Political Campaigns and Overstock
We often receive political complaints at Overstock . I am posting this so that in the future, when customer service agents get harangued by people angry about statements they believe are being made by our decision to advertise certain places or carry certain products or sell certain books, music, or magazines, those agents can just send a link to this post.
During the 2004 election, we created a book page with books by Hillary and Bill Clinton on one side, and two books by Dick Morris criticizing them on the other side. On the left, another book by James Carvel (as I recall). On the right, one by Ann Coulter. All images were of the same size, and there were an equal number of them on each side.
We were inundated with complaints from the Left and the Right about featuring books from the other side. Go figure.
We hear from from Family Values folks about the movies and music we sell (even though we actually are quite conservative, selling, for example, Playboy, but not the steamy stuff).
When we advertised on AirAmerica, we got flack for it.
A few weeks ago we heard from the Ron Paul folks protesting our advertising on Fox, given his exclusion from a debate they covered. I wrote a letter to our customers about it, saying that while I happen to support Paul personally, I was not going to change our TV advertising to punish Fox. Then we heard from people angry that I had mentioned that I personally support Ron Paul.
Last week we heard from the Family Values folks protesting the TV shows on which we advertise.
This week we are hearing about the Hillary Clinton Nutcracker on our site.
I respectfully suggest that people should remember, Different strokes for different folks. It is not up to us to make statements with what products we do or do not carry or where we advertise them. Playboy is often our fastest selling magazine. The Hillary gadget was briefly one of our fastest selling items. We have about 1 million products, and I’m not going to police American tastes, beyond not selling hardcore or kiddie porn (like some other etailers), and firearms and ammunition and such.
There was one exception: when Rush made fun of Michael J. Fox, we yanked our advertising.
This is going to be a long and exciting campaign. I don’t recall anything like it since 1980. I hope the citizenry gets through it as friends.
Most respectfully,
Patrick
Posted in Take 5 With Patrick - Essays on Unrelated Subjects |
February 15th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Good onya for selling products from both sides, and for having the balls to stick up for what you do. I’m as lefty as they come, but I have no objection to people selling drivel by M’Ann Coulter or items taking the mick at Hillary. If rightist fools want to part with their money, so be it. It’s only people who can’t defend their positions that are objecting to those who attack them.
February 16th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Bukko,
Thanks man.
I love Aussies.
February 20th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Mr. Byrne,
With all due respect, I think you have missed the point. Objections raised concerning the Hillary Clinton nutcracker have nothing to do with an airing of different policital perspectives, which most Americans agree is a good thing for democracy.
Unfortunately, rather than promoting an intelligent exploration of the candidate’s views, this product reduces her to a subject of ridicule.
By doing so, this product objectifies and denigrates women in much the same way racist products from the days of Jim Crow disparaged African Americans.
Products of this type are neither humorous, nor innocent. The sexual objectification of women is one of the main ways in which women are subordinated in a sexist society. The objectification of women involves disregarding personal abilities and capabilities, and focusing instead on attributes relevant to women’s role as sexual partners and their degree of submissiveness.
At this point in our nation’s history, it may be interesting to note that we have not, as a society, freed ourselves from the bigotry that has characterized our all-too-recent past. Today, racial jokes may be deemed politically incorrect, but jokes based on gender are apparently still popular in some circles.
The real question is whether our society benefits from products that validate the sexual anxiety some men have around powerful women by reducing a candidate for the Office of the President of the US to a sexual object, devoid of intelligence and competence.
What kind valuable insight on Hillary Clinton’s leadership abilities does this product provide the voters?
Rather than focusing on real campaign issues, this product plays dirty politics based on devaluing a woman by turning her into a sexual joke. Nothing new here, unfortunately, this strategy has been used throughout history to try to maintain the status quo. What is surprising, however, is the lack of awareness of these issues in your corporation.
March 6th, 2008 at 10:40 am
re: carina
Boy, Jonah Goldberg sure got it right-the left has no sense of humour! (Liberal Fascism)
How is a nutcracker any worse than the Bush hating merchandise on display in any and every coffee shop along both coasts of the nation?
People in glass houses———
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:15 am
Carina in California wrote “The real question is whether our society benefits from products that validate the sexual anxiety some men have around powerful women…” Wow, what a leap in logic. Any thoughts regarding Mrs. Clinton have absolutely nothing to do with sex. You need to start making arguments based on facts and logic. Please refrain from this tripe you’ve been indoctrinated with. If Mrs Clinton had the charm, charisma, fortitude and honor that Margaret Thatcher possesses in her pinkie, she’d be an attractive candidate. As it is, Mrs Clinton makes a better nut cracker.
March 24th, 2008 at 9:41 am
I don’t see a Hillary Nutcracker as a sexual reference. Nutcrackers are highly collectable… and those who do enjoy them, no doubt enjoyed adding her to their collection. It is all in one’s perspective. To say that an HC nutcracker is sexist and bigoted means that any character made into a nutcracker is being denigrated… that is just plain silly. The manufacturer should benefit from having the intuition that these would be popular. Obama and Tom Cruise might do well, too. Turn Overstock into a nutcracker store.
I just priced a Nutcracker Collector’s book on another site… 46.99. Carina is really looking for something that doesn’t exist..
March 27th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Nobody has sexual anxiety regarding Hillary except for Bill, he has to sleep with her…… as for Nutcrackers they are highly collectible, as are any items bearing the likeness of a political figure. I don’t know who here has seen the nutcracker in question, what makes it funny is that she cracks the nut between her legs.
June 24th, 2008 at 10:49 am
You wrote, “There was one exception: when Rush made fun of Michael J. Fox, we yanked our advertising.” So, I don’t understand why you would not stop advertising on FOX News for the Rush-type lies they broadcast.