As many of you know, Ad Nausea contacts advertisers who sponsor Right Wing radio hosts and programs to ask them to reconsider their advertising placement. With so many choices in the marketplace, sponsors have many decisions as to how to spend their ad dollars. As consumers, we have choices as to where we spend our hard-earned money as well.
After O'Reilly threatened one of his callers with a visit from the "authorties" (because of the mention of Olbermann's name) we expanded Ad Nausea's focus from Hannity, to include advertisers of O'Reilly.
Insure.com was selected as they sponsor Bill O'Reilly's website.
Initial diary on this: http://www.dailykos.com/...
Here is the correspondance we received from the CEO of Insure.com, Robert S. Bland: HE WANTS EXAMPLES OF "TRUE LIES" FROM O'REILLY'S:
More below the fold
INITIAL EMAIL:
From: Barbara @ Ad Nausea
Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 9:40 PM
To: Robert Bland: bob@insure.com
Subject: Your Sponsorship of O'Reilly
Dear Mr. Bland:
I see that your company sponsors Bill O'Reilly's website. This is a shame. There are so many advertising opportunities available to you, it is unfortunate that Insure.com supports a host which threatens its listeners.
When people disagree, or just merely want to express an opinion, that is their 1st Amendment right... and they shouldn't be threatened or intimidated. However, mentioning a rival broadcaster's name unfortunately doesn't qualify as "harrassment," or "obscene," and doesn't warrant a "visit from the authorities."
The sad irony about this situation is that this bully with a microphone (who is himself an expert in phone harrassment) is using the airwaves to threaten listeners.
There are many insurance choices in the marketplace. I will not seek insurance from any of the ones which Insure.com promotes and sponsors.
Sincerely,
B. Harris
ROBERT S. BLAND'S RESPONSE:
Subject: Insure.com Sponsorship of Bill O'Reilly
Date: Thu, 9 Mar 2006 06:47:03 -0600
From: "Robert Bland"
Dear Barbara,
Many thanks for taking the time and effort to write me and thanks for listening to the O'Reilly Radio Factor program! It's a delight to have someone as articulate as you among Bill's 350,000 daily Radio Factor listeners. We advertise on the Bill O'Reilly Radio Factor program precisely to reach smart, articulate people like you.
By the way, did you actually hear that program in question or are you e-mailing form letters after-the-fact?
Bill O'Reilly is one of the few journalists in America that is dedicated to always showing both sides of a story on every story he runs and we commend him for his tireless work to have "Jessica's Law" passed in all states, which goes far above and beyond his role as a TV journalist.
I am familiar with the episode that you are referring to from last week and think it significant that caller "Mike" lied to O'Reilly's producer about his intended subject matter simply to get on the air to then tout Keith Olbermann. Because caller "Mike" threw the first acid through his deliberate lie, we think that Bill O'Reilly was entirely justified to say that he would have security check out the caller more thoroughly. I have 7 young children and am constantly teaching them the importance of not lying. When you lie, bad things happen. Is "Mike" the caller's real name or do you think that was a lie, too? Bill has lots of threats on his life and so each one has to be checked out.
As far as we're concerned, the "Mike" caller incident is a non-issue.
Again, thanks for taking the time to write and I hope that you will consider Insure.com next time you need to shop for auto, life, health or home insurance.
Bob Bland, CEO
www.insure.com
8205 South Cass Avenue, Suite 102, Darien, IL 60561
Phone 800-556-9393, ext. 101
OUR RESPONSE TO MR. BLAND:
Date: Thu, 9 Mar 2006 06:35:42 -0800 (PST)
From: "Barbara @ Ad Nausea"
Subject: reply: Re: Insure.com Sponsorship of Bill O'Reilly
To: "Robert Bland" bob@insure.com
Dear Mr. Bland:
Thanks for your response.
I don't listen to the Radio Factor as Mr. O'Reilly is a sexual harrasser and someone who lies constantly. I can provide you with hundreds -- if not thousands of examples on a variety of issues, although I am sure that you would defend each.
I heard the program via Olbermann, and then listeded to the clip from O'Reilly.
You can do the same:
Via Keith Olbermann:
http://youtube.com/...
Via O'Reilly:
http://mediamatters.org/...
Frankly, I am amazed that you would defend such behavior --threatening callers with a "visit from the authorities" because someone mentions their rival's name on the air is ridiculous. There was no threat on his life. Perhaps mentioning Olbermann's name threatens O'Reillys pocketbook, but that's about it.
Your loyalty is clearly with the harrasser and not with the buying public. I will not consider nor recommend Insure.com and will make it a point to share your views.
Sincerely,
B. Harris
ROBERT BLAND'S REPLY:
Subject: Insure.com Sponsorship of Bill O'Reilly Radio Factor Program
Date: Thu, 9 Mar 2006 09:59:55 -0600
From: "Robert Bland" <bob@insure.com>
Dear Barbara,
It's possible that the level of unwanted calls coming into the O'Reilly show perhaps meets the definition of harassment in some states, which made Bill mad. Maybe this is "Mike's" 200th call. I don't know because I wasn't listening but do believe that this entire episode is a lot about nothing. I don't really care what he said to caller "Mike" and don't understand why you do. If Fox perceives the calls as threats or harassment, aren't they entitled to take whatever action is warranted?
I now understand that you are organizing a public boycott of my firm, which is certainly your right. I don't know if such an action would hurt or help us. I don't know if such an action would elevate our name or actually cause people not to buy insurance from us.
I don't have all the facts on this episode but don't believe that the O'Reilly-Olbermann feud is paramount for either of us.
If you can show me true lies or actual distortions by Bill, I'd be happy to pressure him to atone. But not liking his personality is just not enough for us to pull our sponsorship. I have to place our ad dollars where they do the most good for our shareholders and employees and O'Reilly has assembled an audience of likely Insurance buyers.
Bob Bland, CEO
www.insure.com
8205 South Cass Avenue, Suite 102, Darien, IL 60561
Phone 800-556-9393, ext. 101
To Fellow Kossacks: Mr. Bland has asked for examples of O'Reillys' lies. Please share them...