Yeah it is puzzling why businesses would advertise to a base that generally has at least some disposable income, they should be advertising to people who don't have money.
certainot Donating Member (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Sat Jul-30-11 09:26 AM
Original message
Why do businesses advertise on right wing radio stations? Shame on them.
I just heard an ad for Whole Foods during Sean Hannity's show.
I've heard ads for the US food stamp program during Rush Limbaugh's show, a guy who regularly ridicules people who need food stamps and has done more to threaten such programs than any other American.
The Pella and Anderson window manufacturers advertise on right wing radio while touting energy savings. Like many other construction related companies they could increase their business by leaps and bounds if the US started to retrofit for energy efficiency. Or improve and expand infrastructure. But Limbaugh and Hannity and most local right wing talkers are dedicated to global warming denial and obstruction of any action to deal with our most important problem.
For months Limbaugh and Hannity and probably 99% of the talkers on right wing radio have been sending the same messages about the debt ceiling- the ones most Republican and Tea Party representatives are repeating now. Default is no big deal. And after paying off the debt Obama's going to have to start cutting 'parasites' and 'bottom feeders' from 'entitlement' programs.
Why would any sane business support and endorse their economic terrorism? Defaulting could be disastrous for all business. How many of those sponsors will suffer from higher interest rates and worried consumers? And climate change is a national security threat.
Why would universities endorse those stations by broadcasting their athletics on them? How do those associations jive with university 'mission statements' and stated goals? How many students who go to those universities will suffer in terms of grants and loans?
I can think of two main reasons a business sponsors right wing radio.
1) It's good business. They're loud with many possible customers. Maybe their ad agency included it in a package.
2) The business owner is an ignorant racist jerk.
Very few of the business owners I've spoken with defend the racism and global warming denial. Most don't listen to the shows and may believe that it's all just political theater to bring in customers. I think in most parts of the country business is the main reason.
I spoke with a couple of Democrats who told me they wanted the loudest signal - it was business - and then ended up sponsoring the smaller progressive station in the area. It sounded like they had never seriously thought of their negative role
I've spoken with employees who were horrified to find out their organizations or employers were advertising on the Limbaugh station.
I suspect this is the rule, not the exception, and many business owners and managers would find alternatives with a little prodding. Such as when they get a few calls. Or maybe when they hear of a protest at those stations.
There are many blue communities that are dominated by right wing radio and have NO progressive radio. If the talkers were merely conservative that might make sense.
But if they are part of a coordinated attack on democracy, directed by corporate think tanks to short circuit the normal feedback mechanisms a democracy needs to sort out what is true and important, they need to be challenged, not ignored.
Those radio stations are capable of making national rational discussion of our most important issues impossible by creating an alternate reality with a different set of facts. Tea Party facts. And with call screening and paid callers there is no one standing in front of the carnival barkers to yell back "You're a liar and a fool."
That has to change if this is going to get better.
Shame on all of those sponsors.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1611851First of all what in the hell are you doing listening to Hannity? I thought that was against the rules at DUmmyland.
Secondly, if you think for a second that most business give a flying crap about where people stand politically, you are a fool. The only thing businesses care about is reaching potential customers who will buy what they are selling, and make money off of it.
I also love how the DUmmy brings up the paid callers bullshit. That was debunked long ago. The only paid callers were on comedy shows where they were pulling pranks, and the person getting pranked was in on it, all because they are worried that some liberal pansy will get pranked and sue, so they hire actors.
certainot Donating Member (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Sat Jul-30-11 11:32 AM
Response to Reply #3
13. but in the window example , it is a bad business decision based on a lack of knowledge that RW radio
has been instrumental in obstructing action on global warming- and that is a failure of the left wing also
I'd say it is good business to support radio that supports that global warming is a hoax. By obstructing all the bullshit taxes and stuff you want all in the name of global warming, that makes running business easier. If you get your way businesses will be hurt by all the taxes that you want, and the over regulations.
Ozymanithrax Donating Member (1000+ posts) Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Sat Jul-30-11 09:50 AM
Response to Original message
5. Because customers listen to those shows and businesses want their money...
The Hannity demographic is their demographic. Business is an amoral enterprise and profit is their only purpose.
Why else would anyone start a business other than to profit?
