GM Hires Fox News Mouthpiece Sean Hannity As Spokesman

[CatWoman]

General Motors has hired right-wing talk show host Sean Hannity to be the lead spokesman for a car giveaway campaign called “You’re a Great American“:

To stimulate consumer interest in its line of American-built cars, General Motors has turned to radio and Sean Hannity. … Hannity will serve as the spokesperson for GM’s You’re A Great American Car Give-Away, offering radio listeners the chance to pick and win one of five GM vehicles.

Hannity’s hiring comes as GM launches a new patriotic-themed ad campaign. The ads for GM’s Chevrolet Silverado include the slogan “Our country, our truck” and feature images of Rosa Parks and hurricane-damaged houses:


Hannity has a long history of divisive remarks and has repeatedly questioned the patriotism of his political opponents:

– Hannity said a Democratic victory in the midterm elections could be a “victory for the terrorists”

– Hannity said that “making sure Nancy Pelosi doesn’t become the speaker” is “worth … dying for.”

– Hannity defended Ann Coulter’s attack on the widows of 9/11 victims, whom Coulter described as “broads” who were “enjoying their husbands’ deaths.”

– Hannity compared voting for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) to voting for terrorist groups Hamas or Hezbollah.

GM should not make Sean Hannity the face of its promotions. Contact CEO Rick Wagoner now and tell him to drop Hannity.

Rick Wagoner — Chairman & CEO
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
http://thinkprogress.org/2006/09/29/hannity-gm/

[hatrack]

1. Great - a piece of shit spokesman for a piece of shit company

:eyes:

[datadiva]

2. Oh Man

Anyone wanna buy a Chevy? Just kidding. Do they really think this guy can sell cars?

[Mad_Dem_X]

3. I would be curious to see

how many vehicles this moron sells. I won't be one of them, that's for sure.

[opihimoimoi]

4. But but...is this a wise move?? A DEMOGOGUE??? its like RUSH at the NFL

2 minutes later and he was TOAST

Sean will cripple the Company.

[donco6]

5. Oops. I was looking at a Pontiac Solstice. Not 'n more. eom

[cynatnite]

9. Hubby wanted to hit the GM dealership tomorrow...

since we're looking for a new car.

Not going now.

[donco6]

14. Me too.

I've been researching online for weeks. Was going to go out to test drive, but I won't now. Any company that would hire that Nazi fuck won't be getting a dime from me.

[Atman]

35. You should STILL go...waste the salesman's time...then tell him why

you're walking out of the showroom. Hit them in their fucking wallets. These jamokes work on COMMISSION, and if they keep LOSING sales because of corporate policy, they will be pissed off and they'll complain to their bosses.

PLEASE, PLEASE, still go shop for that GM car. But then just laugh at them when they try to close the deal. Tell them you'll come back and talk after the home office shitcan's Hannity. Seriously...it will be far more effective than simply not going to the dealer at all.

[cynatnite]

43. An idea

hmm...well worth considering :evilgrin:

Thank You

[tammywammy]

48. No, that's a horrible idea

How would you like it if someone wasted 3 or 4 hours of your time, and oh, you don't get paid for your time either.

Sales people are hard working individuals. If they don't sell cars, they make between $1200-1600 for the month...before taxes. These people have families and children to feed. Why waste their time.

Sales people & dealership owners have zero input on a national marketing campaigns.

If you're upset with GM, I'd suggest writing Detroit a letter explaining why. That would be way moreeffective than wasting a sales person's time.

[Atman]

49. Awe, poor them.

I'm sorry. I thought we were talking about the future of our democracy. You're correct...we should just roll over again and ask he republicans for a belly rub and warm blanky. They always come through for us.

[tammywammy]

50. So, the future of our democracy rests on

wasting a sales persons time????

Just don't go. Write a letter to the owner of a dealership to Detroit to whom ever.

[Atman]

51. Sure, Tammy.

Sure. Don't bother responding further if you're not even going to try to understand what I'm saying.

[tammywammy]

56. No, I know what you're saying

But I think it's just stupid to waste someone's time like this, esp since the majority of people I know that sell cars are democrats.

edited to add: Just not buying the car period, without setting foot in the dealership sets the record. If GM sales go down, while Toyotas go up, well there you have it. More people prefer Toyota and then GM thinks that their new campaign doesn't work.

[Old and In the Way]

19. Me too!

A post-midlife crisis, I guess....great sportscar, been into the Pontiac dealership a couple of times. No longer interested.

