Radio ad draws fire for Muslim references (Columbus)

[OhioChick]

Sunday, September 24, 2006
Associated Press
Columbus - A car dealership's tongue-in-cheek radio advertisement declaring "a jihad on the automotive market" will not be changed, the company said, despite drawing sharp criticism that the ad's content is offensive.

Several stations rejected the spot from Dennis Mitsubishi, which boasts that sales representatives wearing "burqas" - head- to-toe traditional dress for Islamic women - will sell vehicles that can "comfortably seat 12 jihadists in the back."

"We firmly believe the ad does not in any way disrespect any religion or culture, but we feel, I guess, that maybe poking a little fun at radical extremists is fair game," dealership President Keith Dennis said Saturday. "It was our intention to craft something around some of the buzzwords of the day and give everyone a good chuckle and be a little bit of a tension reliever."

While Dennis defended the ad as a harmless attempt to bring levity to a serious situation, the Columbus chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations decried it as disrespectful.

http://www.cleveland.com/ohio/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1159095338216940.xml&coll=2

[MrPrax]

1. How bizarre...

Sure on one hand Muslims might be offended, but it fair comment nonetheless.

The bizarre part is that a car dealer in Ohio would actually think that linking terrorists with car bombs was a winning idea especially given that many of his potential customers know fellow citizens in the field who face the hazard of 'comfortably seated' jihadists in cars everyday?

CAIR has nailed one of the 'disrespect' points. I certainly hope people serving in the military in Ohio pay a visit and mention the OTHER disrespect part.

[Freedom_from_Chains]

2. The idea of advertising is to get attention

I would have to say then, that being true, this ad has been very successful.

[MrPrax]

4. Is that true?

I always figured that the 'any publicity is good publicity' canard was merely something ad execs spin to clients when their expensive campaigns fail.

It's a good strategy if your product is 'Paris Hilton', but whether is sells 'cars'...not sure about that.

I have never met a business guy whose real motive was attention -- everything is bottomline.

[Freedom_from_Chains]

6. Nope, you figured wrong. n/t

[MnFats]

3. Yeah? Then how about "Jesus CHRIST but we're repenting...

...from high prices!"
...or
"We're crucifying the competition!?"

[geek tragedy]

5. It's even dumber than it is offensive.

Seriously, wtf?