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You are here: Home / Lowe’s Pulls Advertising from TLC’s “All-American Muslim” Show

Lowe’s Pulls Advertising from TLC’s “All-American Muslim” Show

by Imani Gandy (ABL)|  December 12, 20112:47 pm| 112 Comments

This post is in: Assholes, I Reject Your Reality and Substitute My Own

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Mainstreaming Islamophobia

Conservative nutbags are up-in-arms about TLC’s new reality show, All American Muslim, about five American Muslim families living in Dearborn, Michigan. It’s Sharia law, you see. It’s coming to get us all! It’s being transmitted through your television box, and the Florida Family Association is not having it. It is an injustice, and it will not stand!

To ward off this looming Mooslim threat, the Florida Family Association e-mailed its supporters to warn of TLC’s agenda to usher in an age of jihad and forced burqa-wearing, and asked supporters to email advertisers for the show:

“The Learning Channel’s new show All-American Muslim is propaganda clearly designed to counter legitimate and present-day concerns about many Muslims who are advancing Islamic fundamentalism and Sharia law,” the FFA said in a series of three e-mails to its supporters. “The show profiles only Muslims that appear to be ordinary folks while excluding many Islamic believers whose agenda poses a clear and present danger to liberties and traditional values that the majority of Americans cherish.”

The FFA also referenced concerns by anti-Islam activists Robert Spencer and Pamela Geller. Spencer had called the show a “bait-and-switch” that “addresses nothing of that supremacist ideology” in a column for Human Events. And Geller told World Net Daily: “It is an attempt to manipulate Americans into ignoring the threat of jihad and to bully them into thinking that being concerned about the jihad threat would somehow victimize these nice people in this show. The problem is not people; it’s ideology. The show doesn’t address that.”

According to the Hollywood Reporter, a Lowe’s representative sent the FFA an e-mail after the decision was made to pull the ads: “While we continue to advertise on various cable networks, including TLC, there are certain programs that do not meet Lowe’s advertising guidelines, including the show you brought to our attention. Lowe’s will no longer be advertising on that program.”

(read the rest)

Got that? A program about Muslim-Americans somehow does not meet Lowe’s advertising guidelines. What — I ask you — the fuck?!

As an initial matter, Lowe’s decision is impossibly stupid: when you’re caving to the concerns of known lunatic Pamela Geller (check Little Green Footballs for Charles Johnson’s hilarious coverage of Geller’s pathetic crusade against ZOMG! MUSLIN! Butterball turkeys), then you’ve already lost.

Most importantly, however, Lowe’s action is despicable and shameful discrimination, as aptly noted by California state senator Ted Lieu, who wrote a letter to Lowe’s Chief Executive Officer Robert A. Niblock calling Lowe’s decision “bigoted, shameful, and un-American” and “profoundly ignorant.” Lieu further noted, “Lowe’s religious discrimination is the equivalent of a company asserting that it is pulling advertising from the Christian Broadcast Network’s 700 Club because the program somehow ‘riskily hides’ the agenda of Christian radicalized groups such as Aryan Nation. That assertion would, of course, be utter nonsense and religious bigotry.”

As despicable as Lowe’s decision was, its response is worse (if that’s even possible):

Lowe’s issued a statement in which it apologized for having “managed to make some people very unhappy” but did not say it would reinstate advertising on the show.

“Individuals and groups have strong political and societal views on this topic, and this program became a lightning rod for many of those views. As a result we did pull our advertising on this program. We believe it is best to respectfully defer to communities, individuals and groups to discuss and consider such issues of importance,” the company statement said.

Strong political and societal views on this topic? The topic that Muslims are Americans and, y’know, exist? Yes — I can certainly see how that might be controversial. (No I can’t — at all.)

Lowe’s actions and its lukewarm response to the backlash (which likely pales in comparison to the backlash received from conservatives in response to Lowe’s decision to advertise on the show in the first instance) is merely another turd in the Conservative Hate Toilet. Sadly, however, this particular hate turd — this rampant Islamophobia — has the government’s imprimatur.

Remember the McCarthy Peter King hearings on the “radicalization of Muslims? And who could forget the Yorba Linda incident, when elected officials in California protested a faith-based charitable organization who gathered to raise funds to support women’s shelters, help the homeless and combat hunger by screaming “Go home!” and “Fuck you!”? The incident that prompted Emily Hauser to write the following:

Today, Americans of good will, of all colors and stripes, are horrified by the events in Yorba Linda. Across the country, across the airwaves, on the internet, in homes and in conversation, we are raising a hue and a cry, declaring our loyalty to our Muslim brothers and sisters in solidarity and faith.

Our union is not yet perfect, and it will likely never be.

But as we face down the remains of centuries of bigotry and hate, and bring our better angels to bear against the underbelly of American society, we make the union better. Stronger. More perfect.

“We the people” means all the people — and if a few hundred ill-informed bigots and their spectacularly un-American elected officials don’t know that, then it’s up to us, Muslim and non-Muslim Americans of good will, to let them know.

This is a moment on which our children will look back, and boggle at what innocent people had to face. It’s a moment in which some will shine as heroes, and others will go down in ignominy. It’s a moment that will help define our nation and our future, and it’s in our hands to decide if we will act in support of the American Idea, or stand idly by.

This is it. There’s work to be done, and we’re the only ones who can do it.

Emily was right then and she’s right now. There is work to be done, and it is up to us to do it.

[via Talking Points Memo; via The Hollywood Reporter]

[cross-posted at Angry Black Lady Chronicles]
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Reader Interactions

112Comments

  1. 1.

    chopper

    December 12, 2011 at 2:52 pm

    “The show profiles only Muslims that appear to be ordinary folks”

    a reality show about ordinary people as opposed to total nutters? can they do that?

