Lowe’s Stands By Decision To Pull Ads From Show About Muslims Despite Growing Backlash

[Purveyor]

By Associated Press,

NEW YORK — Home improvement chain Lowe’s plans to stick by its decision to yank its ads from a reality TV show about American Muslims amid growing debate over the move.

California Sen. Ted Lieu said Sunday that he is considering calling for a boycott of Lowe’s Cos., sparking criticism of the chain from both inside and outside of the Muslim community.

On social media web site Twitter, actor Kal Penn began directing people to a petition on signon.org in support of the TLC cable network show, “All-American Muslim.” By Monday afternoon, there were about 9,200 signatures.

U.S. Representative Keith Ellison of Minnesota, who is Muslim, released a statement Monday condemning Lowe’s for choosing “to uphold the beliefs of a fringe hate group and not the creed of the First Amendment.”

MORE...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/industries/lowes-stands-by-decision-to-pull-ads-from-show-about-muslims-despite-growing-backlash/2011/12/12/gIQASEmFqO_story.html

[Suich]

1. I don't watch the show on TLC, but

I'm amazed Lowe's pulled their ads. I always thought Lowe's was "blue" and Home Depot was "red."

Dumb move on their part, imo!

[caraher]

2. So they're doubling down on the stupid... ?

I don't need a senator to call for a boycott, Lowe's is off my list

[The Second Stone]

3. I shopped Home Depot today

instead of Lowe's because of this caving. I used to shop Lowe's exclusively because they were better to their employees. However, I will not shop Lowe's again because in this instance, they have gone from sponsoring cultural understanding to promoting bigotry.

[Simo 1939_1940]

17. You are aware that Home Depot supported the Bush campaign big-time, right?

And supports the GOP in general.

[Safetykitten]

20. Just so you know.

http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2011/06/home-depot-tells-anti-gay-hate-group-afa-what-they-can-do-with-their-petition/

[fascisthunter]

4. cowards...

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. Has Lowes ever said why they changed their media buy?

Seems a pretty basic question...some fundie group claiming credit in FL does not make them the reason.

[caraher]

6. Lowe's pretty much admitted that was why

From the article linked in the OP:

"Lowe’s, based in Mooresville, N.C., said it stands by its statement on Sunday that it pulled the ads after the show became a “lightning rod for people to voice complaints from a variety of perspectives — political, social and otherwise.”

I watched about 20 minutes of the show once. It was just vignettes from the lives of a handful of Muslims living ordinary lives in Dearborn, MI. If anything it was spectacularly ordinary, and hardly something to hyperventilate about.

... unless your tinfoil hat Christofascist mentality cannot conceive of a Muslim doing anything other than plotting to attack America...

Here's Lowe's statement on Facebook

[groundloop]

7. I don't do facebook, anyone have some email contacts at Lowe's HQ?

[caraher]

8. Sorry...

Here's their FB post:

It appears that we managed to step into a hotly contested debate with strong views from virtually every angle and perspective – social, political and otherwise – and we’ve managed to make some people very unhappy. We are sincerely sorry. We have a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, across our workforce and our customers, and we’re proud of that longstanding commitment.

Lowe’s has received a significant amount of communication on this program, from every perspective possible. Individuals and groups have strong political and societal views on this topic, and this program became a lighting rod for many of those views. As a result we did pull our advertising on this program. We believe it is best to respectfully defer to communities, individuals and groups to discuss and consider such issues of importance.

We strongly support and respect the right of our customers, the community at large, and our employees to have different views. If we have made anyone question that commitment, we apologize.

Thank you for allowing us to further explain our position.

WikiAnswers says there's no corporate email address, but you can supposedly contact the President of Lowes, Robert Niblock at [e-mail]

I haven't tried it.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

9. Like many retail companies/advertisers they want to avoid controversy

Unfortunately, at this point they are screwed.

[golfguru]

12. Lowe's is a business, not a political entity

I will keep shopping at Lowe's because I am interested in getting products at a fair price. Besides Lowe's is close to my condo.

And what about the millions of businesses who never advertise on that pro-muslim show? Why not single them out also? At least Lowe's was fair minded enough to advertise on it. Others did'nt even bother. Lowe's made a business decision, and I won't hold it against them for that reason.

[yellowcanine]

14. Hmm. Faulty logic I think. The point is that Lowe's apparently only pulled out in response to

pressure from anti-Muslim bigots. That is not the same as never having advertised there in the first place for perfectly fine business related reasons. It does not appear to have been a business decision. That is the point. The original decision to advertise WAS a business decision and now they are overriding that with a decision based on bigotry. That is not acceptable.

[golfguru]

19. I beg to differ

We have pressured several businesses in the past for a cause. Lowe's probably received lot of boycott threats, and they pulled the ads. How is that not a business decision based on current response from customers? May be now opposite pressure will surface and Lowe's could reverse again. Businesses usually react to situations as they develop.

You must remember, businesses exist to survive by selling a product at above cost. They do not exist to correct social wrongs. That is the job of elected reps.

