Hey, ConAgra (ABC advertiser), how's THIS for a "buying pattern?"

[Pab Sungenis]

DeMarco Cinemas
40 West Landis Avenue
Vineland, NJ 08360

September 13, 2006

ConAgra Foods
Consumer Affairs
P.O. Box 3768
Omaha, NE 68103-0768

To Whom It May Concern:

I have just read the response that your company sent to a Mr. Daniel Churchman of Leesburg, GA, on the Democratic Underground website. (see it here!)

Mr. Churchman wrote to you complaining about your decision to continue to advertise on ABC-TV in light of their airing of the horribly inaccurate “docudrama” The Path To 9/11. In your response, you were dismissive of Mr. Churchman claiming you “do not determine
our media buying patterns based on interest group pressure.”

I lost a good friend on 9/11, a man named John P. O’Neill, who then was horribly slandered by the portrayal of him in this alleged “drama.” When you add in all of the other inaccuracies reported widely in the press prior to this film being allowed to air, it is obvious that ABC had an agenda behind airing this film, and ConAgra is forwarding that agenda by continuing to fund them through ad revenues.

I am not an interest group. I am a patriotic American who is sick of watching groups like ABC use money from companies like yours to wave the bloody shirt, mocking those of us who lost friends and family on that horrible day by using their deaths to further divide and intimidate this country. And I resent implications that people like myself and Mr. Churchman are nothing more than an interest group to you.

Since your company has adopted such an attitude, I am doing to you what you should have done to ABC.

I have just sent out an E-Mail ordering the immediate removal of Slim Jims and Hebrew National Hot Dogs from our concession stands. I have also cancelled all pending orders for Act II Popcorn, Popping Oil, and Popcorn Salt, and will be seeking alternate products from my suppliers.

I regret that your actions have made this action necessary.


Yours,
Paul L. Sungenis, Owner
DeMarco Cinemas

PLS/hs

[rinsd]

1. I like the moxie but lose your personal info.

[Pab Sungenis]

2. I don't care.

The mailing address for my theater is public knowledge. We're in the book, and advertise widely with it.

[FogerRox]

9. Right on Brother, right on. KnR

[blm]

17. Salute to you, patriot.

This is what will make America America...again.

[mom cat]

75. You are a true patriot and I salute you:

:dem::toast::bounce::bounce::patriot: :smoke::smoke::yourock::smoke::smoke::patriot::bounce::bounce::toast::kick:

Thanks for yopur courage and passion!

[Bluebear]

3. Congrats, Paul.

Condolences on the loss of your friend and congrats on your taking action.

[Pab Sungenis]

7. I do what I can.

Unfortunately, I have long-term bookings with Disney that I can't cancel yet, but we'll see how quickly I book the next Buena Vista Distribution film.

[datadiva]

4. Now that's what I'm talkin bout! , eom

[Subdivisions]

5. BOO-YAH!

[blogslut]

6. Very nice

I like it. Let us know how they respond.

[truthseeker1]

8. Bravo!

Wow! Well said and what a way to put action behind your words. I hope more business owners will take a stand like you have.

Is your friend the same person who took over security for the WTC just prior to the attacks?

[Pab Sungenis]

13. Exact same man.

I had a thread on here last weekend talking about my experiences with John O'Neill.

[Subdivisions]

15. You gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling that will last all day, Paul...

Thank you.

I do have a question though. Would you be willing to call some of your like-minded associates and theatre owners and ask them to do the same? If more and more food vendors do what you have done, perhaps together you can send ConAgra a message they can't ignore.

[Synnical]

10. Oh, Good on You!

Thank you so much for this.

:kick: :yourock: :applause:

[Suziq]

11. Absolutely Beautiful!

:thumbsup:

[WA98296]

12. Wow. Thanks for posting. Impressed!

[Kali]

14. Wow, thanks.

(and that isn't the only reason to dump con-agra, but that is a different topic)

[jumpoffdaplanet]

16. Wow!!!

Now that's ballsy!

I salute you, and if I lived in NJ, I'd only go to your cinemas.

Let us know if they respond.

[plcdude]

18. Excellent

Thank you for doing that.

[PleadTheFirst]

19. BRAVO!!!!

Give em hell, Paul - and hit em where it hurts: their wallets. It's the only thing these guys care about.

[petersjo02]

20. Way cool, Paul

This will bite ConAgra where it hurts, in the pocket book.

