Beleaguered Ford Motor Co., struggling to get back into the black by 2009, could be the first corporate victim of the so-called "culture wars" due to a boycott led by Christian-centered conservative groups.Ford lost $12.7 billion last year, the largest single-year loss in its 103-year history. Last December, the No. 2 American automaker mortgaged all of its U.S. assets to acquire $23 billion to finance a dramatic turnaround plan.
The boycott asks Christians not to buy cars from Ford or its seven other brands: Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin, and Mazda. The reason: Ford's sponsorship of "gay pride" events, its financial support of organizations such as the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), and its advertising in gay magazines and television programs.
It promised it would not renew current promotions, or create incentive programs that give cash donations to homosexual organizations based on the purchase of a vehicle.
The car company also pledged that it would not make corporate donations to homosexual organizations that, as part of their activities, engage in political or social campaigns to promote civil unions or same-sex marriage.
Finally, Ford said it would stop giving cash and vehicle donations, or endorsements, to homosexual social activities, such as "gay pride" parades.
At that point, Bill Ford announced that all Ford brands would support gay media with advertising, and the boycott battle began in earnest.
Ford executives don't appear very concerned about the boycott, and one reason may be the negligible impact a similar boycott had on media and entertainment giant Walt Disney Co.
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1 comment:
Too bad that Ford had to do this, American car makers are slipping badly and this only makes it worse.
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