Even more advertisers leave Glenn Beck
When RAW STORY ran a blog just last week detailing the stunning success of a campaign to knock advertisers off the Glenn Beck television show and radio program, our story was stunningly successful, with almost 3,000 votes on Digg and tens of thousands of page views.
But that kind of response is likely just a taste of the pressure to drop Beck currently being applied to numerous major U.S. corporations.
Because of that pressure, Color of Change announced today that Walmart, a key bank with GMAC Financial Services, Best Buy, CVS, Travelocity, Re-Bath, Broadview Security and Allergan have all backed out, bringing the list of former Glenn Beck advertisers to Twenty.
Other high-profile companies shaken loose from the Fox editorialist's fold include Lawyers.com, Procter & Gamble, Progressive Insurance, State Farm, S.C. Johnson, GEICO, Men's Wearhouse, Sargento, ConAgra, Roche, Sanofi-Aventis and RadioShack.
"We are heartened to see so many corporate citizens step up in support of our campaign against Glenn Beck," said James Rucker, executive director of Color of Change, in a media advisory. "Their action sends a clear a message to Glenn Beck: Broadcasters shouldn’t abuse the privilege they enjoy by spewing dangerous and racially charged hate language over the air. No matter their political affiliation, hate language doesn’t belong in our national dialogue."
The group added that Best Buy's director of public relations actually claimed they were advertising on Beck's program by accident.
Carolyn Castel, Vice President of Corporate Communications at the national pharmacy chain CVS, added that "we expect [public debate] to be informed, inclusive and respectful, in keeping with our company’s core values and commitment to diversity." Which is apparently why they pulled out of Beck's show.
Ouch!
"We are continuously impressed with the response we are getting and the amount of companies who have stepped forward to pull their ads from Glenn Beck,” added Rucker. "We have the backing of a number of major companies in this country and we’re still going to continue our fight to see that as many of Beck’s advertisers pull their support as possible."
However, Marketwatch notes: "For its part, Fox News said through a spokeswoman that while some advertisers have 'removed their spots from Beck,' they have just shifted to 'other programs on the network, so there has been no revenue lost.'"
Beck is still one of the Fox News Channel's largest audience magnets, pulling an average of 2 million viewers. … Placing him right behind the two most-watched cable news pundits in the game: Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity.
"Meanwhile, when the Glenn Beck fans hear about the boycott, it will make them hesitate before patronizing the boycotting companies," correctly notes Blas Padrino with The Orlando Republican Examiner.
Beck's current advertisers, according to FoxNewsBoycott.com (but minus those confirmed to have dropped) include: 60Plus.org, AARP Insurance, Accu Chek Aviva, ADT Security, Apple, Avodart, Brita, Conservatives for Patients Rights, Ditech, Forex.com, Golden Corral, Healthy Choice, HSBC Life Insurance, Mercedes-Benz, Metastock, Nexium, Pepboys, Rapid Bath, Red Lobster, Super8 motels, Superior Gold Group, United Healthcare, The Wall Street Journal and Weitz & Luxenburg.
I'm fairly certain there are even more than just those listed above.
It will be interesting to see if this torrent of fleeing advertisers continues.
No matter what happens next, it's safe to say that Color of Change is leading the most effective media campaign we've seen in years.
– Stephen C. Webster
Pretty stupid omission you made on this article: You never said WHY all these advertisers deserted Glen Beck's show!
HELLO! You're running a campaign to PUNISH Glen Beck, but you never say what was Offensive about his show!!
Victor
20 Aug 09 at 7:39 pm
I know you guys aren't that bright but if Walmart pulled out of his show why are they still selling his book? This is the biggest piece of fake crap I have ever seen.
That Guy
20 Aug 09 at 8:13 pm
In America, Glenn Beck has every right to speak his mind, whether about the Joe next door or the President of the United States. Wal-Mart (and others) have every right to boycott his show. I have every right to pull my dollars from Wal-Mart (and others).
If the Color of Change four can have this "success",
then I would think hundreds…..thousands…more…..could be similarly effective in boycotting these advertisers.
Angie
22 Aug 09 at 3:45 pm
Glenn Beck is telling the people the truth…I guess that the truth hurts!
More power to Glenn Beck. His show is one of the best shows on t.v.. It keeps the people of this country informed as to what the crooks in this country are doing to the USA. The main stream media only give out information on what they want the liberals to know and not the total truth.
JRB
25 Aug 09 at 8:19 am
Glenn Beck you rock! I immediately took the initiative to contact the businesses pulling their support from your program, letting them know their products and stores will be boycotted. We're not totally powerless yet!
Kate Allen
26 Aug 09 at 7:54 pm
Apparently some can't handle the truth. Resorting to childish tactics in attempts to stop Beck from speaking just shows how close he's getting to the nerve.
Stephanie
28 Aug 09 at 11:43 am
Thanks! Good news
Jobbeauby
4 Sep 09 at 4:13 pm