[brook]

21. I salute you!

Great letter and admiral stand. :toast:

I am posting a list of their products and links to some very interesting 'reading' on said products.

brands:

ACT II Andy Capp's Angela Mia
Award Banquet Big Mama Sausage
Blue Bonnet Brown 'N Serve Butterball
Chef Boyardee County Line Crunch 'n Munch
Culturelle DAVID Seeds Dennison's
Eckrich Eckrich Ready Crisp Egg Beaters
Fernando's Firecracker Fleischmann's
Gebhardt Gilardi Foods Gilroy
Golden Cuisine Gulden's Healthy Choice
Hebrew National Hunt's Snack Pack
J. Hungerford Smith Jiffy Pop Kid Cuisine
Knott's Berry Farm La Choy Lamb Weston
Lamb Weston Inland Valley Libby's Lightlife
Longmont Luck's LunchMakers
Mama Rosa's Manwich Margherita
Marie Callender's Move Over Butter Orville Redenbacher's
PAM Parkay Patio
Pemmican Penrose Peter Pan
Ranch Style Reddi-wip Ro*Tel
Rosarita Slim Jim Squeeze 'N Go
Swiss Miss The Max Van Camp's
Wesson Wolf

recalls

An opinion

Oh,Oh

[greenbriar]

27. whew...only popcorn that I don't need anyway

I can't stnd them

[LiberalEsto]

34. Most of this stuff is yucky anyway

A boycott will be a piece of cake

[hippywife]

41. Thanx, Brook!

I don't see anything on that list I buy except for Act II popcorn but there are lots of other brands. Hell, need to start air-popping it anyway! Con-Agra is a huge meat supplier, too. Since we hardly ever eat meat, and buy organic when we do, that will be a snap, too.

:hi:

[brook]

44. I was surprised

to see quite a few things on the list that I do (but won't anymore) use - among them Hunt's, Gulden's and Butterball turkeys. All brands that I've known since childhood. It's sad when 'trust' is shattered.
Something we've experienced aplenty since the neocon coup. But change is good - and it begins with us!

[brer cat]

48. Me too! But we can do without...now we go shopping with our list.

[brook]

49. Exactly! n/t

[ima_sinnic]

46. I see Healthy Choice and Marie Callendar's on that list -- both of

which I buy when I'm feeling lazy and in a "TV dinner" mood. Thanks for providing this list and a painless way for me to participate (trying to forego processed food anyway). I will write to let them know they can shove their Healthy Choice where the sun don't shine.

[NoSheep]

47. Damn! None of those "Products" even sound like FOOD! Bajeebus!

I wouldn't buy that shit just based on the names!

[Patchuli]

51. Wow, what crapola

We don't eat any of that garbage anyway!

[grizmaster]

60. easier to read right from their site

Hard to read that list with no commas

here's the list from their own page

http://www.conagrafoods.com/brands/brands.jsp

[conflictgirl]

77. That sucks that Rotel is on there!

I don't eat any of the other stuff because we're vegetarian and buy organic when possible, but I love me some Rotel. I got used to using it for almost everything when I lived in Texas.

Oh well...I can find alternatives!

[walldude]

22. It's people like you who really need to boycott these companies

an individual boycott doesn't have much effect, a corpopate boycott however.... :yourock: :toast:

[imouttahere]

66. What do you mean an individual boycott won't work????

History tells us otherwise (i.e. the Montgomery bus boycott). Obviously this will need to be on a much larger scale, but if we can't make simple sacrifices like boycotts this country is beyond screwed.

[Scout1071]

23. Thank you Paul.

The brands are duly noted. They will be receiving a letter from me as well.

[glitch]

24. How to express it?

:yourock: :grouphug: :loveya: :toast:

[BlueEyedSon]

25. k&r for Paul the Patriot!

[Hugin]

26. Wow... Just wow!

:thumbsup:

Thanks for the action.

[City Lights]

28. Way to go, pabsungenis.

:patriot:

[ms liberty]

29. Bravo!

Thank you - it's people like you who give me hope that we'll get through this gawd-awful mess.

On another note, I read your piece last week on John O'Neil; it was a moving and eloquent tribute to a brave man.

I'll be looking to see if you have any theaters in my area, and if you do I will defintely be patronizing them, and recommending them to friends and family. I urge ALL DU'ers to do the same! Do you have a website where we might find that info?

K&R

[yy4me]

30. Thank you Paul, we are all grateful that you have made

a meaningful stand. You have also given us a few names of products "not to buy" I wish we had a bigger list. Can you think of any additional products? Just saw the additions. Will put this list in my wallet.

[electprogdems]

31. You

are my new hero.

[chat_noir]

32. hey, Paul!!

[Lone_Star_Dem]

33. Give 'em hell!

My daughter will be in Jersey over the holidays this year. I'll make sure she knows that DeMarco Cinemas is American friendly. :)

[Tigress DEM]

35. SA--- LUTE!

:patriot:

:kick: Checkbook Patriotism Triumphs!


Here is a possible source for companies to replace Con-Agra

http://www.buyblue.org/?q=directory/alpha

(Maybe you can get your company on the list -- you don't even have to donate to political causes through your company --- there is a catagory for apolitical. At least people would know you DON'T contribute to rethugs.)


:yourock:

You can know that you are doing the right thing and sending a message
they will understand even if they don't like it

[Pooka Fey]

36. **tipping hat**, thanks and well done, sir!

[TygrBright]

37. woo-HOO! Way to kick 'em...