[donco6]

23. Ha! Me too.

I've had my Volvo wagon for years, but something . . . about . . . a . . . little . . . roadster . . .

I've gotta have one before I kick off.

[leesa]

65. Make sure you tell them that.

[tcfrogs]

6. Caught part of his show the other day

So shoot me, I was trolling along the dial looking for traffic reports. Heard that they are giving away a GM vehicle to a Hannity listener every day next week or something like that. Thought it might be funny if it were someone from DU. I believe you can register at his site, if one dares to venture there.

[RamboLiberal]

11. You'd have to stomach listening to his show

He announces the winners on his show then you have to email to respond to hearing your name. No thanks.

I'm not in the car market at the moment, still have 2 1/2 years to pay on my GM Pontiac Vibe - but when I am I will remember this and it will have some bearing on my decision. I like my Vibe and may have bought another one but I'm also pissed they stopped production on the AWD version. With their blurb yesterday they need to sell more Hummers I wonder if they will even be around in their present version when I next shop in '09.

Except for one vehicle, my family & I have bought GM's dating back to the 40's.

This marketing move does turn me off to them.

[LTR]

22. Get a Toyota Matrix

Same car.

On the other hand, both the Pontiac and Toyota versions are made as a joint venture between GM and Toyota in Fremont, CA.

[Atman]

34. Toyota Matrix is a Pontiac Vibe.

GM and Toyota are partners.

[RamboLiberal]

38. I know that - that's why I'm hoping it will last beyond 100,000 miles

eom

[LTR]

61. I thought that's what I just said

:wtf:

[RebelOne]

17. I had been thinking of that also. We should all register.

Wouldn't it be ironic if an "evil liberal" (as he calls Dems) won a car?

[RamboLiberal]

46. You have to listen to Hannity to hear your name announced

Then you have to email that you heard your name.

[Yavin4]

7. Does GM Want To Actually Sell Cars Any More?

It seems like they're doing everything in their power to lose market share from building gas guzzlers to hiring Hannity. Are they trying to go out of business on purpose? Is management this dumb?

[rrasile]

12. If they want

a great American then they are making just one more of a long line of mistakes. When will those shareholders learn that we don't believe half the shit they throw at us. Myself, I hate the car manufacture that interrupts my football games.
Madision Avenue can't know how to sell those hunks of junk, hell they ride the subways and take cabs. Go out and beat Honda on the racetracks of the world and quit supporting those redneck cab drivers that pretend that they are racetrack drivers.
Remember the Shelby Cobra and the Ford GT. Give us some of that again.

[leesa]

66. Well, going under gets them government payola and then they can declare

bankruptcy, reorganize with lower wages, no benefits...a leaner, much meaner machine with higher corporate profits. Do they really lose anything?

[acmejack]

8. The Fools! This won't even work with the NASCAR fans!

Everyone knows those cars only turn LEFT!

[madinmaryland]

10. Guess I won't be buying a GM car in the near future!!!

What a schmuck!

[warrens]

13. I just told them I still don't drink Florida orange juice

Because of the Citrus Growers use of Pigboy Limbaugh. I was actually considering GM because of the 100K mile warranty. Buh-bye.

[RamboLiberal]

15. I sent an email to them

at the contact us link from GM site. Just Google GM - couldn't get link to paste correctly.

Told them I've been a loyal GM customer for nearly 40 years but this promotion with Sean Hannity who polarizes and demonizes Americans like myself has turned off this GM buyer and I will probably not be shopping with them in the future. I also criticized them for implying only Sean Hannity listeners are "Great Americans". I have to get back to work but I'll probably also drop an email or letter to my local GM Dealer and my GM salesperson.

Here's email I followed up with at link to CEO provided by ThinkProgress.

Dear Mr. Wagoner

This is the first time I've protested an advertising decision by any company, but I felt on this one I had to speak out. I've been a loyal GM customer for nearly 40 years with Oldsmobiles, Saturn and now Pontiac. My families loyalties to GM is 60+ years. I would've certainly looked at another GM when it comes time to trade my Pontiac Vibe. But this promotion will certainly have me looking at other car companies for my purchase. Besides being a loyal GM buyer, I'm also a loyal Democrat whose father worked in the USW mill which supplied the rolled steel for GM vehicles. Sean Hannity demonizes Americans like myself who disagree with the present administration. He leads in polarizing those of us who dare speak out against President Bush or his kind of Republicans and conservatives. Normally I wouldn't care where you advertise your vehicles - but this contest is over the top calling it "Great Americans". It implies that Hannity listeners are the "Great Americans". Well sorry I consider myself a patriot and while maybe not Great certainly a loyal American. And I consider many of the very people Hannity demonizes to be loyal and even "Great Americans".

