all people to enjoy the Oreo, whether straight, gay, or celibate. When did sexuality become such an open issue that cookie commercials must weigh in on?
Pandering to a community that comprises well under 4 percent of the country’s citizens, while a number much higher than that is vocally outraged, seems like a counterproductive way to advertise your product.
In the end, though, it’s a corporation’s prerogative to make any social comment they deem appropriate and must then accept whatever support or backlash it elicits. Speaking in favor of something conservatives oppose is one thing; Hallmark’s slap in the face to the Tea Party in one of its cards is an equally ugly side of the same coin.
Bearing an image of Barack Obama on its cover, the card in question quotes the president: “You graduated! Time to go to a lot of parties!” Whether or not this was intended as a presidential endorsement of heavy partying to a group of recent graduates is a debate for another day as the caption inside the card is much more disturbing. “But avoid those tea parties if you can. Trust me,” reads the interior, an obvious reference to the Tea Party patriots, the bane of Obama’s existence.
I just don’t understand how these companies feel it is in their best interest to engage in political activism through products they offer to loyal customers. In a political climate so engaged in mud-slinging (primarily from the left but occasionally by right-wingers), I have more than enough incendiary rhetoric to dissect from legitimate sources. It’d be nice to eat a cookie and read a card without being bombarded by such divisive content.
Photo credit: I Believe I Can Fry (Creative Commons)
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Just keep on making Oreo cookies and bautiful greeting cards and stay out of politics.
I.m sorry, but this company, Kraft, is run by sick people. What do they want next, for us to give our young children and babies to the gays for their perverted sex pleasure? The next thing they’ll be promoting is pedophilia. Sack the responsible staff and boycott these freaks.
Oreo’s are crap junk, not even food. A hand written note trumps a cheap cheesy card any day. I have no need for either. They both sound like George Soros is meddling in their affairs……just like Home Depot and Progressive insurance, two more puke liberal businesses I shun. It all part of destroying our country and culture. I still can’t understand why, so I will continue to think of liberalism as a mental disorder (tho these sicko’s don’t deserve the benefit of the doubt).
I try not to use Home Depot unless I’m really desperate. Also, a few others like Comcast and CVS. Don’t know about progressive insurance and am really glad this Hallmark situation is covered. I’ll not use their crap overprice products again. As for Oreos, well, Nabisco may be trying to stay on the good side Mooch elle for fear of having their product ban from the vending machines in schools and colleges and public bldgs. like anything will stop these criminals in D.C. someone (I can’t remember who now) once said ‘when they came for that group I didn’t care for I was not one of them, and when they came for this group over here – I still didn’t care for it did not affect me. But, at last they came for me and my group and to my sorrow I found there was no one left to defend me. Eventually they’ll come for us all. Re-elect No-one. Romney 1 term just like BO. Until we see it made possible for decent people to get elected keep this philosophy, perhaps after 4-5 election cycles they’ll get the hint – They represent us not the Special Interest and we will not take it any longer. Get all your friends no matter what political persuasion to get on the same page, Re-elect No-one….
When a consumer doesn’t like a product or service, the consumer has the choice not to buy the product or service, and by word of mouth, including social media, to let others know of the disappointment.
But when an individual, a known entertainer (both media & the arts), a company or industry uses the unique ability to reach millions through any form of advertising support for an agenda that is contrary to everything this country, culture and society stand for, consumers should organize boycotts of the individual or company. We don’t have the luxury of being able to reach millions with our messages, so those millions are being inundated with messages from minority groups that damage our lives.
Mr. Agee thinks boycotts aren’t effective. However, I keep a list of those individuals and companies who support those agendas that take away the Rights of Americans. Every month or so, I resend the list to all my friends and interested parties with additions and as a reminder not to support those individuals and companies. Maybe it isn’t as effective as a television commercial or radio commentary reaching millions, but you would be surprised at the number of people who pass the messages to their own groups of friends.
I’ve eaten my last oreo and purchased my last Hallmark card–just as I no longer shop at Home Depot or Target–or support the Susan G. Komen Fund or the Girl Scouts. I’ve stopped watching shows and movies that promote homosexuality as a ‘normal’ activity and stopped supporting actors who use their notoriety to spout ultra-liberal nonsense and anti-American values–and I let the advertisers know. E-mail reminders can be effective when they continually circulate across the United States.
Just to be clear, I do support the choice of individuals to make their opinions known through their wallets. Not buying a product because of what that company has endorsed, or, for that matter, not watching a movie starring or produced by an anti-American Hollywood activist, is an important freedom we have in a capitalist society. I applaud the initiative you have taken to frequently forward lists of corporate offenders to your circle of friends and contacts and any lasting effects a company feels from a boycott is directly attributable to the efforts of you and those like you. That level of dedication is rare, though, which is why I said boycotts rarely elicit “meaningful long-term results.” In the short term, though, these actions will make an impact. Just because I don’t personally call for such boycotts doesn’t mean I don’t support the people and ideals behind them. I chose the other effective measure you mentioned: word of mouth. I appreciate those who take that information and turn it into positive action, whatever that action may be!
Add J C Penney’s to this list with Ellen Degenerous to be their spoksperson and flaunting homosexuals
in their catalogs.
One wonders what has suddenly taken hold of the decision-making processes at these Mega-Corp’s board meetings, when they campaign to support a miniscule perentage of the customer base at the expense of the far larger one. I’m sure they feel confident that the vast majority of the customers whom they just pissed off, will nonetheless keep crawling back to their stores like so many sheep beause we are simply to lazy to go to new sources, and comfortable with them to even consider anyone else. Sadly, to a great degree, they are correct. Personally, I try to do my part by NOT spending my income at their stores. I may be luckier in this than many. The nearest two Home Depot’s here have a Lowe’s directly across the street. There are still a couple of small hardware stores left that I try to frequent to support small businesses. The Hallmark store is flanked by 2 smaller card shops; one in a Walgreens, the other inside a grocery where I shop anyway. Nabisco is no big loss. They have more than enough competition around to take up the slack. We always made our own cookies in my house anyway. The kids liked them better, and it was fun making them. It is a sad commentary that the corperate world has decided to start stepping onto the Liberal’s stage. It’s up to all of us to do our part and make them pay the price for it, and let them know you’re doing it and why. This last part is key. You’re not making a point if they don’t know you’re doing it. If you don’t care enough to do something about these things, then your opinion is mute, and you become the reason they think they can get away with it.