Lowes' Ad Dollars And Why Lawmaker Ted Lieu Is A Law-Moron
The LA Times' editorial board reveals yet another reason to support this notion about Lieu -- Lieu again showing how he has little understanding of our Constitution or laws:
Lowe's should have expected backlash when it pulled advertising from the TV reality show "All-American Muslim" in response to an email campaign by a conservative Christian group in Florida. Consumers who see the bigotry behind that campaign are understandably disappointed with the home improvement giant. It wasn't the company's finest moment.But Lowe's has every right to spend its advertising dollars where it chooses. It may not have been a courageous move or even, ultimately, a smart one, but it was a business decision the company is entitled to make. So it is disturbing that California Sen. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) is threatening to seek a "legislative remedy" unless the company apologizes in full to American Muslims, denounces the opinions of the show's critics and, perhaps, reverses itself on the advertising.
Lowe's was reacting to complaints generated by the Florida Family Assn. claiming that the show, which follows the day-to-day lives of several Muslim households in Dearborn, Mich., whitewashed its portrait of Muslim life and was trying to "manipulate Americans into ignoring the threat of jihad." In this group's view, if the show didn't portray Muslim terrorists, then it couldn't possibly be showing real Muslims.
Lowe's could have commanded respect by refusing to capitulate. But the purpose of advertising isn't generally to make brave statements; it's to attract more business. At the point where Lowe's perceived that its connection to the show might mean a loss of customers rather than a gain, it's not all that surprising that it chose to withdraw...
...The free speech provision of the U.S. Constitution protects the right of TV stations to air a show on Muslim families, the right of a Florida group to denounce the show, the right of activists to denounce haters and the right of companies to advertise where they choose. Government interference with any of those rights would come perilously close to forced, not free, speech.
Previously, "Ted Lieu Thinks It's Okay To Make Illegal Robocalls" (to your home):
California State Senator Ted Lieu left me a long recorded message (coming from a California number) endorsing the awful candidate Janice Hahn for the congressional seat Jane Harmon is vacating. It's California law that any political robocall has to begin with a live person on the phone. His call for Janice Hahn did not include that live person. In other words, we have yet another lawmaker breaking the law.As I wrote in I See Rude People, I do not pay a good deal of money every month to maintain a phone line so I can make telemarketers' (or political candidates') marketing costs cheaper. And my time is my own. You don't get to grab it by invading my life with your phone call. And no, I don't maintain a phone line so I can screen my calls, either.
Since Ted clearly thinks it's okay to steal my time and hijack my phone line, I'm sure he won't mind if a lot of people call him at home and tell him which political candidate they favor (or brand of coffee or deodorant). Here's what I just tweeted:
Did you get call w/recorded message from Ted Lieu endorsing (awful) Janice Hahn? Call Ted at home to tell him how you like that 310-373-0271.I hope people do call him at home. Only by imposing a cost on these people who abuse us with impunity will they change their ways. You want to send me a political message? Send it to me on your dime, in a way that doesn't interrupt my life, by mailing me a letter.
From the moron himself in the comments section:
Advice Goddess apparently has no idea of the law. Political robocalls are not illegal and are not restricted by any do not call list. I am pleased my robocalls helped Janice Hahn win the congressional primary. And I will do it again. If you have problems with political speech, I suggest you try to amend the Constitution.Posted by: Ted Lieu at May 19, 2011 6:06 PM
My reply to Lieu, complete with a remedial education for the moron in California laws:
Here, Ted, remedial education in the law -- there must be a live person asking permission for the robocall to start:http://stoppoliticalcalls.org/ht/display/ArticleDetails/i/25269/pid/700
The CPUC Code Sections 2871-2876 clearly prohibit any form of auto-dialer calls or robocalls being made in California unless the call is preceded by a live voice and states: "only after an unrecorded, natural voice announcement has been made to the person called by the person calling."
Being a lawmaker who breaks the law is like being a newspaper columnist who can't put a sentence together. I'm okay on the sentence-stringing -- how about you start learning and obeying the law.