– Hannity said a Democratic victory in the midterm elections could be a “victory for the terrorists”

– Hannity said that “making sure Nancy Pelosi doesn’t become the speaker” is “worth … dying for.”

– Hannity defended Ann Coulter’s attack on the widows of 9/11 victims, whom Coulter described as “broads” who were “enjoying their husbands’ deaths.”

– Hannity compared voting for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) to voting for terrorist groups Hamas or Hezbollah.

To run this contest says to me GM agrees with these views. I do not, so I will probably not be purchasing a GM vehicle in the future.

Sincerely,

xxxx and address with cell #

[Jacobin]

16. They're just TRYING to go broke, aren't they?

[zulchzulu]

18. Suggestions for new GM vehicle names...

The Affliction by Chevrolet

The Misfortune by Cadillac

The Beelzebub by Saturn

The Mephistopheles by Hummer

The Grand Illusion by Buick

The new Repugnance by GMC


Anyway, let that knucklehead be their spokeswhore. You're bound to see a huge boycott of GM cars because of it.

[Atman]

20. Holy SHIT, what are they THINKING?

Bush and the GOP are polling at 30%, and they think hiring a FOX extremist is going to HELP them?

Dear god...I'm so glad I just purchased a Hyundai, ironically enough, because my GM SUV got such shitty gas mileage. Now, I can make a tank of gas last nearly two weeks, because it sits in the driveway all the time.

[K8-EEE]

21. Oh Cripes I Have A SAAB

Which is GM....that's my last one!

[yorkiemommie1]

24. just emailed,

will be taking our business elsewhere. this is blatant nosethumbing at liberals.

[chat_noir]

25. email ammo

More pics and links here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_oet&address=358x4094


HANNITY: "You're not listening, Susan. You've got to learn something. He had weapons of mass destruction. He promised to disclose them. And he didn't do it. You would have let him go free; we decided to hold him accountable." (4/13/04)


HANNITY: "I never questioned anyone's patriotism." (9/18/03)

FACT:

HANNITY: (to attorney Stanley Cohen) "Is it you hate this president or that you hate America?" (4/30/03)

HANNITY: "Governor, why wouldn't anyone want to say the Pledge of Allegiance, unless they detested their own country or were ignorant of its greatness?" (6/12/03)

HANNITY: "You could explain something about your magazine, . Lisa Featherstone writing about the hate America march, the march that took place over the weekend..." (1/22/03)

HANNITY: "'I hate America.' This is the extreme left. There is a portion of the left -- not everybody who's left -- that does hate this country and blame this country for the ills of the world..." (1/23/02)

HANNITY: (speaking to Sara Flounders co-director of the International Action Center) "You don't like this country, do you? You don't -- you think this is an evil country. By your description of it right here, you think it's a bad country." (9/25/01)

http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.asp?c=biJRJ8OVF&b=91585

[trogdor]

26. Like I need another reason to buy a Toyota.

The Corolla gets 40 MPG. I guess being a "great American" includes wasting a bunch of gas.

[Atman]

33. Shh...GM and Toyota are partners

Sorry to tell you. Unless something's changed recently, which maybe it has. Chevy Prism (discontinued model) is a Toyota Coralla, right down the floor mats.

[farmbo]

27. I. Will. Never. Buy. Another. Piece-of-shit. GM. Car. Again... Never!!

That's it.

The end.

Fini.

[myrna minx]

28. Does GM want to go completely under?

How absurd!

On edit- so apparently, GM doesn't want Democratic money? Their loss I guess. :puke:

[bullwinkle428]

29. If the winner were to wear a "FUGWB" T-shirt as he personally received

the keys to the car from Insannity, would his humongous head explode in living color?

[Imagevision]

30. Hannity would sell his mother for a buck, throw his kids in for half...

pure american scum.

[indepat]

31. May the good Lord strike me dead if ever I buy a GM vehicle

[iwanmycntrybak]

32. What Ass*holes

[gatorboy]

36. Someone call into his show today and ask why he's supporting communism.

http://www.gm.com/company/gmability/sustainability/reports/05/500_economic/4_forty/542.html

INVESTING IN CHINA
.
Rapid China expansion

In June 2004 GM announced plans to continue the aggressive growth of its business in China. This includes the introduction of almost 20 new products, the development of new facilities at its local engineering and design center, the expansion of existing manufacturing joint ventures and the launch of a new financing joint venture. The proposed investment is expected to exceed US$3 billion over the next three years. The new investment will also benefit the US economy b y creating significant new business and employment opportunities for North American suppliers. These expansion plans reflect the confidence GM has in the long term prospects for the vehicle market in China.