  2. 2.

    Special Patrol Group

    December 12, 2011 at 2:56 pm

    Related.

  3. 3.

    The Moar You Know

    December 12, 2011 at 2:56 pm

    I’m a little bit surprised that no one at Lowe’s gave a thought to the inevitable, predictable wingnut freakout before choosing to advertise on a show called “All-American Muslim”. I mean, really, how did you not see that coming, guys? The wingnut idiot brigade boycotted a cheap donut shop because Rachel Ray wore a scarf. Doesn’t get crazier than that.

  4. 4.

    John Weiss

    December 12, 2011 at 2:58 pm

    I will never shop at Lowe’s again. Their attitude is horrendous and un-American.

  5. 5.

    Nemesis

    December 12, 2011 at 2:58 pm

    and I choose to pull my support of Lowes in kind.

  6. 6.

    Special Patrol Group

    December 12, 2011 at 2:58 pm

    Special prize to the first wingnut who cites this as yet another example of how Liberals are the Real Fascists.

  7. 7.

    Paul in KY

    December 12, 2011 at 2:59 pm

    Lowes is pretty pathetic here.

  8. 8.

    p.a.

    December 12, 2011 at 3:02 pm

    Ah yes. The normal, law-abiding ones are THE MOST DANGEROUS ONES OF ALL. I’ve never been oue to buy too much into the “our public schools are failing failing” hysteria because I’m not sure there has ever been a time since the Plymouth colony when adults have been hapy with childrens’ education (and maybe continual dissatisfaction is a good thing…), but there does seem to have been an expansion of ‘teh stoopid’ for a generation or two- and please note I’m not talking about the younger generations.

  9. 9.

    Lee

    December 12, 2011 at 3:02 pm

    Damn I was starting to frequent Lowes because Home Depot’s founder is a wingnut.

  10. 10.

    Niques

    December 12, 2011 at 3:05 pm

    @John Weiss: I also choose to pull any support of Lowes . . . and would very much like to let them know so. I cannot find a way to email the CEO on their website. Maybe there is a petition somewhere?

  11. 11.

    The Other Bob

    December 12, 2011 at 3:07 pm

    @John Weiss:

    I am stopping my shopping there too, and selling my stock.

  12. 12.

    Trentrunner

    December 12, 2011 at 3:08 pm

    The pusfunnel from Florida Family Association was just on CNN, and, unsurprisingly, the CNN spokesmodel allowed him to spew his hateful, unsupported assertions unchallenged by “facts” or “logic.”

  13. 13.

    Niques

    December 12, 2011 at 3:10 pm

    @Niques: Found the address:

    Lowe’s Public Relations

    1000 Lowe’s Boulevard
    Mooresville, NC 28117
    704-757-9210
    704-757-0611 (fax)

  14. 14.

    piratedan

    December 12, 2011 at 3:12 pm

    guess its time to take my business back to Ace Hardware or your local True Value store….

  15. 15.

    Ronnie P

    December 12, 2011 at 3:12 pm

    I’ve seen one episode, and it was interesting. I would genuinely love to see similar documentary shows on other groups of religious Americans: All-American Christian Scientists, etc.

  16. 16.

    shoutingattherain

    December 12, 2011 at 3:13 pm

    Buy bathroom fixtures at Lowe’s = the terrorists win.

  17. 17.

    The Snarxist Formerly Known As Kryptik

    December 12, 2011 at 3:14 pm

    @Trentrunner:

    It’s simply depressing, especially since it feels like outside of consistently liberal/progressive places like here, the froth seems to be almost 80% “FUCK YEAH, GO LOWES, FUCK THOSE GODDAMN TERRIST MOOSLIMS!!”

  18. 18.

    RD

    December 12, 2011 at 3:15 pm

    I had almost forgotten about TLC until I heard about this series.

    Good for them.

  19. 19.

    KG

    December 12, 2011 at 3:16 pm

    @chopper: sure, they can, but if they want good ratings, probably not worth it.

    We’ve absolutely lost our way.

  20. 20.

    Snowball

    December 12, 2011 at 3:19 pm

    @The Snarxist Formerly Known As Kryptik:

    I think perhaps that’s the perception since these people, the so called self-proclaimed Christians who pushed Loews to pull the ad are very loud with a pretty big microphone.

    It is good, however, to see that Loews stock today is dropping by more than Home Dept and more than the general market. I know it is just a one-day market thing but perhaps there is more to this than loud, ignorant posters on message boards.

  21. 21.

    jibeaux

    December 12, 2011 at 3:19 pm

    I like Ace hardware, personally, because one, you can freaking find what you’re looking for and if not there are actually people to help you, two, free popcorn, three, they have a rewards program, and four, they’re locally owned and operated.

    I want someone, somewhere, to boycott someone for advertising on shows like “Real Housewives of XX” on the grounds that they’re dumber than shit, but sadly this never happens.

  22. 22.

    Schlemizel

    December 12, 2011 at 3:20 pm

    We simply MUST ask our Muslim friends to wear a yellow crescent on their clothes when they are out in public so that we can easily identify them. I’m sure the Florida Fascist Association agrees that if the Muslims have done nothing wrong they have nothing to fear from this simple request.

  23. 23.

    Schlemizel

    December 12, 2011 at 3:25 pm

    @Lee:
    I have no idea of Loews politics but Home Depot management is wingnut central.

    To the others who plan on boycotting Lowes please try to keep in mind that you may actually be helping the wingnuts out by doing that – it may be why Lowes was targeted in the first place.

  24. 24.

