Ford pulls LR/Jag GLBT support due to American Family threat

Not Afraid · 12-06-2005, 04:33 PM

Ford, the parent company of Jaguar and Land Rover, has caved in to threats of a boycott by American Family and has order Jag and LR to pull all advertising aimed at their sizable GLBT audience.

Today, Ford, the world's second largest auto maker, forced subsidiaries Jaguar and Land Rover) to pull all support for gay/lesbian publications after being threatened by the American Family Association. Intitially Ford fought American Family saying that they do not discriminate. Today, however, they have given in to boycott threats and forced Jag and LR to give up their support of the GLBT community which has been incredibly succesful for the 2 subsidiaries. While American Family supporters may be driving Ford products, they are more along the lines of the Ford F150 trucks and not the higher-end Jags and LR.

If you have a moment to let your voice be heard on this issues, please send a note to:

Jaguar Cars, Attn: Customer Relationship Center
555 MacArthur Boulevard
Mahwah, NJ 07430-2327

Or go to Jaguarusa.com or LandRoverusa.com and choose Contact Us to send an email.

Ghoulish Delight · 12-06-2005, 04:42 PM

I don't know if it can be attributed to that. Among evidence to the contrary, they are NOT pulling Volvo (also a FMC subsidiary) ads from these publications. Land Rover and Jaguar have been hemoraging money for the company for a while now, and they've restructured their advertising focus across the board (not just these handful of publications) for those two brands. The fact that they are keeping Volvo in the magazines indicates to me that this was a result of that rather than any pressure from the boycotts.

Gemini Cricket · 12-06-2005, 05:26 PM

I spent a good chunk of yesterday and today writing Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover etc. I think Ford caved. It reeks of the Microsoft caving that was reversed a couple of weeks after their initial announcement.

Not only this, but the executives at Ford who negotiated the deal with the AFA are former senior Bush advisors. They are Ziad Ojakli and David Leitch. And we know how pro-gay the Bush Administration is...

Info on Ojakli -
Prior to joining the White House staff, Ojakli served as the Senate liaison for the Bush-Cheney Transition Team and as Congressional liaison for Victory 2000 at the Republican National Committee....

From 1995 to 1998, Ojakli served as chief of staff to Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN) and was Souder's key political and policy advisor. Prior to that, he was a legislative assistant to Sen. Dan Coats (R-IN), specializing in budget, tax, trade, energy and environmental issues.

Info on Leitch-
Leitch was deputy general counsel to George Bush at the White House, and now is the general counsel at Ford.

The descriptions are on the Ford website and on a Ford press release.

-----------------

Here's some Jaguar contact info:
[Deleted by poster request]

Not Afraid · 12-06-2005, 05:08 PM

That's nice. That's Ford's line and you bit. However, that's not the real reason, but, I admit, it sounds good on paper.

Ghoulish Delight · 12-06-2005, 05:12 PM

I don't see the logic in them keeping the Volvo ads in if they are trying to appease the boycotters. It accomplishes nothing.

Gemini Cricket · 12-06-2005, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

I don't see the logic in them keeping the Volvo ads in if they are trying to appease the boycotters. It accomplishes nothing.

It could very well be a deal. They pull Jag and LR but not Volvo. I could see Ford making a deal this way to make it sound like they're not completely caving in.

innerSpaceman · 12-06-2005, 05:16 PM

Yeah, I don't get it, N.A. The Volvo ads make boycott foldure an unhappening.

Why don't we ask our resident Jag insider what the real scoop is?

Gemini Cricket · 12-06-2005, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

The Volvo ads make boycott foldure an unhappening.

It could be Ford trying to appease both sides. I remember hearing how Volvos sell very well with the gay community. I know a husband and husband who have 3 of them.

innerSpaceman · 12-07-2005, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

It could be Ford trying to appease both sides. I remember hearing how Volvos sell very well with the gay community. I know a husband and husband who have 3 of them.

Yes, this is exactly what I have heard. Volvo's have been selling well among gays, while Jags and LandRovers haven't.

