The ExxonHatesYourChildren coalition of three progressive groups created the following ad as part of its satirical campaign against the biggest company in the world. It was supposed to be broadcast on ABC, NBC and Fox affiliates this week in Little Rock, Arkansas. But the ad was pulled moments before airing by the stations when Exxon threatened legal action.
Exxon's cease and desist letter says the ad is factually wrong, makes a big deal of all the programs it sponsors for young people and its investments in energy efficiency. It claims Exxon agrees that global warming is occurring because of greenhouse gas emissions. But it doesn't comment on the tens of millions Exxon has spent creating propaganda and making smears of climate scientists and environmental advocates over two decades.
Here is the coalition's response.
“Exxon is and will always be a bully,” said David Turnbull, campaigns director of Oil Change International. “Instead of engaging their critics appropriately, Exxon uses its billions to hire high-priced lawyers to make scary-sounding but unsupported legal claims to suppress criticism. It’s a window into how they have preserved billions in taxpayer handouts for their industry for so many years.”