    Samara Morgan

    December 12, 2011 at 3:25 pm

    /yawn

    shariah law cannot come to America anymore than judaic law can come to America.
    Because the rule of law in America is SECULAR.
    The poor cognitively-challenged christofascists understand neither.
    They keep insisting that their particular faith belongs in the rule of law, so they see no reason that shariah law cant trump it.
    The reason that christians (/sneer) cannot pray in the classroom is the same reason shariah cannot come to America.

    But of course they are majorly pissed off they cant ship bibles and missionaries to Mecca.
    That is probably the real reason.
    In EGT terminology scaremongering is the only defense christians can mount against Islam.

  25. 25.

    Phoenician in a time of Romans

    December 12, 2011 at 3:27 pm

    “The Learning Channel’s new show All-American Muslim is propaganda clearly designed to counter legitimate and present-day concerns about many Muslims who are advancing Islamic fundamentalism and Sharia law,” the FFA said in a series of three e-mails to its supporters. “The show profiles only Muslims that appear to be ordinary folks while excluding many Islamic believers whose agenda poses a clear and present danger to liberties and traditional values that the majority of Americans cherish.”

    Remind me again – were these the same yahoos who were whining that “Red State” was unfair to Christians?

  26. 26.

    Comrade Javamanphil

    December 12, 2011 at 3:27 pm

    It’s not just Lowes. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters also choose to pull their ads. Because, you know, wingnuts just love to buy products from socialist Vermont companies. Morans.

  27. 27.

    MelissaM

    December 12, 2011 at 3:28 pm

    I’d pull my money from Lowes, but that’s already been done due to their crappy customer service.

    And I’ve seen the show. Once. It was enough. Not because of the moozlums, but because it was crappy television. Boring crappy television.

  28. 28.

    Violet

    December 12, 2011 at 3:29 pm

    I didn’t know about this show until this incident brought it to my attention. I’ll now put it on my DVR list to record. Thanks, crazy religious organization!

  29. 29.

    lacp

    December 12, 2011 at 3:31 pm

    TLC has joined the War on Christmas!

  30. 30.

    Ben Cisco

    December 12, 2011 at 3:31 pm

    Remember, if a Muslim is expounding American values, it is only to mask the coming jihad.
    __
    If they are willing to serve and die for America, it is only to mask the coming jihad.
    __
    If they are willing to exercise their right to vote, it is only to mask the installation of a caliphate.
    __
    Work, pay taxes, obey the law, spend money locally, keep their lawns tidy, curb their pets – all to mask the coming jihad.
    __
    I don’t remember family values including outright unhinged, pants-pissing cowardice- oh, that’s right. Wrong family.

  31. 31.

    Special Patrol Group

    December 12, 2011 at 3:32 pm

    @Violet:

    Yeah, I set my DVR to record the series. The more it’s recorded, the better the ratings, the more advertising it gets, the more attention, and so forth. Can’t hurt, anyway. (Hint: you don’t have to watch the show, although I’ll give it a look.)

  32. 32.

    Silver Owl

    December 12, 2011 at 3:32 pm

    Lowe’s has a problem with Michiganders. They don’t like law abiding Michigan residents.

  33. 33.

    Villago Delenda Est

    December 12, 2011 at 3:34 pm

    @Samara Morgan:

    They’re projecting. They imagine that Muslims and Jews want to impose Islamic and Judaic religious laws on everyone, just like they want to impose their own fucked up moral code on everyone. ZOMG, it’s halal, or kosher! Like eating something halal or kosher instantly turns you Muslim or Jewish!

    Everything with the Jeebofascists is projection. Everything they whine about is projecting their own agenda for everyone else on to everyone else.

  34. 34.

    Jamey: Bike Commuter of the Gods

    December 12, 2011 at 3:40 pm

    I’d pledge not to shop at Lowe’s, but I already don’t shop there.

  35. 35.

    Villago Delenda Est

    December 12, 2011 at 3:40 pm

    I might also note that in this context, is is not possible for anyone Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Agnostic, Atheist, Catholic, or Eastern Orthodox to be “All-American.”

    We’re not so sure about Lutherans and Episcopalians, for that matter.

  36. 36.

    Amir Khalid

    December 12, 2011 at 3:41 pm

    @Samara Morgan:

    But of course they are majorly pissed off they cant ship bibles and missionaries to Mecca.
    That is probably the real reason.

    This is a most interesting idea, that Christian bigotry towards Muslims in America is due to the former group’s frustration at being unable to proselytize Muslims in the Middle East. It had not occurred to this poor maftoon that this might be a plausible theory.

    Can you present an argument that leads to this conclusion? Do you have evidence to support it?

  37. 37.

    RD

    December 12, 2011 at 3:42 pm

    @Samara Morgan:

    shariah law cannot come to America anymore than judaic law can come to America

    I was once banned from Redstate for expressing an opinion similar to this one. I’m pretty sure it was Strieff.

    Good times.

  38. 38.

    hildebrand

    December 12, 2011 at 3:42 pm

    @MelissaM: Yep – I had high hopes for the show, but it really was a bit of standard TLC schlock – boring, vapid people dealing with everyday issues – not the most scintillating or illuminating show.

    Did make me miss one of my favorite bakeries in Dearborn, though.

  39. 39.

    Special Patrol Group

    December 12, 2011 at 3:43 pm

    @Amir Khalid:

    This is a most interesting idea, that Christian bigotry towards Muslims in America is due to the former group’s frustration at being unable to proselytize Muslims in the Middle East. It had not occurred to this poor maftoon that this might be a plausible theory.

    Perhaps a bit. Mostly it’s just another Other* to bash.

    *Non-tribal White Christian

  40. 40.

    Tone In DC

    December 12, 2011 at 3:44 pm

    @Ben Cisco:

    I like it.

