January 14, 2009, - 11:39 am
It’s Official: Pepsi Admits New Ad Campaign That Looks Like Obama’s is For Obama; Honest Tea, Dunkin’ also in Obama Tank
By Debbie Schlussel
On Monday, I showed you the new Pepsi “Hope” campaign that looked a heck of a lot like the Obama campaign. Pepsi claimed any similarity was just a coincidence. And some readers said I was totally off-base.
Well, I wasn’t.
Now, Pepsi admits it–the campaign was meant to look just like the Obama campaign, and the soft drink company is now officially entirely in the tank for B. Hussein O. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised since Pepsi was a historical participant in the Arab boycott on Israel (which is why it was never allowed in our home when I was a kid).
Well, If A Tea Says He’s Honest, It Must Be True . . .
And, damn, one of my fave low-cal teas, Honest Tea (which is also Obama’s fave) is now in the tank for him, too, proclaiming that this proven liar is “Honest.” Puh-leeze:
On Friday, Pepsi crews will hit the streets of D.C with product samples, as well as scarves, hats and buttons that read “Hope” and “Change.” Ads with the new Pepsi logo appear in outdoor ads with such Obama-isms as “Yes, you can.”
New Pepsi ads will air in pre-inaugural coverage on networks such as CNN beginning Jan. 18.
“This is a unique moment,” says Frank Cooper, vice president, portfolio brands. “There are very few times when people of various backgrounds and affiliations come together with a common sense of purpose.” . . .
[QVC] has paid a fee to broadcast live on Inauguration Night from a glitzy ball hosted by The Creative Coalition, a political advocacy group founded by TV star Alec Baldwin, and sponsored by Pepsi.
Barf.
Honest Tea:
The brand struck marketing gold when Obama was seen drinking its Black Forest Berry tea on the campaign trail. A small number of custom bottles, renamed “Barack Forest Berry” and graced with a picture of Obama on the label, are going out to the media. . . .
“We appreciate the relationship, and it’s a meaningful relationship, and we don’t want to cheapen it in any way,” says Jesse Merrill, Honest Tea director of marketing.
Um, I think you just did.
Dunkin’ Donuts–official home of Rachael Ray’s jihadist scarf:
Red-white-and-blue-sprinkled “Stars & Stripes” doughnuts will be sold in the chain’s stores nationwide from Jan. 17 through Jan. 23 for 89 cents. The brand’s blogger, Dunkin’ Dave, also will tout the doughnuts on social-networking site Twitter.
“There’s a hope and energy that will be created with the inauguration and new administration coming in,” says Will Kussell, president and chief brand officer. “You’re going to see us be a little more topical and put more variety in our doughnut line in 2009.”
It used to be that companies and products didn’t officially get involved in politics. It’s bad for business because the company risks alienating those on the other side of an issue or candidate. If you’ll recall, despite Ronald Reagan’s famous love of Jelly Belly jelly beans, the company deliberately never capitalized on it, not wanting to offend anti-Reagan customers.
I guess these companies forgot about the 58 million-plus Americans who voted for John McCain. Or they just don’t want our business. We get the in-your-face message.
Thanks Debbie for the information for as of today I am a Coke supporter.
Tammy Summers on January 14, 2009 at 12:07 pm