These hatemongers really think they did damage to this company. They are now "authorizing" people to buy ford products......Come on....Do people really belive this CRAP!!!

The AFA is a "funny" group, but typical of a LOT of the groups who make it a bu$ine$$ to bash gays and try to get the government to make us second class citizens.

Ford explicitly states no such deal was struck with the AFA.

Ford spokesman Jim Cain insists the automaker had made no such promises. "I can tell you there was not a negotiated settlement to this boycott," he says, sounding somewhat mystified by AFA's triumphalism.

While Ford has scaled back some of the marketing and philanthropy AFA objects to, any such decreases were merely part of a broader retrenchment in response to dismal market conditions, says Cain. "We've been in real financial difficulties. There's been reduced spending in lots of areas."

Gay and Lesbian Activism With a Sense of Humor :: Good As You (G-A-Y)

That's hilarious. AFA knows their boycott didn't work, but was too proud to admit it, and now that it sees this nominal scaling back, it tries to claim VICTORY!!!

Woohoo! We stopped the evil car company from selling cars to gay people!

Someone is going to have to remind me why the AFA thought it was important for gay people not to drive Fords.

On a related note, speaking as a happy Subaru driver, I can tell you that their LGBT marketing and sponsorship efforts were and still are much larger and more successful than Ford's ever were. So where is the AFA on that?

Am I to understand that the AFA believes American made cars are only for straight people, and they don't mind if gay people drive foreign cars?

Nutty, nutty people.

Good As You: Ford Archive

* Initiate boycott of group advertises in gay publication resources. Check!
* Wait for ANY sign of decreased profits, and claim responsibility. Check!
*** Note: Make a point of ignoring any facts like the ENTIRE automobile industry suffering similar losses.
*** Note: Make a point of ignoring any UPTURNS in the market during this "boycott" period.

* Wait for any sign of decreased marketing, and claim success. Check!
*** Note: Make a point of ignoring any facts regarding decreased marketing in ALL advertising venues, and specifically focus on the "gay" angle.
*** Note: Ignore that the company involved gave NO discussion with you on reducing said marketing, and claim they are giving in to your demands anyways.

* Announce success. Announce it loudly to all people who give $$$ to your multi-million dollar endeavor, selling them on an accomplishment that was never actually achieved. Check!
* Rake in MORE donations, and begin to perpetuate the same fraud of self-proclaimed "success" on the next group...

(Gotta give the masses something to attempt to justify that $125 million you're pulling in...)
MinistryWatch Summary Report

Oh. And by-the-by...
I'm "giving credit" for FoF's slight downturn in contributions to Ford's efforts against the FoF...

Considering Ford makes most of its money selling trucks in the "heartland" and 700K people signed their online petition, I'd be willing to bet that the loss in sales can be partially attributed to this boycott. Before you dismiss it as nothing you have to realize that Toyota and GM both have new trucks out now, giving a viable alternative. You can't support 2-5% of the population and the small number of potential customers when that means a hypothetical 25% of the population and the potential customers they represent are boycotting your product. That's just dumb business sense. We'll see in the future who "won", but 700K people singing a online petition would scare the heel out of me if I were a Ford executive. Ford needs help...badly.

__________________
Even if you hold the minority opinion, stick to your guns and go against the flow if that's what you truly believe. (CnRedd)

As is often the case, you miss the big picture.
"700K"?
How does that compare to the GENERAL POPULATION that doesn't approve of anti-gay discrimination. i.e., the majority of the population.

There are more gays out there than that "700K", so if Ford gathers positive press with 5% who are directly affected, plus more who approve of the P.R, and alienate less than 1%, that's coming out ahead.

And furthermore, I am really interested in how you got "hypothetical 25%".
Let me guess. You just made up a convenient number, ignoring things like how the MAJORITY of the population supports gay equality, and doesn't support prejudice?

I would love to see statistics on how many people of that "700K" actually bought a truck in the first place. Age-wise, the largest make-up against gay marriage are the OLDEST population.