  41. 41.

    Jamey: Bike Commuter of the Gods

    December 12, 2011 at 3:44 pm

    @piratedan: Not a bad idea. I LOVE my local hardware store — he keeps his prices in line with the big box retailers, special orders just about anything, and is always ready to answer peoples’ questions.

    This may sound like a little Mayberry in NNJ, but people in my podunk town love the hardware guy so much that he won more than 60% of the vote in the recent mayoral election.

    Really, it’s not like I needed a reason not to shop at Lowe’s or HD…

  42. 42.

    hildebrand

    December 12, 2011 at 3:44 pm

    @Villago Delenda Est: Bingo – only Prosperity Gospel churches are truly Amurikan.

  43. 43.

    Davis X. Machina

    December 12, 2011 at 3:45 pm

    This is the same store with pretty universal bi-lingual Spanish and English signage, packaging, etc. etc. So it’s not simple xenophobia — it’s commerce.

    I guess it all comes down to who’s using your parking lot as an informal hiring fair, and where they buy their supplies.

  44. 44.

    j low

    December 12, 2011 at 3:46 pm

    My muslim fiancee and I were actually talking about registering at Lowe’s so we could do some home improvement projects after the wedding. Now, I think not.

  45. 45.

    Davis X. Machina

    December 12, 2011 at 3:47 pm

    @jibeaux:
    ACE hardware may be the largest co-operative enterprise in the US
    . I know it used to be…..

  46. 46.

    Samara Morgan

    December 12, 2011 at 3:47 pm

    @Amir Khalid: my evidence is that they keep TRYING and whining about how unfair it all is.
    Did you see this?

    there’s beaucoup evidence for those unblinded by western culture.

    you see….how unfair it is? Muslims can come here and build terror mosques but the christofascists cant go to Mecca and build a Saddleback megachurch.
    America was only able to build ONE church in Iraq in the past 9 years of occupation.
    And i think its been burned down since.
    Pretty pricey church– prolly cost like 4 trillion dollars and a cuple hundred american soljah lives.
    :)

  47. 47.

    Schlemizel

    December 12, 2011 at 3:48 pm

    @hildebrand:
    Yeah, I got roped into watching it once & came to realize that Muslim Americans can be just as vapid, little, petty, self-involved, empty and pompous ans any other American.

    This is what the Florida Fascist Association really fears; we will come to see them as the same as us.

  48. 48.

    Argive

    December 12, 2011 at 3:48 pm

    (check Little Green Footballs for Charles Johnson’s hilarious coverage of Geller’s pathetic crusade against ZOMG! MUSLIN! Butterball turkeys)

    I know Johnson jumped the Good Ship Crazy Wingnut a while ago, but I still can’t help but be shocked at his transformation. It’s wonderful to watch him redirect all that energy he used to put into bashing Muslims to better use antagonizing fuckwits like Geller, Spencer, Breitbart and Robert Stacy McCain.

  49. 49.

    handy

    December 12, 2011 at 3:49 pm

    @RD:

    BUT! BUT! *spittle* we are a JUDEO-Christian country! So it’s totes diff you islamofascist libtard!

  50. 50.

    Villago Delenda Est

    December 12, 2011 at 3:50 pm

    @Samara Morgan:

    You know, you have a serious zebra problem here, m_c.

    There is an easier explanation of the entire phenomenon, but you insist that it’s a zebra.

  51. 51.

    PaulW

    December 12, 2011 at 3:50 pm

    It’s not just Lowe’s. There’s a whole list of companies who pulled their ads from the TV show. Home Depot, for example, pulled their ads too, so going to them to spite Lowe’s isn’t going to help.

    It’s gonna be one hell of a boycott to hit all those companies…

  52. 52.

    vernon

    December 12, 2011 at 3:50 pm

    @John Weiss: Complete agreement here. Is anyone here NOT boycotting Lowe’s?

  53. 53.

    handy

    December 12, 2011 at 3:51 pm

    @Argive:

    I guess that’s what happens when said group labels you a Troskyite and tries to exile you to Alma Ata.

  54. 54.

    giltay

    December 12, 2011 at 3:55 pm

    I’d hate to see what they think about Little Mosque on the Prairie.

  55. 55.

    RossinDetroit

    December 12, 2011 at 3:57 pm

    Our corner of town is part Yemeni Christian, part Chaldean (Christian), part busted-out Muslim and a bare majority of white Christian folks.
    This is not going to go down well. I wouldn’t want to be the low guy on the Lowe’s employment totem pole around here because after the first of the year they’re going to be laying off due to lack of business.

  56. 56.

    Special Patrol Group

    December 12, 2011 at 4:02 pm

    @Schlemizel:

    This is what the Florida Fascist Association really fears; we will come to see them as the same as us.

    Well, of course. Makes ’em harder to dehumanize and demonize. I heard somewhere that Dick Cheney is cool with gay marriage. That’s so inconsistent with other right-wingers. I wonder why that is.

  57. 57.

    RalfW

    December 12, 2011 at 4:03 pm

    @Niques:

    I cannot find a way to email the CEO on their website.

    I usually e-mail investor relations. It’s actually staffed by people, not robots or PR flaks.

    E-mail is the most efficient way to contact Lowe’s Investor Relations department. Requests for information and questions sent via email to Investor Relations are answered promptly. To submit questions via email please write to [email protected]. To reach our department by phone, please call 704-758-2910.

  58. 58.

    batgirl

    December 12, 2011 at 4:09 pm

    Anyone have a confirmed list of corporations that pulled their ads from All American Muslim?

  59. 59.

