Breitbart's counter-offensive against Kellogg for pulling it's advertising is troubling for the precedent it sets: the threat of a boycott effectively hijacks aligning corporate values with their advertising dollars. Business is used to consumers objecting to a site or tv show in which they advertise-and usually cave to their demands. Here, the site itself is organizing consumer protest...what is the takeaway: news outlets can bully their way to advertising dollars?
The quote below boggles the mind in it's inflammatory word choice and plain ol' thuggery:
"For Kellogg's, an American brand, to blacklist Breitbart News in order to placate left-wing totalitarians is a disgraceful act of cowardice," Alex Marlow, the site's editor-in-chief, wrote. "Boycotting Breitbart News for presenting mainstream American ideas is an act of discrimination and intense prejudice. If you serve Kellogg's products to your family, you are serving up bigotry at your breakfast table."
I went on Kellogg's facebook page to read the comments - good lord, such vitriol...it remains to be seen if Kellogg takes a hit to their bottom line, but the backlash is noisy, swift and ugly. For me, kudos to Kellogg - finally, an example of 'money is speech' I can admire.
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