The YOUNGER generation (the guys earning the money, and buying the cars) actually has majority SUPPORT FOR gay marriage.

And if Ford can come out AHEAD of the curve on this (instead of, for example, being known for supporting the KKK 20 years after it's out of style), then so much the better for them...

No, the big picture is that Ford is in big trouble and they have a petition with 700K signatures. Ford makes most of it's money on trucks and most of those are bought by older people. I would provide links, but you didn't so I guess I don't either. Plus automotivenews.com requires a subscription so links wouldn't help.

But let's just say that younger buyers prefer imports and older buyers are domestic stalwarts and are brand loyal. Domestics depend on them to buy the expensive loaded trucks that have the highest profit. Not to mention that trucks sell strong in the "Heartland" while gays concentrate on the coasts. So the "know a gay, love a gay" phenomena isn't as strong there.

Yeah I made that up.

__________________
Even if you hold the minority opinion, stick to your guns and go against the flow if that's what you truly believe. (CnRedd)

Not responding to any of what I actually said.
The ENTIRE AUTOMOTIVE industry and ENTIRE TRUCK PRODUCING industry were in trouble. Had nothing to do with these AFA nitwits who declared victory off of circumstances they had no impact on.
(Or maybe I should ask: NOW that they have "called off" the boycott, should we expect a sales JUMP of that 700K suddenly buying Ford?
Or if we don't, can I claim it is because the anti-gay crowd didn't like Ford giving in to the AFA, so THEY aren't buying Fords in LARGER numbers?)

HOW MANY of those "700K" actually were going to buy a Ford truck in the first place?

I could sign a petition that I'm not going to buy a Buick.
The company wouldn't "lose" a dime off of me doing that.


Prove it.


I'm next to positive I have shown you that before in previous posts.
In fact, it's so obvious I'm surprised somebody would question it, unless it was a lame ploy to attempt to side-step their own proof...

It's a simple fact of "gay opinion" demographics, along with ignorance being more common amongst those prejudiced against gays.

But if you need me to prove my claim, yet again, I will do so...

However, 61 percent of young adults (ages 18-29) say they support legalizing same-sex "marriage." The 18-29 age bracket is the only one in the poll supportive of the controversial issue.

Among those ages 30-49, only 37 percent support same-sex "marriage." The level of support is 40 percent for those ages 50-64, and a mere 22 percent for those ages 65 and older.

New poll shows generation gap in opposition to same-sex 'marriage' - (BP)


There is no need to respond to your conclusion based on such an absurd hypothetical.
As is often the case, you make up junk which is convenient for you. Providing little proof of your claim.

But I'm sure you'll try to work a "pedophile" link in there somewhere, won't you...

700,000 names on a petition are significant when you make a big deal about single digit changes in volume. They've sold Jag and Land Rover to an Indian company. What you actually said was just gibberish.

Good question. How many of them influence the buying decisions of others? How many of them are just representatives of their families. We can "what if" all day long. But we do have a list of possibly 700,000 people. I'd take that seriously. Especially if I were Ford who has been losing share faster than any other domestic brand.

Or you could join 700,000 others and make your voice a bit louder. You'd think a gay advocate such as yourself would recognize that.

Okay.
"[Trucks]is one of the big profit centers for automakers."

Loyalty and Ford losing more pickup share than the other brands.
Long a stalwart, even pickup truck sales falter in 2007 - International Herald Tribune

And the demographics on a Dodge. Quickest to find...
DEMOGRAPHICS

* Gender: 85 percent male
* Median Age: 49
* Median Annual Household Income: $65,000
* Education: College
* Household: 73 percent married

That wasn't what I said prove. I said trucks are bought by older Americans in rural areas, you said younger people buy more cars. I'm looking for the proof that younger people buy more Ford cars and that those cars drive profits. The fact that younger people have less of a grasp on moral issues is not in contention.

