NY Daily News Lefty Runs Through His Paces
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Lowe’s explanation for pulling ‘All-American Muslim’ ad would be high comedy if premise weren’t so sad Campaign resorts to 'utter nonsense' to force ad pullout on TLC show
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS December 12 2011 by Lefty Halfwit David Hinkley 
nydailynews.com
Advertisers, like Lowe’s, have been pressured to withdraw their ads from TLC's “All-American Muslim.” Shown here: Nawal and Nader Aoude.
If you ever wondered what the corporate version of a babbling idiot sounds like, read the statement issued by Lowe’s explaining the home improvement giant’s decision to pull its advertising from the TLC reality show “All-American Muslim.”
It’s like when Ralph Kramden on “The Honeymooners” would open his mouth to defend something indefensible and all that came out was “Hummina hummina hummina.”
Hearing that thought framed in Lowe’s corporate-speak would be brilliant comedy, except that the pullout itself is one of those small, sad moments that make America a little more divided, a little more suspicious, a little colder.
The whole drama started when the Florida Family Association asked sympathizers to send a prewritten email asking companies that advertise on “AllAmerican Muslim” to withdraw.
The show, which follows five Muslim families in Dearborn, Mich., is really “propaganda that riskily hides the Islamic agenda’s clear and present danger to American liberties and traditional values,” says the Association.
This assertion is utter nonsense, as anyone who watches the show knows. But the campaign isn’t aimed at people who watch the show. It’s aimed at people who are afraid and tells them it’s okay, just keep being afraid.
An essay on the Association’s website, by Robert Spencer, admits most subjects of this show don’t seem subversive. And that’s the problem, he argues. Because the show features no one who’s out to get “us,” it’s not showing the real Muslim community.
It’s an interesting argument. You wonder whether, if he’s going to define a group by its extremists, any profile of Muslim critics must include Anders Brievik, the Norwegian mass murderer who hated Muslims.
In any case, the Association claims it persuaded 65 advertisers to leave the show.
TLC says only that “We stand behind the show and we’re happy it has strong advertising support.” So the “65” figure might be soft. But we do know Lowe’s is gone.
It’s also a good bet Lowe’s saw this less as an ideological declaration than the easiest way to keep a pressure group from buzzing around its ear.
Trouble is, once Lowe’s became the Association’s featured trophy, it also moved into the crosshairs of those who think a show portraying a Muslim community as a normal piece of the American mosaic is a good thing, not a bad thing.
By Sunday, then, Lowe’s was trying to explain, and it came out like this:
“Individuals and groups have strong political and societal views on this topic, and this program became a lightning rod for many of those views. As a result, we did pull our advertising. We believe it is best to respectfully defer to communities, individuals and groups to discuss and consider such issues of importance.”
Hummina hummina hummina.
It keeps being funny.
It also keeps being sad.
Read more: nydailynews.com
Take our Poll
Lowe's pulls ad Do you agree with Lowe's decision to pull advertising from TLC's 'All-American Muslim'?
Yes, it's offensive to have a show focusing on Islamic culture after Sept. 11! No, it's pure prejudice against Muslims and Lowe's should be boycotted! It's Lowe's right to advertise where they want, but I don't agree with the decision. |
