War declared on Ohio dealership for declaring Jihad in ad
Columbus-area car dealership Dennis Mitsubishi (shown) has drawn the ire of many for producing a radio spot that declares "a jihad on the automotive market". Oh how we wish it ended with just that. The spot also proclaims that salespeople wearing burqas, the traditional head-to-toe garb of Islamic women, will sell vehicles that can "comfortably seat 12 jihadists in the back." More of the ad's controversial rhetoric can be found at the link.
The dealership's president, Keith Dennis, says that the idea was to produce an ad using some of the buzzwords in the media that could be a tension reliever. Mission not accomplished, sir. He also claimed it was fair game to poke "a little fun at radical extremists."
We seriously doubt people are turned off by the ad because it hurts the feelings of radical extremists and no one would want to threaten the dealership's right to free speech, but there's something about being incendiary for the sake of sales that rubs some the wrong way. We long for the day when we can just buy a new car from a vending machine and be done with it.
We'd like to hear your thoughts, as long as everyone keeps the discussion intelligent and civil in the comments.
Thanks for the tip, Ryan!
[Source: ABC News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Ryan 2:32PM (9/25/2006)
"We long for the day when we can just buy a new car from a vending machine and be done with it."
-That is the truth!
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Adam Singer 2:33PM (9/25/2006)
How much do you want to bet this guy gets his dealership pipe-bombed in the next week?
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theautoprophet 2:35PM (9/25/2006)
Dirka! Dirka! Mohammad Jihad!
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Ferguson_McSqueege 2:37PM (9/25/2006)
Bombing by an extremist group in 3...2...1...
:D
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rwdmtparkingonly 2:38PM (9/25/2006)
There's no way 12 jihadists can fit in the back of a Mitsubishi, this is outrageous consumer deception.
I guess this is the crazy crap people do when they know the brand they sell won't be in the US anymore in two years. I wonder what the Isuzu dealers will do to outdo this guy.
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glacia00 2:39PM (9/25/2006)
Whatever, Crazy...
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James 2:40PM (9/25/2006)
I used to live in Columbus and purchased a number of cars from Dennis. They were known for their humorous commercials, but this one may be a little too edgy. I've seen the scripts for the ads but has anyone heard them (any MP3's to download)?
James
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Meek 2:40PM (9/25/2006)
I live in Ohio and the morning radio show played this ad this morning. They stated that the ad wasn't ran anywhere, and they were going to play it. It wasn't clear if they had permission or not. From what I've seen, I don't think the ad ever reached the public through normal air play. Also, the version I heard, the announcer doesn't finish the ad straight, he starts cracking up. It didn't sound like a final product to me. I'm guessing this wasn't meant to see the light of day.
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Brian 2:53PM (9/25/2006)
"There's no way 12 jihadists can fit in the back of a Mitsubishi, this is outrageous consumer deception."
I'm sure jihadists are equal opportunity employers and have midgets as well. You can easily fit 12 midgets in Mit's big SUV :)
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Schneegz 11:17AM (9/29/2006)
What they should have said is, "You can fit AT LEAST 20 illegal aliens and 60 kilos of weed back there!"
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christopher 2:57PM (9/25/2006)
Car salesmen with no taste or brains... who would've thunk it?
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Hamud 2:49PM (9/25/2006)
Are they crazy or what?
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Dave 2:59PM (9/25/2006)
I'm all for free speech... But when it comes to idiots... I am strongly against inbreeding!!!
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UpIrons 3:01PM (9/25/2006)
I live in Columbus and own a Hyundai from Dennis Hyundai, which is right next to the Mitsubishi dealership. I didn't hear this commercial but all I can say is not only is it in bad taste but also completely stupid. What many of you may not realize is that the area this dealership is in is pretty much on the border of a high concentration of Somali immigrants. You could practically call it Little Somali. Now to further incendiate the matter, one of the people from this Somali community was arrested a few years ago for conspiracy to commit a terrorist act against a local shopping mall in the name of Jihad.
So with that community, full of fine people I'm sure, being right next door to Dennis Mitsubishi and for them to alienate their neighbors in this manner is the most idiotic, not to mention dangerous, thing I have ever seen. I think I will buy my next car from a place that doesn't have a mark on it's proverbial head.
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Bullitt Mustang 3:06PM (9/25/2006)
I think it's hilarious.
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Sgt. Hulka 3:05PM (9/25/2006)
I want to se more ads like this. Who cares if we piss off Muslims. Madoona is crucifying herself in her latest lounge act and you don't see threats to fire-bomb her.
Hulka says - Piss of more Islamists!
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rwdmtparkingonly 3:09PM (9/25/2006)
Saleswomen wearing burqas might actually be a good idea, I'm tired of trixie saleswomen.
Vending machines selling cars sounds interesting, but how would a car vending machine put on the $500 "special undercoating."
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furiouspheonix 3:12PM (9/25/2006)
For them to have to stoop so low to sell anything speaks for itself. Who in the hell would want to take part in such an blatant display of jackassery to begin with?
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Mike 3:10PM (9/25/2006)
I'm so damn tired of everyone having to tip toe all over the place because we might piss off these religious freaks. Do they ever care what we think? NO. When they were burning a doll of the Pope last week did they care if we would get our feelings hurt? NO
Screw them, we need more people like the sale guys at this dealership.
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iQuack 3:14PM (9/25/2006)
It's OK to be clever, but this is stupid.
Some Muslim nut could bomb the dealer and I wouldn't go there and take the risk of being there at the wrong time.
The ad (if it runs) would get attention, but will it sell Mitsubishis? I think not.
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