Quote:

Among those ages 30-49, only 37 percent support same-sex "marriage." The level of support is 40 percent for those ages 50-64, and a mere 22 percent for those ages 65 and older.

Thanks...Shows the people trucks are marketed to are less likely to approve of "gay" and a company that relies on a significant portion of their business and profits from them should pay attention to a petition with 700,000 signees.

I could say the same about you. Proof provided for my conclusion above.

Naaa, not in this thread, but it's funny you once again show you can't debate one topic at a time. Paranoid much?

__________________
Even if you hold the minority opinion, stick to your guns and go against the flow if that's what you truly believe. (CnRedd)

1) Getting your foot in the door is a BIG difference from what we are talking about.
2) Like I said, compare those "700,000 names" to how many people will take notice if you side with the bigots...
People don't like bigotry. Period.

I think the BEST proof of that is coming from the AFA themselves, in their pathetic attempt try to justify why Ford is rebuking their claims:

AFA: Ford remaining coy because gays are scary: Good As You

So let's put this in perspective.
The AFA organizes a 700,000 "name" boycott (or so they claim), and Ford doesn't flinch once. No acknowledgement, or capitulation to the boycott.
It doesn't phase Ford.

And when the AFA is asked WHY Ford never admitted giving in to the AFA, what is the AFA's response?
That Ford should be afraid of the "gay and lesbian" power.

So let's get this straight.
The AFA flexes their muscles, and Ford doesn't care.
When asked why Ford doesn't acknowledge a "deal", the AFA states it is that they are afraid that the gays could flex their muscles.

The AFA is admitting my point, even if they want to veil it in absurd pretense.
It's not "the gays", but rather the gays and MILLIONS of other people who don't like bigotry towards gays.


If they couldn't influence them to sign an ONLINE petition, it's not rational to think they could influence the buying of a multi-thousand dollar vehicle.


And yet, when I show you similar "people", you have difficulty taking it seriously, or even acknowledging it.
The people who disapprove of anti-gay bigotry. You ignore it.
The experts who explicitly state that gays are not dysfunctional. You ignore them too.

But these "700,000", coming from anti-gay groups who have BEEN KNOWN to "miscount" and add extra names and deceive to get signatures.
THOSE are the people you "take seriously".

They are anti-gay, so of course you do...


Your article states quite clearly that the Ford "F-series was the best-selling vehicle in the country for the 31st straight year."
EVERYBODY's sales are falling short. Just look at the economy.

Hey! I'm a gay man who is boycotting the housing industry until we get federal gay marriage.
Nation! Hear me Roar!
< end sarcasm >


Simple question which I know you'll ignore...
DO I HAVE TO?

Ford never yielded to the AFA. They stood their ground against those blustering bigots.
For EXACTLY the reasons I stated.

I do join when it is necessary.
With the AFA's "boycotts", it typically is not necessary. Like I pointed out earlier (with no response), the AFA has little effect, beyond pulling in $$$ in donations for actions that they never achieve.
Case in point, THIS case.

There is no need for me to sign a counter-petition on this issue.


Riddle me this.
How many trucks are being bought on a Social Security paycheck?


1) You never challenged me to "prove" anything.
2) I never claimed "younger people buy more Ford".
3) Do you understand what "median" means?


1) I am bored by how you can state things that are blatantly untrue. I obviously would "contend" against that claim.
2) I thought you were arguing that the "gay" thing wasn't about "morals"?
Whoops. Did you just slip up, AGAIN!


And yet, as the AFA even states, Ford is "paying attention" to those that NEVER EVEN HAD TO sign a petition.

People "boycott" Disney as well because of their support.
Disney never suffered BECAUSE of it.


It's not an issue of "one topic at a time", as is evidenced in another thread where you are crying hard over the fact that I DID debate the "gay / children" thing "one topic at a time".
No, you dishonest fool, the issue is that when the going gets tough, your frustration shows when you throw out "pedophile" innuendo and try to link gays to pedophiles.
And it's not paranoia when it's a proven fact that you pull the same stupid crap over and over again.