[mimitabby]

37. kick

i just wrote them a letter telling them just how bad a choice i think they made!

[rateyes]

39. I used to work for GM,

in their insurance division. I haven't driven a GM vehicle since. And, won't.

[RamboLiberal]

40. Email I got back from GM

I sent to contact off their GM site. [e-mail]

Dear Ms. xxxxxx,

Thank you for contacting General Motors. We appreciate the time you have taken to write us. We apologize for any inconvenience; however, the promotional offer that is hosted by Sean Hannity is a promotional offered Sponsored by local Marketing Groups, which is a group of dealerships that get together to host events and local offers. At this time, we ask that you contact your local GM dealership's Sales Manager to file a complaint. Again, we apologize for any inconvenience.

At General Motors, we strive to provide exceptional customer service. If we can be of any further assistance please email us or call 1-800-462-8976 between the hours of 8am to 11pm Eastern Time seven days a week. Thank you for contacting General Motors.

Sincerely,
The General Motors Marketing Team
http://www.gm.com/

You have received this email advertising GM products and services in response to your recent request for vehicle information.
To opt out of receiving future email messages from General Motors please visit http://www.gmcontactpreferences.com/.
General Motors Corporation, 100 Renaissance Center, 482-MAR-100, Detroit, MI 48265

On Behalf of General Motors and Buckle Up America, we encourage you, your family and your friends to always Buckle Up.

What I sent.

Your decision to run a "Great American" contest with Sean Hannity has made this loyal - for 40 years, decide the next time I need a new vehicle I will probably not be shopping with GM. I find Hannity only polarizes and demonizes people like myself who are Democrats and do not agree with his views. And your company is implying with this contest that only Americans who are his listeners are "Great Americans".

[Touchdown]

59. So it's dealerships doing this, not GM?

Still, the manufacturer shouldn't want to be tainted with this.

Remember when that Ford sales Manager told some Freeper to take a hike, because they were marketing to "those immoral gays" a few months ago?

[Straight Shooter]

41. A second-rate spokesman for a second-rate company. LOL. n/t

[ContraBass Black]

42. I thought this was satire, but the comments suggest it isn't.

[EC]

44. I guess they really do WANT to go broke... n/t

[NNguyenMD]

45. so much for buying another Saturn

maybe I'll go with the Hyundai or Kia instead

[burythehatchet]

47. And I was just about to buy a frickin Cutlass

:rofl:

[WindRavenX]

52. another sign this country has jumped the shark

Hannity is a facist pig :puke:

[napi21]

53. IF you are all serious about canceling plans to buy a GM after

hearing this, I suggest you send an email to the sales dept. at GM Corp. I was never a GM fan, even before there was import competition, so I can't HONESTLY send them a notice, butremember Rush lost several gigs due to bad public response, and Sean could too!

[donco6]

63. I did.

I seriously was investigating a Solstice - I like the design and the reviews were OK. But it's off my list and I wrote them a message to tell them about it. I may even send them a picture of the new MX5 I'm buying.

[Justice Is Comin]

54. I won't buy a radio knob from GM now.

If I had to make one out of sticky putty.

[Gatchaman]

55. Fuck GM

I'll stick with Jeep, even though Dr. Z talking about his moustache reminds me of another famous german known for his moustache.

[farmboxer]

57. I will never buy GM crap again!

No way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[WCGreen]

58. GM, You're Dead to Me......

[Touchdown]

60. They also killed the EV-1 for more Hummers. Should be dead for that.

See the movie "Who Killed the Electric Car?" I remember when a hummer was an act, not a choking hunk of metal.;)

[and-justice-for-all]

62. That sucks...I like GM(Pontiac)...maaaannnnnn thats tragic

I will call and email them right away.

[Bozita]

64. Infuckingsanity! ... Corporate suicide par excellance

[subterranean]

67. This may help Hannity's ratings more than GM's sales

You have to endure his radio show for a chance to win the car. Not worth it to me.
Another poor management decision by GM.

[The Revolution]

68. Another nail in the coffin

I wasn't planning on ever buying a GM anyway, so this doesn't really change anything for me, but I think this is a really stupid idea. Hannity is not exactly a likable guy...

If anything, this will turn people away from GM, even if they don't really know who Sean Hannity is.