I make money as a real estate broker in Colorado. As part of my 2005 advertising budget, I bought a $500 ad on the
AM 760 Blue List. I paid for the ad with the business I garnered, so I'll do it again next year. It was money well spent.
Unfortunately, some scum sucking repugs thought it would be fun to spread some fear uncertainty and doubt among the Blue List Advertisers. We all received the following email:
Dear Advertiser,
A group of intelligent Americans who despise the anti-American rhetoric of Air America and its hosts will soon be organizing and will begin boycotting corporate citizens who would sponsor the venemous feces flinging at America and the military members who have died and will continue to die in the effort to preserve freedom at home and abroad. While freedom of speech does apply to these despicable individuals in their anti-American rants and criticisms of our President based on lies, it is just as much the right of the true American to repudiate such filth and to organize and boycott businesses that would sponsor such filth. I hope that if your are Americans of some conscience, you would reconsider those with whom you have chosen to associate yourselves and no longer sponsor thier perverse and socialist ideologies.
I was royally pissed, so I ripped off the following:
Dear Anonymous,
Please research who you are threatening. I do not take kindly to folks that interfere in my business or target me with anonymous threats.
Maybe we can talk things over, so you can modify your attitude and approach to patriotic dissent.
Sincerely,
Van McConnon
Now the best part, everyone who recieved this email responded. Some with snark, some with bravado, and some with a progressive condescension. Here's a sample:
Dear Mr. Sux
I am a bookseller who values beauty and intelligence. I am doubtful that you and your friends who listen to Rush and his ilk have ever picked up a book with big words, but I want to THANK YOU for organizing this boycott so I won't have to deal with you OR them.
To the other corporate sponsors on this list - THANK YOU!!! The word is going out that this administration is rotten to the core and young people are dying to line the pockets of the rich. It saddens me that there are idiots like Mr. Sux out there, but gladdens my heart that you are there to light the light of FREEDOM.
Or how about:
As a proud veteran of 10 years of service to the United States Marine Corps and the United States Navy, I want to thank all of you who stand up for freedom of speech and power for the regular people of the United States. Our founding fathers all believed that the right to criticize the government was the most important right we could have. It is the highest patriotism to have the courage to stand up against wrong policy.
Our brave American servicemen in Iraq and Afghanistan deserve a policy that respects their sacrifices and supports America's national security. The current policy supports only profits for companies that donate to certain campaigns and actually undermines American national security.
I will continue to support all of you, and Air America, as true patriots who stand up for America and our troops. Pam, don't be saddened by Mr. Sux. There will always be those who hate blindly, but we are winning. The American people now overwhelmingly understand that the current policy in Iraq is flawed, is killing our brave troops for no reason, and is based on outright lies from the Bush Administration. We have truth on our side and history will judge accordingly.
Or a little in your face:
Being a very busy person who is extremely proud to stand up for what I believe in, do the words "bring it on" sound familiar to you?
Or
What part of the right do you represent? Republicans have tried to get an audience with the President to discuss Iraq War strategy and pull out timetables, I believe the Presidents response was to call them "lilly livered MF'ers (he said the whole word). Clearly, you are a party divided!
Lastly, we who listen to and support Air America have been at this alot longer than you have. We have been boycotting those supporting Bush's agenda for a long time.
Like water off a ducks back,
or my favorite:
Mr. Sux,
You spelled 'sucks' incorrectly.
thanks for your time and attention,
Everyone responded to this puke within hours. The effect was to get all of the blue listers in touch with each other and convince us to continue advertising with AM 760. My question is when will the Democrats in DC learn that this is how you handle Repugs? You get in their face, stand together, and prepare to fight.
