Hugh Hewitt - "Spare me the "I love this country" mumbo jumbo --what do think of this country's role in the world? Pepsico's Indra Nooyi releases another "apology."
An e-mailer forwarded the latest from Pepsico:
"Thank you again for contacting us about Indra Nooyi's recent commencement speech at Columbia University, which has created a difficult situation.
Overriding everything else, please know how sorry we are for disappointing you - and how much we appreciate your input. Feedback such as yours has been shared directly with Indra, and she clearly regrets the reaction that this unfortunate episode has caused. With that in mind, Indra has asked us to share this statement with you:
"Following my remarks to the graduating class of Columbia University's Business School in New York City, I have come to realize that my words and examples about America unintentionally depicted our country negatively and hurt people. I appreciate the honest comments that have been shared with me since then, and am deeply sorry for offending anyone. I love America unshakably - without hesitation - and am extremely grateful for the opportunities and support our great nation has always provided me.
"Over the years I've witnessed and advised others how a thoughtless gesture or comment can hurt good, caring people. Regrettably, I've proven my own point. I made a mistake and, again, I'm very sorry."
- Indra Nooyi
Thanks once more for taking the time to contact us here at PepsiCo. We truly value your very conscientious point of view, and promise to work just as diligently at regaining your trust and confidence.
Sincerely,
Christine Jones
Vice President
Consumer Relations "
What's missing from this? How about any positive statement about what America does for the world, from liberating Afghanistan and Iraq to billions in tsunami relief? How about pouring AIDs relief into Africa and sending products, services, technology and tradea round the globe. How about a full-throated defense of the country that analogizes it not to the middle finger but to the shoulders and spine of the planet, the last best hope of mankind.
Digging deeper with every statement, and I have to assume that there is simply no one involved with this at PepsiCo who understands why people are outraged. And I doubt very, very much if this "apology" will do much to reverse that tide, because it does nothing to demonstrate Ms. Nooyi's understanding of exactly what it is that America means to the world --today, in the here and now.
A statement made with the MoveOn.org crowd in mind, no doubt, and one that cannot be read as an endorsement of anything the country is about today.
Where is the CEO?
Posted at 2:10 PM, Pacific
Blog Swarm Alert on a new Pepsi Challenge: PepsiCo Should Take Immediate Action.
I thought there was too much overlap between my readership and Powerline's for the news of Indra Nooyi's "America is the middle finger" speech to spark much in the way of response. I was wrong. Lots and lots of outrage pouring in, and I will open the radio show with a discussion. Seems a lot of people who dug deep for tsunami relief and who have watched hundreds of their country's soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines die to bring the January 31 elections to Iraq don't want to be lectured on how America is too often seen as "scratching our nose and sending a far different signal" to the world.
I googled Ms. Nooyi, and as of this afternoon, it is all happy talk stuff. Technorati yields a much different picture. (I wonder if they have heard of Technorati at PepsiCo?) 51 entries at this hour, most of them in the last day, and lots of influential blogs are featured, including Bill Hobbes and Donald Sensing.
What to do if you are at Pepsi?
Well, definitely don't wait. Get the CEO, Stephen Reinemund, on Nightline, O'Reilly, any show that asks, and especially on talk radio. The blunder is the corporate equivalent of Marburg's, and it needs to be contained. Abject apology followed by abject apology. Decide right now whether Indra Nooyi matters more than a lasting black eye. Think about how P&G is still dealing with the satan nonsense. Think about the brand.
Two hours ago I asked my producer to call PepsiCo and see who would come on. My guess is that they declined the interview, but who knows, they might have someone who sees the pulse. Donald Sensing's account won't give PepsiCo shareholders much comfort though, because the "she was misunderstood" line doesn't work. The speech can be read.
How fast does information move? I interviewed Terry Moran yesterday at 3:40 to 4:15 PM, Pacific. The transcript was up at Radioblogger at 6:00 PM. Instapundit linked 40 minutes later, and my WeeklyStandard.com piece went up at midnight est. Taranto's Best of the Web headlined Moran's comments in today's edition, and bloggers have been chewing on them all day. I suspect that Moran's comments have been read by 90% of MSM elites and most of political Washington, and far more importantly, millions of American information junkies, who are talking about Moran's many admissions (with a degree of respect for his candor and his willingness to give the interview --see the comments at RightWingNuthouse, run by Moran's brother). It has been less than 24 hours.
PepsiCo had better hurry. Scorn, and lost loyalty, won't wait for McKenzie & Co to come up with a report.
UPDATE: ThirdWaveDave has the contact info for Pepsi and an account of his attempt to get a response from Pepsi brass.
A caller informs me that CEO Stephen Reinemund is a Naval Academy grad and a Marine Corps veteran. That is important to know, and to tell the audience, and I am sure there are literally thousands of combat veterans working for Pepsico. So how could the President and COO stumble so badly? And where is the CEO right now? I asked the caller if he recalled what happened on the Marines' march to Baghdad in the Spring of 2003, involving their commander, General James Mattis, and a forward Colonel. He did. Perhaps that's an instructive example of leadership, but it may also be too severe. At a minimum, though, the CEO should be out talking to every media outlet and arranging a great big show of pro-American pride. "
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