I agree for the most part. However, having the right to speak freely does not mean we won't suffer for it when those rights are indeed infringed upon. I think, more precisely, that we must be willing to speak INSPITE of the fear of being persecuted for it.
Earlier this week I sent an email to Geico concerning their recent decision to pull their advertising ads from the Glenn Beck time slot on the Fox Network. I was curious as to their reasoning for it. I thought about it for quite a while and while I thought that Beck being and entertainer and has a shockjock type personality and onair persona, that I needed to understand Geico's motives. the letter I sent was as follows.
Dear Geico, I have been a satisfied customer of Geico for many years. Currently my policy is due for renewal in a couple of weeks. I have recently learned of your apparent political "preferences" regarding the Obama/Glenn Beck/Fox Network news piece where in Mr Beck apparently pointed out some proclivities of the current president to possess certain biases against a large segment of your customer base. To be more enlightened of your intentions I was wondering if you could explain your position in reference to pulling your ads from the Beck segment. I haven't decided if I should follow your lead in removing my account from those businesses with whom I have differences of opinion. Should I presume that you don't want my business because I too feel the president expresses a racial prejudice?
This was their reply.
Please include the following line in all replies.
Tracking number:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
If you are a policyholder we thank you for being with GEICO and we want to tell you more about this matter. If you are not, we also want you to learn more.
This week we took action to move our marketing messages from the Glenn Beck show and you are wondering why.
Well, you deserve an answer.
If the inflammatory nature of the comments on a program overshadows our message and causes GEICO to be drawn into a national debate, we are likely to reconsider where we place our marketing messages, which is what we did.
GEICO delivers very important messages through its major marketing campaigns: we’re saving customers’ dollars … we’re easy to do business with … we’re looking out for our policyholders. That’s what we hope the public hears and sees and focuses on.
As a company, we do not take positions on controversial issues.
As an advertiser, while a national debate on issues can be healthy and appropriate, we don’t see ourselves in the role of taking part in those debates.
Our business is auto insurance. We want to bring people value and we attempt to reach large audiences with that message.
It is of little benefit to us if a controversy on the program gets so much attention that our message is drowned out.
GEICO Corporate Communications
