Christian group suspends Ford boycott (Give Dealers Time to Lobby Ford)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8119504/

conservative Christian activist group said Monday that it had suspended its boycott of Ford Motor Co. after Ford dealers promised to lobby the automaker to address the group’s concerns about its support for gay and lesbian rights.

The American Family Association, which is based in Tupelo, Miss., announced the boycott only a week ago, calling Ford “the company which has done the most to affirm and promote the homosexual lifestyle.” Ford extends benefits to employees’ same-sex partners, offers to make donations to gay advocacy groups when their members buy specific automobiles, sponsors gay pride celebrations and advertises in gay-oriented publications, part of what it says is an important diversity outreach.

The AFA, which recently ended a nine-year boycott of Walt Disney Co., said more than 110,000 people signed its pledge to boycott Ford for the company’s support of same-sex marriage.

On Monday, the AFA said in a statement that it had met with a group of Ford dealers who it said asked for time to see whether the organization’s complaints “could be addressed by the dealers in cooperation with officials from Ford Motor Company.” It said it would suspend the action until Dec. 31.

[expatriot]

1. We should be prepared to boycott Ford if they back down..... nt

[realisticphish]

2. we need to let ford know

that there are a LOT of us who want them to keep on doing what they can for gay rights

[MARALE]

3. Yes, we need to let them know

that a lot of people do support them. Afa is very active in letter writing and calling, they really are not that strong, they just make a lot of noise.

BTW love your penguin!

[gratuitous]

4. They're beaten, but they're declaring a suspension

In other words, Ford told AFA to go piss up a rope, and AFA doesn't have nearly the muscle it claims it had, so they're running off and hoping that in a few months, nobody remembers their reckless cluelessness.

[okieinpain]

12. oh man I just love this quote

Last month,(AFA) it ended its nine-year battle against Disney, which it launched because of the company�s �attitude, arrogance and embrace of the homosexual lifestyle.� Disney said it never made any policy changes in response to the boycott, and it reported higher earnings, citing increased attendance at its theme parks and strong performance from its film studio and ABC television network.

The AFA said it was moving on because �we have made our point.�

now that is some funny shit, see that is how repugs handle things. claim victory no matter how many times your nose whipped the other guys fist.

[madrchsod]

5. gays buy cars?

am i the last to know? what next!

[Maraya1969]

6. Yea and the 110,000 people who pledged to boycott Disney

was far less than the money Disney made and keeps making from the "gay days" there. Tell them to go ahead with their stupid boycott. Ford doesn't need those idiots and they wont make a dent in the companies profits.

This is another case of a mouse trying to roar.

[Kber]

9. That and the Microsoft climb down

after we made it known that abandoning gay rights will be more expensive and cost more customers than supporting them.

We Liberals have economic clout too.

[TechBear_Seattle]

10. Disney boycott *was* successful

I mean, they still can't afford pants for Donald!

[newyawker99]

16. Hi TechBear_Seattle!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[AllegroRondo]

7. Sure that makes sense

lets boycott a company because they refuse to discriminate the way we want them to.

[bushisanidiot]

8. The right wing loonies couldn't boycott their way out of paper bag

look at how they brought Disney to their knees.

bwahahahahaha!!!

Ford has nothing to worry about. The good 'ol boys won't stop driving (or buying) their "Ford Tough" trucks any time soon.

[Kber]

11. Your post prompted me to call my ford dealer

I bought a ford focus a few months ago. I just called the dealership to tell them that I had read about the boycott and the "suspension to lobby dealerships". I wanted them to please tell HQ that one of the reasons we bought a Ford in the first place was their policy in regard to domestic partner health benefits. I also told them that if they changed their policies because of pressure from a fringe minority that I would have to take our name off the waiting list for the Hybrid Explorer that we want to buy from them and that I'd be trading in my Focus as well. The sales guy I spoke with (the very nice man who sold me my car) said he'd be very happy to pass my comments along to HQ. :)

[gratuitous]

13. Good counter!

For every brain-dead bigot who contacts a dealer, there should be at least one (and preferably more) actual buyer from the dealer who gives them the opposite message. Ford, like every other business on the planet, is driven by profit not ideology. If bowing to the bigots' whims costs them money, you can bet Ford's honchos will not do it, and the input of a heretofore satisfied customer will weigh a lot heavier in their decision than the rantings of some yahoo who's never bought a Ford.

But this is an admission of defeat in any event. It's a lot easier and cheaper to persuade a handful of executives at the corporate level than it is to percolate action upward from a handful of dealers scattered around the country. Their thrust will be greatly diminished by going through individual dealerships, and they know it. This is clearly the sound of retreat while bleating "Victory! Victory!" Only their delusional followers will believe that they've actually achieved anything.

[InvisibleTouch]

14. I'm interested in the hybrid Explorer too.

This makes me more interested. :)

[Kber]

15. My husband has been considering a SUV for his business

He frequently has to haul a fair amount of computer equipment around and could really use the extra space inside. They had a front wheel drive version at the dealership last month, but I thought one of the advantages of an SUV is its ability to drive in the snow and ice, so a front wheel version didn't make sense to me.

Most of my husband's business is local, so I think a hybrid would be perfect for him.

I personally don't like driving big cars though, so it would definately be his car, not mine. I do love my Focus though - wish it came in a hybrid version too!

[Rex]

17. Church of Intolerance

Funny how they totally failed with the boycott.