Update: Glenn Beck Sponsorship

I previously posted about some letters I had written to Glenn Beck's sponsors, as well as a letter I received from GEICO regarding their subjective decision. Today I checked my email, and found a second letter; this from ConAgra Foods:

August 21, 2009

Dear Soloman,

Your communication concerning the problem you experienced with our products was most welcome. We appreciate you bringing this matter to our attention.

Thank you for sharing your perspective with us regarding our decision not to advertise during the Glenn Beck show. Like many other advertisers, we work through a media buyer to purchase time on broadcast stations during periods when our targeted demographic is likely to be watching. Our advertisements are never intended to support or endorse a particular program, and we do not determine our media purchases based on interest groups or political agendas.

Regarding this decision, we want to be clear that ConAgra Foods is firmly committed to diversity. That commitment is not related in any way to a political or special interest group agenda-our commitment to diversity is core to our company's values. In addition, our advertising objectives-including reaching our targeted demographic-can be accomplished without the use of purchased air time during the Glenn Beck show.

Thank you so much for taking the time to contact us and for your interest in our fine products.

Sincerely,

Lesley
Consumer Affairs
Ref: 052582538A

I will again state my opinion. These places of business have every right to make any business decision they see as prudent. However, it is my belief that these decisions are not being made objectively. I also know that they are being strongly influenced by left wing extremist organizations, most specifically ColorOfChange.org, as can be seen by the "Featured Campaign" on the front page of ColorOfChange.org. It reads as follows:

"Fox's Glenn Beck recently said President Obama is "a racist" and has a "deep-seated hatred for white people." Beck is on a campaign to convince the American public that President Obama's agenda is about serving the needs of Black communities at White people's expense. It's repulsive, divisive and shouldn't be on the air.

Join us in calling on Beck's advertisers to stop sponsoring his show."

Now, to be fair, the quotes as described are not completely accurate, and are taken completely out of the context in which they are made during the course of a conversation that lasted over 10 minutes.

Furthermore, Beck's intent is assumed by ColorOfChange.org; it is completely subject to the interpretation of the people who create and maintain that website and any organization that may benefit from that website's efforts.

Here is the video from which the quotes in question are taken, the first at about 0:33, the second at about 2:00.



I do not believe that Glenn Beck is "On a campaign to convince the American public that President Obama's agenda is about serving the needs of Black communities at White people's expense." I do, however, believe that by presenting the facts in the following clip as well as many other facts over the course of Barack Obama's campaign and presidency, Glenn Beck is doing the American people a service that should be done by people with degrees in Journalism who are paid specifically for that work.



Glenn Beck has articulated the reasons for his beliefs on more than one occasion. While Beck's conclusion is subjective, it is his right to state his conclusion. I also understand that it is the right of ColorOfChange.org to attempt to manipulate the marketplace in order to persecute those with whom they disagree.

If I could, I would challenge the people at ColorOfChange.org to produce a thoughtful and articulate statement as to exactly why Glenn Beck is incorrect, rather than playing a game of political intimidation through marketplace manipulation.

In the meantime, thanks for stopping by - and your thoughts are always welcome.