[yellowcanine]

26. Not about a "cause", which suggests legitimacy. About bigotry. BIG difference.

We are not asking Lowe's to "correct a social wrong." We are asking them not to contribute to the social wrong. Again, BIG difference.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

28. Would you have any problem with Lowes if they never bought time American Muslim?

Do advertisers have a social responsibility to spread the wealth around?

No retailer wants to get involved with controversy. Their media buyer bought them time on a show that was foreseeably going to have some controversy. That person is most likely fired and now Lowes is screwed no matter what they do in terms of not wanting any controversy while selling you nails, lumber, etc.

Consider what this means for the future. No major company is going to buy time on any show that is out of the mainstream and TV will continue to evolve into a quivering mass of mainstream pablum.

[yellowcanine]

35. The point is they made a business decision to buy time and then made a decision based on bigotry to

pull the ads.

[Violet_Crumble]

21. What's controversial about All-American Muslim?

I really don't understand what anyone would find controversial about it...

[PassingFair]

25. The wacko right-wingers feel that it portray Muslims as PEOPLE.

This makes it harder to stay the course and defeat them as ENEMIES.

Really.

They don't want the evil horde "personalized".

It could cause Christians to drop their guard.

[shanti]

31. you're right, there isn't any

other than women wearing hijab. kind of a boring show, as reality shows go...

[yellowcanine]

15. So all anyone has to do to get Lowe's to pull their ads is to stir up a "controversy." So the thugs

are calling the shots on where Lowe's does their advertising.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

29. Pretty much true for the vast majority of retailers

[yellowcanine]

36. And when it happens they should get called on it.

[Freddie Stubbs]

10. What about all of the companies never agreed to advertise on the show in the first place?

[HangOnKids]

11. What?

I am sure you have a point Fred, but you failed to make it.

[Sherman A1]

24. I understood the point very well.

What of the decision making process of those businesses who simply did not advertise on this program?

[HangOnKids]

37. So

Those copmpanies did not advertise. They did not pull ad revenue from the show. Your point is ludicrous. Next.

[Sherman A1]

38. And one might say the same of

your rather "interesting" point as well.....

[yellowcanine]

13. I normally would choose Lowes over Home Despot but not anymore. Maybe I will seek out an

independent hardware store. There are still a few around.

[AlBratt]

16. No Shop Lowes Anymore

The American Family Association is headquartered on the "Dark Side" of my home town, Tupelo, MS. I refer to the "Dark Side" of Tupelo when I am exposing the AFA on my blog site. Tupelo is basically, a conservative community like the majority of my state which, BTW, is on the bottom among all other states in such categories as education and insurance coverage for our citizenry.

The AFA was recently listed as a hate-group by the Southern Povery Law Center. Part of their Christian fundamentalist agenda is Islamophobia, part of it Homophobia, others they bash are Democrats, Liberals, Seclarists (like me,) President Obama, Hollywood, Jews who denied Jesus, and on and on. They are, for all intents and purposes, a designated "Hate Group."

Consequently, the question in my mind is why would a Company with the status of Lowes cave to demands from this bigoted organization? Who knows, unless Lowes has decided to take refuge from the whole ugly episode by allowing the AFA to win. At any rate, there are too many home supply companies in my area for me to darken the doors at Lowes when Home Depot and others are only a few more miles distant.

[Bluenorthwest]

30. AFA has done this to others many times

Here is a link to an action they took in 2005 against 'gay friendly' shows. Of course, at that time, not many Democrats bothered to say a thing.
http://www.bpnews.net/printerfriendly.asp?ID=20614

[DeathToTheOil]

18. Cowards!

[sendero]

22. This really sucks..

.... I did a LOT of business with Lowe's (chosen consciously over Home Depot Bush lovers) in 2010 and 2011 as I was building out a house from scratch. I used to think this was an easy choice, but then a few months ago on some dumbass Fox news show (I saw at a restaurant, I'd never tune there myself) there was a huge Lowe's backdrop graphic behind the "desk".

It is hard for me to accept their "lightning rod, controversial" farce of an excuse when they are a big Fox supporter.

I guess I will just pick the closest store now, I can no longer really consider Lowe's any more responsible than Home Depot.

[truthisfreedom]

23. As PT Barnum once said, any press is good press.

I hope the show does well.

[mainer]

27. Amazon and McDonald's also pulled their ads.

The only difference is, they did not respond to calls from the media. They're ducking their heads and letting Lowe's take all the heat.

All these merchants are cowards.

[Douglas Carpenter]

32. Let me get this straight!? a show about ordinary Americans doing ordinary things and living ordinary

lives is just sooooooooo controvertial?

[gratuitous]

33. I can respect Lowe's standing by their decision

And, as they keep their advertising dollars in their pocket, I will likewise keep my home improvement dollars in my pocket, and if I must spend money on such items, I will be sure that none of it is spent at Lowe's.

Your dollars are your votes in this society. Spend them in support of merchants and businesses that promote your values.

[CRK7376]

34. As a long time

Lowe's customer, I was disappointed in their actions. Lowe's was a great help for both my son's Eagle Scout projects and really support our community. I have not watched the TLC show, but was dismayed that Lowe's caved to the religious right.