Posted on 09/02/2006 9:36:12 AM PDT by UB355
Miller denies financing march Brewer supports reform, not illegal immigration, it says By RICK ROMELL rromell@journalsentinel.com Posted: Sept. 1, 2006
Miller Brewing Co. on Friday denied providing financial help for a planned march in Chicago supporting illegal immigrants, but a newspaper report of the firm's involvement in a controversial political issue could create marketing headaches for the Milwaukee brewer. Advertisement
The Chicago Tribune reported that Miller had paid more than $30,000 for "a planning convention, materials and newspaper ads" connected to this weekend's "Immigrant Workers Justice Walk."
Not so, Miller spokesman Peter J. Marino said.
"The money supported a recent convention on immigration issues in Chicago, which provided attendees with information on how to become legally naturalized citizens of the U.S.," he said.
Miller isn't sponsoring the march and didn't authorize use of its trademarks in association with the event, Marino said. The Tribune reported that advertisements for the march bear Miller's logo.
The 40-mile walk is to go from Chicago's Chinatown neighborhood to the Batavia, Ill. office of House Speaker Dennis Hastert.
"We are asking him to pay attention to the contributions of undocumented immigrants, and to pass immigration reform that allows for legalization for all; family reunification and civil liberties protection," says the Web site of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, one of the groups organizing the march.
Marino said Miller supports reform of immigration law, but not illegal immigration.
Corporations typically seek to avoid political controversies, but Miller may be forced to dance along a fine line on Latino immigration.
With their numbers in the U.S. growing rapidly and a relatively young population, Latinos are a prime target for brewers. In October 2004, Miller said it planned to spend $100 million over three years on marketing via Spanish-language media, a major increase for the company.
Latinos are "extremely" important to Miller, said Benj Steinman, publisher of Beer Marketer's Insights.
And Miller recently had to deal with a boycott threat from an umbrella group of Midwestern Latino community organizations upset that Miller's political action committee had made $2,000 in campaign contributions to U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), sponsor of an immigration bill the group viewed as too harsh.
The boycott was quickly canceled after the two sides met in Chicago, and Miller agreed to run newspaper ads against the bill and help the group fight it.
Steinman said getting involved in the immigration question was chancy, and pointed to criticism of Miller already appearing Friday on Internet blogs.
"It's just such a controversial issue that when a corporation takes a side, you risk alienating the other side," Steinman said.
But Todd Brachman, an adjunct professor in the business school at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, said Miller wouldn't run a big risk by supporting Latinos on immigration.
With a youthful demographic profile, Latinos, broadly speaking, represent a strong market for brewers, while the opponents on the immigration question mainly are older people "who don't drink as much beer anyway," said Brachman, who worked in marketing at Miller until 1996.
"I seriously doubt that Miller is supporting illegal immigration," Brachman said.
As Miller denied involvement in the Chicago march, meanwhile, the leader of a Milwaukee immigrant-rights group that has held two large marches here said Miller had helped that organization financially.
Marino denied that too.
Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of Voces de la Frontera, said Miller contacted the group earlier this year and offered a donation before a May 1 march. She said the company provided what she believed was a couple hundred dollars used for buses to bring marchers from Racine and Kenosha.
Marino said Miller "did not support the May 1 march or participate in the May 1 march in any way."
Georgia Pabst of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report. From the Sept. 2, 2006 editions of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Have an opinion on this story? Write a letter to the editor or start an online forum.
Subscribe today and receive 4 weeks free! Sign up now.
© 2006, Journal Sentinel Inc. All rights reserved. | Produced by Journal Interactive | Privacy Policy
Their beer still sucks.
Under pressure?
Miller is not on my list of beers I want to consume....yuck
Try a bottle of Icehouse,
http://www.mylifeisbeer.com/beer/bottles/bottledetail/276/
We'll know for sure once all the illegal alien "voter registration" cards come in. If they have the Miller logo,...
Miller, via Peter, admits to being pro-amnesty and anti Sensenbrenner but denies being pro-illegal?