    BO_Bill

    December 12, 2011 at 4:10 pm

    To observe a female operate a back-hoe, is to appreciate the brilliance of Mohammad.

  60. 60.

    Amir Khalid

    December 12, 2011 at 4:11 pm

    I have seen that one before: US soldiers in Afghanistan were being urged to proselytize for Christianity and hand out Bibles — which is against regulations not just because it’s an inflammatory thing to do over there, but mainly because the US military is a secular institution. As I recall, this effort was thwarted by the US Army itself and the contraband Bibles were destroyed. If American Christians want to get mad at anyone for that it should be the US Army.

    Again I ask: what argument do you offer, and what evidence, that Christians are angry at Muslims in America because they have been unable to proselytize to Muslims in the Middle East? Remember, it is not Muslims in America who are thwarting such efforts.

  61. 61.

    carpeduum

    December 12, 2011 at 4:13 pm

    My guess is they are getting it 10 times worse now from the ‘sane’ side now that it’s on the radar. Doubt they will reverse their decision though. The damage has been done and they more than likely agree with the wingnuts anyways.

  62. 62.

    RalfW

    December 12, 2011 at 4:19 pm

    Speaking of mooslems:

    Via twit-box:

    @whitehouse “This is a season of homecomings & military families across America are being reunited for the holidays” -Pres Obama

    Oh, that Obama. How he hates the troops.

  63. 63.

    Special Patrol Group

    December 12, 2011 at 4:20 pm

    Buzzfeed has a list of 25 wingnutty Facebook comments celebrating Lowe’s Real American Values.

    Gonna be hard for Colbert to top that level of extreme self-parody.

  64. 64.

    RD

    December 12, 2011 at 4:23 pm

    @PaulW:

    Sometimes a zebra is just a cigar.

  65. 65.

    evinfuilt

    December 12, 2011 at 4:28 pm

    a reality show about ordinary people as opposed to total nutters? can they do that?

    @chopper:

    You’re onto something, this is TLC which shows off such nutters as Palin and that Quiverfolk family. Showing any segment of society in a good light seems off.

  66. 66.

    Benjamin Franklin

    December 12, 2011 at 4:33 pm

    @Samara Morgan:

    Muslims can come here and build terror mosques but the christofascists cant go to Mecca and build a Saddleback megachurch.

    It’s not fair?

    Listen. I keep hearing about how much better the US rates in terms of culture, freedom, fairness.

    Don’t you think cultures should aspire to be as good as us, but that part of that package is we set a good example?

    I mean, if we expect everyone to be as good as us, then we’re no longer the best, right?

    It’s like the fantasy that everyone can be rich

  67. 67.

    rb

    December 12, 2011 at 4:34 pm

    Last night I saw an ad for this show and it made me laugh because it seemed pretty tone-deaf and awkward (example: voiceover text exclaiming “Forget everything you thought you knew about Muslims!” accompanying video of “Muslims!” going to the grocery store or whatever.)

    Leave it to a multi-$B home improvement corporation to respond in so bigoted a fashion as to make those awkward ads seem positively quaint and appealing.

  68. 68.

    beergoggles

    December 12, 2011 at 4:35 pm

    Meh, Lowes still donates the least to Republicans of all the hardware/home improvement stores (especially the wingnutty Home Depot) I have access to and I’m really not going to crank up the poutrage over pulling ads from yet another bad reality tv show.

  69. 69.

    JR

    December 12, 2011 at 4:40 pm

    I’n just glad there are still privately locally owned lumber stores around here (and in AZ) that deliver, even to remote up a hollow building sites.

    I have shopped at HD from time to time, they seemed to have better staff that can advise, but that’s just a tad more convenient. If I need a batch of material delivered, I call the local guys, who have delivered up here for years now, and don’t need detailed directions any more.

  70. 70.

    gaz

    December 12, 2011 at 4:40 pm

    I’ll add Lowes to my list of perma boycotts that I keep for racist organizations. Lowes meet Chase Bank. =)

    I buy my hardware from the local shop anyway… but I’ll make sure my friends know that Lowes hates muslims – and caters to demonstrably bigoted political groups/

  71. 71.

    PurpleGirl

    December 12, 2011 at 4:41 pm

    For other views of Sharia law and a comparison with Jewish Halaka and Roman Catholic Canon law I recommend people read the following articles:

    http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islamic_sharia_and_jewish_halakha_arbitration_courts

    and

    http://www.chicagocrescent.com/crescent/columnistArticlesMujahid2.php?nTitle=The%20Great%20American%20Sharia%20Freakout%20and%20Freedom%20of%20Religion

    and

    http://www.jta.org/news/article/2011/04/28/3087191/anti-sharia-initiatives-stir-concerns-that-halacha-may-be-next

  72. 72.

    gaz

    December 12, 2011 at 4:45 pm

    @Benjamin Franklin: Nah, Samara is all about the race to the bottom.

    She wants to see the country burn. (if only to be able to say she was right about something).

    She wants us to have the same standard of living as Mexico,
    and the same social policies as Saudi Arabia.

    You’re wasting your breath.

  73. 73.

    SiubhanDuinne

    December 12, 2011 at 4:47 pm

    @Ben Cisco:

    Work, pay taxes, obey the law, spend money locally, keep their lawns tidy, curb their pets – all to mask the coming jihad.

    It’s the same logic the NRA nutcase used a couple of months ago when he explained that the fact that Obama has said absolutely nothing about gun control is PROOF that he plans to take all your guns away!

    Really, I don’t know whether to laugh, cry, bang my head on the desk, or just drink to excess.

  74. 74.

    SiubhanDuinne

    December 12, 2011 at 4:48 pm

    @Jamey: Bike Commuter of the Gods:

    I’d pledge not to shop at Lowe’s, but I already don’t shop there.