You want to tell me again why Ford pulled it's gay-mag ads for Jag and L.R., but not for Volvo? Is it possible it could have been (gasp!) a business decision?

Last week I told the sun to rise at precisely 6:12 a.m., and when it did ... heheh, sly devil that I am ... I claimed credit.

Gemini Cricket · 12-07-2005, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

YYou want to tell me again why Ford pulled it's gay-mag ads for Jag and L.R., but not for Volvo? Is it possible it could have been (gasp!) a business decision?

Nope.
A deal was struck with the AFA. In order to make it look like they hadn't totally given in to the AFA's request, they told them they were going to keep Volvo advertising as is. The AFA decided that the current deal is as good as it's going to get for them so they agreed with Ford's decision.
Is it hard to believe that a deal was made? It isn't always about all or nothing. The way it stands now is pretty bad. The AFA decides what's best for Ford? That's scary.

12-06-2005, 04:33 PM	#1
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	Ford pulls LR/Jag GLBT support due to American Family threat Ford, the parent company of Jaguar and Land Rover, has caved in to threats of a boycott by American Family and has order Jag and LR to pull all advertising aimed at their sizable GLBT audience. Today, Ford, the world's second largest auto maker, forced subsidiaries Jaguar and Land Rover) to pull all support for gay/lesbian publications after being threatened by the American Family Association. Intitially Ford fought American Family saying that they do not discriminate. Today, however, they have given in to boycott threats and forced Jag and LR to give up their support of the GLBT community which has been incredibly succesful for the 2 subsidiaries. While American Family supporters may be driving Ford products, they are more along the lines of the Ford F150 trucks and not the higher-end Jags and LR. If you have a moment to let your voice be heard on this issues, please send a note to: Jaguar Cars, Attn: Customer Relationship Center 555 MacArthur Boulevard Mahwah, NJ 07430-2327 Or go to Jaguarusa.com or LandRoverusa.com and choose Contact Us to send an email.
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12-06-2005, 04:42 PM	#2
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	I don't know if it can be attributed to that. Among evidence to the contrary, they are NOT pulling Volvo (also a FMC subsidiary) ads from these publications. Land Rover and Jaguar have been hemoraging money for the company for a while now, and they've restructured their advertising focus across the board (not just these handful of publications) for those two brands. The fact that they are keeping Volvo in the magazines indicates to me that this was a result of that rather than any pressure from the boycotts. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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12-06-2005, 05:26 PM	#3
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	I spent a good chunk of yesterday and today writing Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover etc. I think Ford caved. It reeks of the Microsoft caving that was reversed a couple of weeks after their initial announcement. Not only this, but the executives at Ford who negotiated the deal with the AFA are former senior Bush advisors. They are Ziad Ojakli and David Leitch. And we know how pro-gay the Bush Administration is... Info on Ojakli - Prior to joining the White House staff, Ojakli served as the Senate liaison for the Bush-Cheney Transition Team and as Congressional liaison for Victory 2000 at the Republican National Committee.... From 1995 to 1998, Ojakli served as chief of staff to Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN) and was Souder's key political and policy advisor. Prior to that, he was a legislative assistant to Sen. Dan Coats (R-IN), specializing in budget, tax, trade, energy and environmental issues. Info on Leitch- Leitch was deputy general counsel to George Bush at the White House, and now is the general counsel at Ford. The descriptions are on the Ford website and on a Ford press release. ----------------- Here's some Jaguar contact info: [Deleted by poster request] Last edited by Ghoulish Delight : 12-06-2005 at 11:00 PM.
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12-06-2005, 05:08 PM	#4
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	That's nice. That's Ford's line and you bit. However, that's not the real reason, but, I admit, it sounds good on paper.
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12-06-2005, 05:12 PM	#5
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	I don't see the logic in them keeping the Volvo ads in if they are trying to appease the boycotters. It accomplishes nothing. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
	Submit to Quotes

12-06-2005, 05:16 PM	#7
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Yeah, I don't get it, N.A. The Volvo ads make boycott foldure an unhappening. Why don't we ask our resident Jag insider what the real scoop is?
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