Boycott Miller Brewing Company (30k to sponsor a pro-illegal-alien march)
I would say that I will stop drinking Miller Beer, but I would not drink Miller Beer unless it were the last beer on Earth. If it were the last beer on Earth I would drink it and complain.
The following is the reply that I received from my complaint to Miller Brewing. It sounds like a no/yes answer to me.
Thanks for contacting us.
Miller Brewing Company does not support illegal immigration or any other
unlawful act. We do support a public policy discussion that will lead to a
clear path to legal naturalization for people who meet the requirements for
U.S. citizenship. We also oppose any legislation that would unfairly and
unjustly seek to constrain immigration.
Miller was founded 151 years ago by a German immigrant, Frederick Miller.
And today, we are part of an international company with employees from
around the world. We support the free movement of people, labor, goods and
services in the global economy with appropriate protections for the rights
of individuals and families, the security of nations, and the diversity that
contributes to a rich and productive society.
Miller is active in helping immigrants learn how to become legally
naturalized citizens of the U.S., through programs like the Miller Lite
Immigration Forum in Texas and support for a recent immigration convention
in Chicago. We have a long history of proudly supporting many national and
local Latino organizations throughout the U.S.
We appreciate your interest.
Either way this is a very good sign.
If they did sponsor it and now are backing out it shows that they felt the heat.
If they didn't sponsor it and are just pointing that out it shows they felt the heat.
Bottom line is Miller Beer loses by its own stupidity or by just bad (false)reporting by the media.
Last week I read a story here about the Commie 'RATS making "inroads" into the "NASCAR Dad" voter base. A couple of months ago I read where the theme of the Sony HD 500 in Fontana this weekend was going to be "A Celebration of Hispanics In America." The Miller Lite #2 car is on the pole. If BUSCH comes out to be introduced wearing a sombrero, we'll know the GOP is in trouble.
See #11. They admit to being pro-amnesty globotraitors, theyre speaking "Clintonese" for "did it, but wont admit it".
"Miller is active in helping (illegal) immigrants learn how to [gain amnesty], through programs like the Miller Lite Immigration Forum in Texas and support for a recent (illegal) immigration convention in Chicago.
That about sums it up, Im glad theyve admitted it...
Maybe it would be worth it for all of us to let House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) know what we think he should say when they arrive at his office?
ping
At the local liquor stores in central Indiana, Milwaukees Best Light is the best selling beer to illegals. That's a Miller product.
Miller spokesman Peter J. Marino thinks we're all stupid.
That's enough for me. Screw You, Miller.
No more MGD for me. Not that I've had one in a couple years. Depending on the season, my taste buds favor Guinness (on tap), Bitburger Pils, Shiner Bock, or Heineken.
Illegal jihadis want this, too. I'm sure there are plenty of them out there, letting mexicans do the demonstrating they don't want to do. No amnesty!
I've been drinking High Life for decades. (Yes, you beer afficiandos can make your wisecracks about it being 'donkey piss', etc, but I just think it's a good, cheap, old-fashioned beer.) No more for me.
Miller sounds like a company that heard rumours of a boycott...
and took them seriously!
Who says the FR has no power?
I just told him it was goodbye. I think we should continue for 6 months just to let him know how bad it can get.
I don't recommend anything illegal...(and I'm not a beer drinker).
But people that do ditch Miller over this should just send an e-mail (example
below) to Miller each time they buy some beer.
From: Miller Boycotter
To: Miller e-mail box
Dear Finance Department and Stockholders of Miller,
Just sending in a bit of marketing information, gratis.
I bought two six-packs of (Other-than-Miller) beer today for $X.XX.
That is less than the $Z.ZZ I spent on Miller products before you started
supporting those that support illegal immigration.
But now my expenditure on Miller Products is $0.00.
Oh, and I told two friends about your appeasement of groups supporting
illegal immigration.