    I don’t either. Not gonna stop me from writing a letter to Lowe’s explaining why I’ve decided to stop shopping there.

  75. 75.

    gaz

    December 12, 2011 at 4:52 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne: Yeah – I just left a message at the phone#. I don’t want any traffic from racists (eg: lowes) ending up in my email – even my junk email. So I phoned it in.

    We protested Chase bank here – over their racism at a branch in another neck of our woods.

    We’ll protest in front of lowes too.

  76. 76.

    Snowball

    December 12, 2011 at 4:56 pm

    @beergoggles:

    That may be so. But I’m not going to reward a corporation that caved in to a small right-wing hate group. It would send a bad message to other corporations.

    We’ll see how ACE Hardware handles it.

  77. 77.

    beergoggles

    December 12, 2011 at 4:56 pm

    Well at least the Muslims are getting along with Christians just fine when it comes to hating other people.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTsjDBepkOk

    Fuck the lot of them.

  78. 78.

    beergoggles

    December 12, 2011 at 4:59 pm

    @Snowball: Well my local Ace donates to some crazyass Republicans too. So I can see why Lowes did what they did – they are still the lesser of the evils when it comes to the rest of the home improvement stores.

  79. 79.

    gaz

    December 12, 2011 at 5:00 pm

    @Snowball: agreed.

    Adding, if you pander to bigots, that makes you a bigot, in my book.

    Also adding, I’d call it straight religious bigotry, except we both know that if most muslims were white, this anti-muslim dread wouldn’t be playing out this way, 9/11 notwithstanding.

  80. 80.

    gaz

    December 12, 2011 at 5:10 pm

    @beergoggles: Yeah – I stopped shopping at my Ace awhile back…

    We’ve got a family run hardware joint here that I use (even though it’s in the neighboring town)… I’m not sure what their politics are, (all I know about the owners for sure is that they are ethnically Jewish) but they are so small in any case, that outside of very local politics, they can’t do any damage =)

  81. 81.

    gaz

    December 12, 2011 at 5:18 pm

    @beergoggles: Personally, I don’t think it’s possible for me to give less of a fuck about scottish politics. There was one point when I was considering taking a job in Edinburgh, but that’s ancient history for me.. and as close as I would have ever come to caring.

    “Fuck the lot of them” strikes me as somewhat bigoted as well, frankly. I have a few muslim friends that hail from Jordan. They’re about as civil libertarian as you can get.

    Religious nutjobs are still first and foremost, nutjobs. Religion is just the conduit by which they exercise their crazy. If there were no religion, they’d just find something else.

    So I’m not down with pointing the finger at entire groups of religious followers (be they muslim, christian, hindu, whatevs).

    It’s simply bigoted to do so.

    Before you hate on a christian, try meeting one from China.
    Before you hate on a muslim, try meeting one.

  82. 82.

    Svensker

    December 12, 2011 at 5:36 pm

    All you folks saying you’re not going to shop there anymore, send them an e-mail or a phone call, let them know.

  83. 83.

    Origuy

    December 12, 2011 at 5:54 pm

    In California, we’ve got Orchard Supply, which is now owned by Sears. Anyone know why I should avoid them? They’re smaller than Lowe’s or Home Depot, but they make it up with better service. There are a few Ace Hardware around, but at least one of them went out of business recently. The fact that it closed at 6:00 might have something to do with that.

  84. 84.

    AA+ Bonds

    December 12, 2011 at 6:06 pm

    WELP! TIME TO LOOT THE FUCK OUT OF LOWE’S

  85. 85.

    AA+ Bonds

    December 12, 2011 at 6:07 pm

    ^ the above post is Satire, defined as something you should fucking do

  86. 86.

    AA+ Bonds

    December 12, 2011 at 6:09 pm

    Here’s something I now know about Lowe’s: they probably have fascists on the board, and when this nonsense finally goes down, they will be using those handheld label-makers to mark down Jewish death camp slave labor to LOW LOW PRICES

  87. 87.

    Citizen_X

    December 12, 2011 at 6:10 pm

    Seriously, now: how is this shit the slightest bit different from garden-variety wingnut anti-Jewish bigotry from the 19th or early 20th Century? They’ve just changed targets. Somewhere in Hell, Julius Streicher is smiling in approval.

  88. 88.

    Barry

    December 12, 2011 at 6:30 pm

    @Niques:

    “@John Weiss: I also choose to pull any support of Lowes . . . and would very much like to let them know so. I cannot find a way to email the CEO on their website. Maybe there is a petition somewhere?”

    Stop by their store, and ask the manager for information on how to contact the corporate HQ.

  89. 89.

    Samara Morgan

    December 12, 2011 at 7:35 pm

    @Benjamin Franklin: that was sarc.
    In country where freedom of religion IS THE LAW, 70% of Americans were against the “terror” mosque.
    we are not fair, free, or just.
    Know what?
    The Occupy movement is an insurgency.
    Praps we should unleash COIN on the owwies.
    It could be the only place COIN works.
    ;)
    @gaz: i dont want any of that. If i did i would go live in Saud. Im a muslim so i can do that. But i do luff being right.
    about the US gettin’ kicked out of Iraq, about COIN never working, about the MB taking the egyptian elections, etc. etc.
    tolejasotolejasotolejaso

  90. 90.

    Samara Morgan

    December 12, 2011 at 7:44 pm

    @Amir Khalid: i read hotair. i can pull plenty of comments about that. if you do a random sample of wingnut blogs around the time the terror mosque was hot you can get literally hundreds of comments deploring xian inability to proselytize in Mecca and build churches there.
    70% of Americans polled against the terror mosque.
    In a country where freedom of religion IS THE LAW.
    What do you think?
    That they dont know the law, or that they hate muslims?

    and here. a pour boir for you and suzanne.
    Is Newt Gingrich too fat to be President?

