Response from GEICO – My response back.

Last night I emailed GEICO and asked if it was true that they cut their ads from the Glenn Beck TV show, and, if so, why.

Here is GEICO’s reply:

Date: Thursday, August 13, 2009, 7:34 PM

Thank you, first of all for your business and also for your interest in this matter. 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, and 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 program gets so much attention that our message is drowned out.

And here is my reply back to GEICO this evening:

Thank you for your reply and explanation of your actions with regard to removing GEICO advertising from the Glenn Beck TV show.

Every company certainly has the right to appropriate any advertising dollar to any media they believe benefits them best.

But such actions are also indicative of the values of such company.  GEICOs actions indicate to me that your firm has little regard for public debate, alternative viewpoints and anything but the socialist agenda that is being promoted by the main stream media and most of our out of touch federal government.  You are on the side of the sinking polls of our president and his administration.  I believe too much in the greatness of this nation and the values she represents, and promoted by Glenn Beck, to stand idly by and and not react and comment on your actions.

One persons' "inflammatory" is another's "sound contrary opinion."  As one of your customers, I was not distracted in the least by Beck's commentary and in fact, respected GEICO as a sponsor.  Your withdrawal from that show indicates your disdain for debate, and in fact, your support of values that are contrary to the best interests of this nation.  I suspect and am hoping that many thousands of your customers believe the same and will act accordingly.

Finally, I find it rather disingenuous and hypocritical that GEICO continues its advertising on the leftist Rachel Maddow, Keith Olberman and Ed Schultz shows.

This clearly shows GEICOs political bias and BS excuses.

Sincerely,