Additionally, beyond the aspect of what's legal and illegal, it's simply rude to insert yourself into people's lives -- to make their phone ring and potentially wake them or their sleeping baby or interrupt their flow of their work. How disgusting that you can't seem to put this together on your own, and that you are proud of helping to elect Janice Hahn. I spoke to her on the phone and was shocked at how unable I found her to joust with me on the topic of robocalls and whether she'd continue making them and how she justified that.
Posted by: Amy Alkon at May 19, 2011 6:20 PM
Oh, and Janice Hahn is as smart and insightful as cement -- much like those who voted her in.
Senator Ted Lieu, once again confirming that he is an idiot. You all need to exercise your right to free speech by voting this dumbass out.
What 'legislative remedy is he thinking of that could possibly not clash with Consititutional law? Especially given that our wonderful (?) Supreme Court now thinks that corporations are people?
Television shows are not meant to be educational, they're broadcast to get ratings and/or attention, and this one certainly seems to be getting more than its due.
I was unaware there was such a thing as a 'moderate' Muslim. But since Islam allows one to lie to facilitate the spread of Islam, there you go.
DrCos at December 14, 2011 3:21 AM
"Especially given that our wonderful (?) Supreme Court now thinks that corporations are people?"
Actually, that's not wrong. A corporation is a single entity, a legal fiction designed to coordinate an activity, just like a governmental body. It has "eyes" - the CEO - "senses" - her advisors - and "muscles" - the money and processes the corporation controls.
Do not blame the lack of governmental intelligence in understanding markets and manufacturing realities on the corporation. Do not think that all corporations are multinational giants, either.
Finally, do not believe that anyone but you, the customer, pays a tax on a corporation. Taxes are a business expense. They increase the price of the corporation's product and reduce its earnings in order to divert income of the corporation to the government.
Exactly what the government does to you. You're a person, right?
I'll quote IBM, in one of the most ironic phrases ever used in advertising:
"Machines should work. People should think."
Radwaste at December 14, 2011 4:01 AM
"Political robocalls are not illegal and are not restricted by any do not call list. I am pleased my robocalls helped Janice Hahn win the congressional primary. And I will do it again. If you have problems with political speech, I suggest you try to amend the Constitution.
Posted by: Ted Lieu at May 19, 2011 6:06 PM"
More like,
"When we passed legislation against robocalls, we made sure to excerpt politicians because hell, we're the ruling class and screw you. If you have problems with political corruption, I suggest you move somewhere I don't live.
Posted by: Ted Lieu"
jerry at December 14, 2011 7:00 AM
The extreme levels of gerrymandering that prevail insure that a high proportion of the lame, lazy, and stupid of both parties will continue to be elected. Idiots use robocalls because they are cheap and do work to at least some extent. I use caller id and my answering machine to sort them out. In the rare instance where I answer any type of unsolicited telepest call, I terminate the call. No explanation or courtesy on my part is necessary.
BarSinister at December 14, 2011 7:12 AM
I'm amazed at the people who are so instantly enraged at Lowe's. We're talking about sponsorship of a motherfucking TV show... It's not like Lowe's withdrew their support of money to feed starving Biafrans just as the soup pot was starting to heat up.
The most telling part? None of the people who complain about Lowe's withdrawal of sponsorship —NONE of them— have offered to make up the shortfall with money from their own pockets. Nor have the recommended that anyone else do so. They don't give a rat's ass about the TV show. They're not watching it... They think it's for the little people.
Their fantasy of moral superiority IS that intense. They think the sort of Annistonian / Seinfeldian feelings people get from television will fix our problems with Islam. They think this fix needs to happen to someone else rather than to themselves, and they think yet another party needs to pay for it.
And nothing, nothing in life gives them a strokey-boner like calling someone a bigot.
They LOVE doing that! It requires things that feel like courage, but have none of the downsides in terms of risk or deep thinking. It's like punching someone in the nose without having to worry about getting punched in return!
Crid [CridComment at gmail] at December 14, 2011 10:29 AM
And yes, Lieu is a weasel, but he's only a typically dickless rodent, as government servants go.