  91. 91.

    beergoggles

    December 12, 2011 at 8:30 pm

    @gaz: I’ve got friends there and I doubt it’s a localized phenomenon. Xtians and Muslims will band together to oppress gays where and whenever they can.

    I just don’t trust religious followers. If they embrace irrationality and illogic to adopt a religion, who knows what will set them off the deep end.

    It’s not the christian from china that’s funding my oppression. It’s the evangelicals and catholics right here.

  92. 92.

    RD

    December 12, 2011 at 8:50 pm

    @Samara Morgan:

    It’s not just Hot Air.

    Jim Robinson/Free Republic want to see the Arab middle-east turned into a Christian sheet of radioactive glass.

    These people are deadly serious and they vote in droves.

  93. 93.

    Samara Morgan

    December 12, 2011 at 9:54 pm

    @beergoggles: may i point out something here?
    the christian from china isnt WHITE.
    WHITE anglosaxon christianity is an exclusive religion that wants to force their world view on others.
    blacks browns and yellows are not WECs.
    WEC is a socio-political demographic. not a religion.

  94. 94.

    Grover Gardner

    December 12, 2011 at 9:56 pm

    I emailed them. Here in Medford OR we’ve got Ace, Hubbard (Ace affilliate), Grange and tons of building supply and discount lumber joints. Plenty o’ choices.

  95. 95.

    Samara Morgan

    December 12, 2011 at 9:58 pm

    @RD: yup.
    and Maftoon Khalid is huffing unicorn farts if he thinks that isnt true.

    they vote in droves.

    WECs make up 50% of the GOP. Up from 40% in 2008.
    That is why Willard doesn’t have a snoball’s chance in hell of getting his party’s nom.

  96. 96.

    Mack Lyons

    December 12, 2011 at 10:15 pm

    @RD: These people never gave thought to whether the middle-eastern nations they glass won’t return the favor. Perhaps that’s why the mouth-breathers from on high are so adamant about convincing the Jim Robinson/Freeper types that going into Iran is so important, to knock off the last remaining middle-eastern power other than Israel that’s (suspected of being) capable of tossing a nuke or two back our way.

  97. 97.

    Leslie Clair

    December 12, 2011 at 10:35 pm

    There is a list of companies that the FFA claim to have goose stepping to their orders. The fact that only a couple on the list have quietly complained that they were “misrepresented” (and probably hoping the whole matter will just disappear). If I were on that list and FFA lied, I’d be yelling it from the rooftops! But then I’m normal, sort of. Anyhoo, here’s the URL, prepare to be disgusted:

    http://www.mpac.org/issues/islamophobia/action-alert-stop-bigots-from-pressuring-advertisers-for-tlcs-all-american-muslim.php

  98. 98.

    beergoggles

    December 12, 2011 at 10:59 pm

    @Samara Morgan: Apparently you haven’t traveled much. The Hindus in India, the Buddhists in Sri Lanka, the Muslims in Pakistan, the Christians and Muslims in Africa have no problem forcing their worldview on LGBTs. It’s not just a xtian thing, it’s not just a white thing. It’s a power (being in the majority) coupled with religion thing that seems to affect all humans that embrace delusions and having melanin does not make anyone immune to it.

  99. 99.

    No one of importance

    December 12, 2011 at 11:36 pm

    @beergoggles:
    “Apparently you haven’t traveled much”

    It wouldn’t matter if she had because with a mind that racist and closed, she would only see what she wants to see, and impose her privileged white girl view on everything.

    The fact that she insults a brown man from a former British colony on the basis of his religion which she assumes, as a privileged white girl, she must know more about than him, indicates just how vulgar and blinkered her particular brand of bigotry is.

  100. 100.

    Cap'n Magic

    December 12, 2011 at 11:47 pm

    The last thing Lowe’s needs is a boycott, given their store closings and re-trenching following the collpase of the housing market.

  101. 101.

    Lyrebird

    December 13, 2011 at 12:02 am

    irony alert: Ads by Google served me up an ad for…. Lowe’s!!

    I’m remembering when a bunch of people donated to Planned Parenthood and “honored” S. Palin (so she’d get a card). Hmmm… wonder if MuslimPAC or some other org would be up for this…

  102. 102.

    Cap'n Magic

    December 13, 2011 at 1:06 am

    One tweet from Lowe’s really stands out:

    “We did not pull our ads based solely on the complaints or emails of any one group. It is never our intent to alienate anyone.”

    Really? If you didn’t pull the ad-buy based on complaints, then why did you pull it?

  103. 103.

    Chris

    December 13, 2011 at 2:16 am

    @Ben Cisco:

    Conspiracy theorizing 101: anything that disproves or doesn’t fit the conspiracy narrative is simply part of the conspiracy.

  104. 104.

    Chris

    December 13, 2011 at 2:43 am

    @Special Patrol Group:

    Well, of course. Makes ‘em harder to dehumanize and demonize. I heard somewhere that Dick Cheney is cool with gay marriage. That’s so inconsistent with other right-wingers. I wonder why that is.

    I’ve heard the same thing about the Koch brothers.

    Social issues don’t matter much to them, they’re just sideshows to distract the rabble. Their GOP’s all about the economic royalism.

  105. 105.

    Chris

    December 13, 2011 at 2:51 am

    @Benjamin Franklin:

    I mean, if we expect everyone to be as good as us, then we’re no longer the best, right?

    Heh.

