On my noon hour I listen to the "Ed Schultz Show" on progressive radio. During commercial breaks I switch to Ed's polar opposite Dennis Miller, who perhaps never met a right-winger he doesn't like. Miller lets Andrew Breitbart guest host when he's gone.
This week I heard an ad on Miller's show that made me switch brands. I wouldn't rather fight than switch.
The ad in question was for Barbasol, a shaving cream I've used for years. It does the job at a good price. I can't say the same thing for Miller, whose politics and the way he spins curremt events abhor me.
So after work I found Barbasol's Web site. The company was started in 1919 in Indianapolis. Babe Ruth endorsed it in 1923. Pfizer Inc. bought it in 1962, about the time I started shaving. (Yikes, I've been putting Pfizer on my pface that long!) In 2001, Pfizer sold Barbasol to Perio Inc., a privately held company headquartered in Dublin, Ohio.
Click on "Buy from a company with a conscience" and you get Perio's mission statement, which includes: "We also believe that we are merely temporary stewards and that the resources of the company belong to God."
Well, that might explain how a person like Miller ended up evangelizing for Barbasol. If I'd seen a cross on the can, I would have stopped buying it. I don't care about your religion but I don't need to hear about it. I will say, however, if Perio advertised on Ed Schultz, it would please me.
I wrote the following to Perio:
I've used Barbasol shaving cream for a long time. It's a good
product. I cannot in good conscience, however, buy it ever again after
hearing that you sponsor the Dennis Miller show. He's not a truthful
man. Sometimes I wonder if he's even a real Christian the way he makes
fun of people less fortunate than he is.
Sincerely,
XXXXX
The next day I heard back from company spokesperson Debbie Badger:
We are sorry that you feel this way. We advertise across many
platforms, and try to choose neutral venues.
That said, I do want to thank you for your e-mail. We value your
opinion, and appreciate your feedback.
Later I wrote back and now it appears I've heard the last from Barbasol:
Thanks for your note, Ms. Badger. All I can say is that anyone seeking a "neutral venue" would not choose Mr. Miller's show. That seems really obvious to me.
Thank you.
I will also not be using BARZ deodorant or body wash.
Gotta go now, gotta shave. With Gillette Foamy. I can only imagine where they advertise.
Noooooo (couldn't resist looking):
Procter & Gamble, the nation's largest consumer products company, reached a deal [Jan. 28, 2005] to acquire Gillette Co. for about $57 billion in stock, executives close to the deal said.
The merger, which is subject to approval by regulators, would create the world's largest consumer products conglomerate, overtaking Unilever.
Now I'm feeding Moonies, right?