...and good for you!

Any chance of getting a DeMarco Cinema here in New Mexico? The local Regals are dingy, uncomfortable, and have a terrible selection at the concession stands. They don't even carry Junior Mints anymore! Imagine! A movie without JUNIOR MINTS?!?

irritatedly,
Bright

[Pab Sungenis]

58. I wish I had the money to expand.

We're barely keeping our four current screens open.

Any venture capitalists want to invest in a "blue" movie theater? :)

[cascadiance]

38. We should also write Costco to stop selling Hebrew National Hot dogs

for their $1.50 hot dog / soda combo. That would be a BIG loss to them if they switched to another vendor there. And Costco's another company that we might have a better time at persuading thme to do this, given them being a blue company with a greater propensity to take care of and listen to their customers.

Congrats to you Paul on taking a good stand. We need more folks like yourself standing up to these people embracing fascism.

[shadowknows69]

39. I want to come work for you Paul

Never worked in a cinema but I have seen every movie ever made if that helps B-) .Resume on request.

[me b zola]

40. Bravo Paul, Bravo

:yourock:

[tpsbmam]

42. Absolutely awesome! n/t

[cybildisobedience]

43. Wow....

you're a hero -- keep us posted! I'd love to see if they respond.

this is why I love DU.....

[Greyhound]

45. That is so cool, thank you very much.

Now we just need a couple thousand other small business owners to follow your lead.

:kick: for a true :patriot:

[Synnical]

50. dot dot dot

[mnhtnbb]

52. Kudos to you!

[pitohui]

53. wow nice job

two thumbs up for you!

[politicat]

54. Kicked and joined....

The only conagra product we use is flour, but I can find a substitute, even if it means raising the price by several tens of dollars over the year.

[Royal Sloan 09]

55. Thank You, Paul

For taking action against this corporation, they and others will continue to divide this country for profit.

[myrna minx]

56. Damn. That was such a pleasure to read.

Bravo. :applause:

[OzarkDem]

57. Yes it was! n/t

[grizmaster]

59. Wish I was in Jersey, to thank you personally

by giving you my business. Thanks for your principled stand.

[yellerpup]

61. K&R!

Now that's an American patriot! We stand up for ourselves, we stand up for our friends, and we try to do the right thing, always. You are an inspiration! :kick:

[Chimichurri]

62. FANTASTIC!!! You Sir, are a real patriot. I thank you from

the bottom of my popcorn loving heart.

[kiteinthewind]

63. Kick, to a TRUE U.S. Patriot!!

:yourock:

[IdaBriggs]

64. Smooch! THANK YOU!!! :) nt

[Straight Shooter]

65. ConAgra 2006 PAC Summary, $82,500 to date, 84% to Repubs, 16% to Dems

http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.asp?strid=C00087874&cycle=2006

2004, $177,500, 85% to Repubs, 15% to Dems

2000, $286,750, 77% to Repubs, 23% to Dems

Hmmm, I wonder what happened after 2000 that made ConAgra even friendlier to Repubs than they already are. As if we didn't know.

==================

Great letter, Paul. John O'Neill must have been an amazing man, considering the sterling character of his friends. I only "know" him through the PBS Frontline documentary. Link for anyone who has missed this. You'll never forget it.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/knew/


John O'Neill

[formercia]

67. I can do without those non-staples.

Too much Sodium content. Selling shit that tastes good.

Con Agra is poisoning or kids with their crap. Need more junk food connections to the GOP and ABC/Disney.

[lectrobyte]

68. Thank you.

[L0oniX]

69. Hit them where it hurts ...boycot all the repuke companies and products

Maybe it's time to have a civil war here too. I hate repukes and so does my boss. If it were up to me I would not do any business with any repukes. Damned ass carrots!

[The Deacon]

70. Hey - Thank You All

I really had only posted the note 'cause it struck me as snarky - but we may have started something here!
The Deacon (aka Dan Churchman)

[Uncle Joe]

71. Outstanding!

Kicked & recommended

:kick:

[Red Right and BLUE]

72. BRAVO.

No more Hebrew national in our house, either. We're just a couple, but thank you. When business like yours take their business elsewhere, it makes a much bigger impact.

[newspeak]

73. well, I'm a Newman's Own girl myself

love their popcorn, fig bars (and other cookies), salad dressing and spaghetti sauce!!!! When I buy Newman, I know some of the profits are going for a worthy cause--can't say the same for ConAgra.

[oldtime dfl_er]

74. Wow

That is so fantastic. I applaud you, sir!!!

http://www.cafepress.com/scarebaby/805375

[eagle owl]

76. Boycott

Thank you Mr. Sungenis. I will be writting a letter to their corporate headquarters expressing my displeasure for their support for deception and slander. I may be only one drop in the ocean but if enough consumers do the same thing as yourself we will make a difference. The loss of revenue is the great "fear factor" in the corporate world. Once again I thank you for your support of truth and liberty.