    I suspect most of the reason for this increasingly frantic obsession with “American exceptionalism” is that America’s no longer exceptional. I mean, you could argue if it ever was, but the number of countries based on liberal democratic and Enlightenment principles has climbed so high compared to 200 years ago that it’s become impossible to credibly claim that there’s anything exceptional about America anymore. (Especially when many of those other countries outstrip us in things like social mobility, education levels, etc).

    If you look at it from my POV, that’s not a bad thing at all: heck, it means we’re winning! Or should I say, our values are. But if you’re the kind of person who pathologically needs to be superior to someone (e.g. the conservative base), I can see how that would freak you right out.

    Friggin jackasses.

  106. 106.

    Thymezone

    December 13, 2011 at 3:14 am

    Here’s the truth:

    “Several weeks ago All-American Muslim debuted on TLC to a storm of publicity and high ratings, but the publicity has vanished and the ratings are dribbling away. The series had premiered to a 1.7 rating, but last Sunday’s episode had dropped to a 1.1 rating. The television ratings for this week aren’t in yet, but the news for TLC and the producers of All-American Muslim isn’t likely to be any better.”

    “All-American Muslim had originally finished ahead of the terrorism drama Homeland which airs in the same timeslot, but last week Homeland finished ahead of it, and not because its ratings had improved. Homeland had lost viewers, but All-American Muslim had lost even more viewers making it by far the lowest rated show on TLC Sunday nights. Worse still its 18-49 demographic had been cut in half, which put it way at the bottom of the ratings pile and that made it a bad bargain for the advertisers”

    True, the distribution of the sad ratings news is being done by people who don’t like muslims on tv … but that doesn’t change the facts. The show is a dud. Fact number one.

    Fact number two is that advertisers have been pulling ads from “controversial” material since the earliest days of the kinescope. That’s what they do, advertisers generally don’t like controversy.

    Fact number three is that Lowe’s is barely in business, closing stores and looking at a real battle to avoid bankruptcy and stay in business … and any sane business advisor would tell them to put their ad dollars somewhere else.

    But in the world of the New Left Pitchfork Brigade, everything is politics and politics is everything. This New Left bullshit has adopted the practices of its arch enemy, the crazy right, in using any and all events on the radar as an opportunity to raise hell and shout at the top of one’s lungs.

    The truth is that the show sucks, the advertiser is in trouble, the ads oughta be pulled, and nobody is focussing on the real villain in the piece, the FFA. Meanwhile the crummy show gets free attention and idiots on the left have something to beat their chests about. Any lazy fuck can yell at Lowe’s but they are not likely to be around in their present form a year or two from now. In any case it won’t move the Tolerance for Islam needle one micron in this country, either way. Nobody really gives a shit. I don’t need a goddam reality show to teach me about Muslims, I have muslim neighbors and as far as I am concerned they are just neighbors, it’s no big deal to me at all. And to people who hate on them, tv shows and ads aren’t going to make any difference. They aren’t going to “get” anything from this issue. They are still going to be morons when it’s all over and the opportunistic ragemongers have moved on to the next fauxrage issue.

  107. 107.

    Samara Morgan

    December 13, 2011 at 7:48 am

    @No one of importance: i do know more than him.
    just ask him.
    ;)
    @beergoggles: neither is oppression of women a totally xian thing.
    Like discrimination against homosexuals it dates from the EEA. So what?
    Its a HOMO SAPIENS SAPIENS thing.
    South Carolina didnt approve womans suffrage until 1970, did you know that?
    My point is– in Islam, attacking Islam shuts down the process of mutawatir which how quranic exegesis can evolve.
    Its an EGT defense reflex. If Americans want to help women and gays in islamic countries stop sending missionaries with guns to try to cram secularism down the muslims throats.
    It doesnt work anyways.

  108. 108.

    Samara Morgan

    December 13, 2011 at 8:06 am

    @No one of importance:

    with a mind that racist and closed

    and again, im not a racist, unless christian and stupid are races now.
    :)

  109. 109.

    Lex

    December 13, 2011 at 8:41 am

    Between my last gig and my current one, I applied for a job doing social media for Lowes. I didn’t get it. I’m delighted to see that stuff happens for a reason, because I’m not sure I’d have been able to stop a Crazy Train that big and fast.

    Working with people who are not idiots: It makes up for a lot, people.

  110. 110.

    No one of importance

    December 13, 2011 at 6:57 pm

    @Samara Morgan:

    “im not a racist, unless christian and stupid are races now”

    Illiterate as well as stupid and racist too.

    Samara Morgan and eemom – two compelling reasons to offer cleek loadsamoney to FIX THE GODDAMN PIE FILTER PLEASE.

    You’re a shitstain on the underpants of humanity, SM. If only the soap powder of destiny would hurry up and make you disappear.

  111. 111.

    Dave Muckey

    December 17, 2011 at 5:30 pm

    Why single out Lowes (and Kayak) when there a several dozen more advertisers who have done the same? I’d love to find a reliable source for the others.

Comments are closed.

Trackbacks

  1. Learning Channel Pushes Leftist Plot To Divert Attention From Evils Of Irish, er, Italian, I mean, MUSLIM People! | Library Grape says:
    December 12, 2011 at 4:03 pm

    […] Another great win for the rabid reactionary nutbags in this country who can scare off media analysts, science teachers and advertisers with the fake “OMG CONTROVERSEES!!!11!” racket they’ve gotten so good at: Conservative nutbags are up-in-arms about TLC’s new reality show, All American Muslim, about five American Muslim families living in Dearborn, Michigan. It’s Sharia law, you see. It’s coming to get us all! It’s being transmitted through your television box, and the Florida Family Association is not having it. It is an injustice, and it will not stand! […]

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