Have a nice day,
A Citizen of The USA
I wish we could get Yuengling here in Indy.....whenever I go east I always drink that....it is a great beer
A 40 mile march is a good start...how far to the border?
I do not believe Miller Brewing Company. The Chicago Tribune is is your typical MSM whore. And although the MSM is better at fiction than fact, in this case, I doubt the Tribune Company which is much bigger than the rag, would alienate a business which cannot survive without throwing out big advertising bucks. If I were Miller Brewing and the Tribune printed something totally untrue, I would show some outrage and start threatening the Tribune for a retraction. It has the advertising dollar power to force a retraction if the story was untrue. Miller Time has become traitor time.
Sounds like a good idea. It is so easy for these companies to cave in.
I got the same form response to my complaint letter, which I wrote after seeing the Tribune link on Michelle Malkin's site.
My response: BWAHAHAHAHA!!
What unadultered horse cr@p. Just like their beer. I thank Miller for making the choice of beer I buy so damn easy. Can you say Sam Adams, Shiner Bock and Budweiser?
So does George Bush and Mike Pence and other inside the beltway hacks I like GW but not on illegal immigration and his shamnesty
Miller Genuine Draft
Miller Genuine Draft Light
Miller High Life
Miller High Life Light
Miller Lite
Sharp's non-alcohol brew
Red Dog
Icehouse 5.0
Icehouse 5.5
Icehouse Light
Southpaw Light
Leinenkugel's Original
Leinenkugel's Light
Leinenkugel's Red Lager
Leinenkugel's Honey Weiss
Leinenkugel's Apple Spice (seasonal)
Leinenkugel's Berry Weiss
Leinenkugel's Oktoberfest (seasonal)
Leinenkugel's Creamy Dark
Leinenkugel's Big Butt Doppelbock (seasonal)
Leinenkugel's Sunset Wheat
Henry Weinhard's Private Reserve
Henry Weinhard's Blue Boar Pale Ale
Henry Weinhard's Classic Dark
Henry Weinhard's Northwest Trail Blonde Lager
Henry Weinhard's Hefeweizen
Henry Weinhard's Summer Wheat
Hamm's
Hamm's Draft
Hamm's Special Light
Olde English 800 Malt Liquor
Olde English HG800
Olde English HG800 7.5
Magnum Malt Liquor
Mickey's Malt Liquor
Mickey's Ice
Milwaukee's Best
Milwaukee's Best Light
Milwaukee's Best Ice
Foster's Lager
Foster's Special Bitter
Peroni Nastro Azzurro
Pilsner Urquell
Sheaf Stout
Source Beerpedia
First they're dropping their spomsorship of Don "The Snake" Prudohmme and driver Larry Dixon and now this...my purchasing of any of their products is over.
First they're dropping their sponsorship of Don "The Snake" Prudohmme and driver Larry Dixon and now this...my purchasing of any of their products is over.
Hew Miller, this salute's to YOU.
AMERICANS should be important to Miller not any ethnic community.
Besides, my guess is they buy Dos Equis anyway which is probably a better brew than that insipid trash Miller distills anyway.
Backing down or no, I will not knowingly buy Miller products for years and years. Screw them. (Barring some yet-to-be-made apology that yes, they blew it big time.)
Out of the other side of his mouth he tells us that Miller supports legalization of illegal aliens, and family reunification for illegal aliens' families (56 million over the next decade?)...Just like what GWBush and his open borders cronies want.
Oh gosh, I forgot, that's what "comprehensive" means now in Bushspeak.
No thanks, Miller., no thanks GWB.
The boycott was quickly canceled after the two sides met in Chicago, and Miller agreed to run newspaper ads against the bill and help the group fight it.
This says it all for me. If you fight against a bill to stop illegals, you're for them.
"True. Do these dopes think Mexican beer drinkers will push aside Corona , Bohemia Or Dos Equis for their swill ?"
Every bar I have been in for the last ten years, every Mexican I see is drinking miller lite.
My Mexican neighbors throw miller lite empties in the ditch in front of my place, (and trash).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.