I bet that with a moderate dollop of social engineering, it would be possible to collect all the addresses and numbers for his personal communications channels and choke the shit out of them…
…If one were so inclined.
Crid [CridComment at gmail] at December 14, 2011 10:33 AM
Deer Lowes:
Here's how you handle this temptest in a tea pot.
In light of how homosexuals are treated in the various Islamic Republics of the word - usually executed - we have decided to withdraw commercial support from this particular TV show.
I R A Darth Aggie at December 14, 2011 10:50 AM
Darthy slams the door, bitches.
Props. Proppy-props.
Crid [CridComment at gmail] at December 14, 2011 10:51 AM
Seriously, Dude/Ma'am... What does I R A Darth Aggie mean anyway? Are you a protestant from northern Britain who went to Texas A&M and who really enjoys Lucasfilm product?
Anyway, wish I'd said that.
Crid [CridComment at gmail] at December 14, 2011 12:34 PM
Also, the people who want to call Lowe's "bigoted" know this feeling.
Crid [CridComment at gmail] at December 14, 2011 12:35 PM
Well, it's called All-American Muslim, not Saudi Arabian Muslim or Irish Republican Army Mick or Jews in the West Bank Seinfeld.
Lowes can do what they want, but Home Depot, and I'm sure they're just as full of shit, should've taken the opportunity and the advertising.
jerry at December 14, 2011 1:12 PM
I'm guessin' Lowes gets a lot more business from the types of folks likely to follow a Florida Christian group's boycott than it does from the types of folks likely to watch "All-American Muslim."
It's not like Lowes decided to pull its sponsorship in a vaccuum. The company's managers and big thinkers probably did some market research ... you know, asked a few questions, polled their neighbors, checked the Magic 8-Ball.
Conan the Grammarian at December 14, 2011 3:01 PM
OK, Coney, but I still wish some of the people calling them "bigots" (and they're some of my favorite people on the planet) would understand that such accusations don't affirm their own decency in any meaningful way.
Supporting this TV show was, in the estimation of most people, a minor act of charity... Something courteous but perhaps not essential for their own sustenance, and something that any other party could do as well. So why would we harsh them for withdrawing their support? I've supported dozens of charities large and small over the years, and I change it up every year. Am I a bigot for not sticking with a single case for a lifetime?
Crid [CridComment at gmail] at December 14, 2011 3:13 PM
Well, I've been hoping to pick a fight with Amy about this for a few weeks now, but she won't take the bait. In fact, everyone is being despicably thoughtful about this, which makes it tough times for blowhards. Nonetheless…
Crid [CridComment at gmail] at December 14, 2011 7:31 PM
…Everyone should watch this clip. (six minutes)
They say the United States is the most religious country in the world... Those of us who have concerns about that had better pick our battles carefully, since our example will be and should be available to everyone. (two minutes)
Crid [CridComment at gmail] at December 14, 2011 7:34 PM
"Mostly, I just thought the show sucked"
The Chief Marketing Officer of Kayak explains why his company decided not to advertise on this show any more:
http://www.kayak.com/news/we-handled-this-poorly.bd.html
Martin at December 14, 2011 8:33 PM
Izzat Fureeyil?
Crid [CridComment at gmail] at December 14, 2011 11:46 PM
Ted Lieu is an idiot.
Actually, that may be insulting to idiots. Lowe's absolutely has the right to yank their advertising from any show they see fit, whether it's All American Muslim or Jersey Shore (which did lose a bunch of advertisers).
Choika at December 15, 2011 6:23 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/12/14/ted_lieu_is_a_m.html#comment-2855576">comment from ChoikaThey also have the right to yank their advertising from All American Atheist, and atheists have the right to boycott the hell out of Lowe's if they do, same as those of the totalitarian system masquerading as a religion that's behind the slaughter of gay teenagers in Iran, stoning of rape victims, etc.
Amy Alkon
at December 15, 2011 6:41 AM
Yes the Kayak story is for real:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/12/all-american-muslim-kayak-calls-show-terrible-but-apologizes-to-customers.html
Martin at December 15, 2011 9:01 AM
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