Posted on 04/05/2008 7:37:40 AM PDT by Cableguy
MEXICO CITY -- The latest advertising campaign in Mexico from Swedish vodka maker Absolut seemed to push all the right buttons south of the U.S. border, but it ruffled a few feathers in El Norte.
As word of the campaign spread across the border, primarily via the Internet, some in the United States began giving the campaign a much more hostile reception.
The colorful ad, created by the Teran\TBWA agency and the vodka maker, is a sight gag depicting what a map of North America might look like "In an Absolut world," i.e., a perfect one.
It shows the Mexican border extending, very roughly, to its position during the 1800s before the Mexican-American War.
At that time, California as we now know it was part of Mexican territory and known as Alta California. Those territories eventually became U.S. property after the voluntary annexation of Texas and, later, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
Jeffrey Moran, a spokesman for Absolut in New York, said Friday that the company had received numerous complaints about the ad, which won't be running in the United States. The ads ran for about two months in Mexico and had been scheduled to end this week.
Moran acknowledged that the ad had inflamed the already heated immigration debate and that the campaign had been accused of being anti-American, which he said was "never the intention of Absolut."
"This ad certainly has nothing to do with immigration issues or anti-Mexican sentiments," Moran said. "It's based on a historical perspective on what Mexico was once. That's all."
A Friday post about the campaign on The Times' La Plaza blog generated hundreds of responses, both positive and negative, about the campaign.
Many readers who posted comments said they found the ad offensive and planned to boycott Absolut.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
No longer buying drinking or even using this to clean tar off my shoes.
This has to rank among the most offensive ads ever.
“Absolut vodka ad stirs a U.S.-Mexico debate: Some in the north take offense”
SOME??? SOME TAKE OFFENSE??? I should think that any American that loves their nation would be incensed beyond belief at the ad.
Will go down in history as one of the stupidest ads ever written. Sure it was made for a small Hispanic publication, but didn’t they know about the Internet?
I just posted on their website that I bet they would NEVER consider an ad depicting the 1861 USA-CSA borders and declaring them to be desirable in an Absolut World. Wouldn’t be PC.
But it WOULD sell a helluva lot of vodka down here.
Might even put the bootlegger out of bidness.... Nah!
It will probably appear on the "What were they thinking?" TV show. That was my first reaction.
Funny thing is, if that map ever came true, the rest of the "Estados Unidos" would STILL be fighting illegal immigration as the Reconquista States rapidly turn into the corrupt poverty-stricken Hellhole that is Mexico.
If they hate the USA so much, I won’t offend them with my American Dollars ever again. ABSOLUT-LY NEVER AGAIN!
Absolut vodka ad stirs a U.S.-Mexico debate: Some in the north take offense...
boycott this crap....show those a-holes no merecy and let them drown in it!!!
Absolut served its purpose for this teenage reprobate back in the 80s, but with age comes refinement.
I'll take a grey goose martini, make it a double, with extra olives and extra dirty, please...
Congressman Billybob
Never liked it...always would buy Findlandia or Kettleone{when I had the bucks}
But would rather have a Gin and Tonic, Bombay Sapphire........HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
Very true - seen LA lately?
We ought to show the Swedes, in their ABSOLUT world, what the borders would look like in Europe right now had the US not entered WWII.
They would never, ever do a similar ad targeting any other country. Dear Absolut, whether or not you intended an anti-American message, you created an anti-American message. And message has been received.
Miller Brewing did almost the same thing ... had some sort of new brew (people drink Miller?????)that had an Hispanic name and all the advertising for it was in Spanish - all the display cards on restaurant tables was all printed in Spanish ... took one and wrote a note about you people want to sell your swill in the USA then print your ad in ENGLISH!!!!
Never heard a word back .....
Ketel One: the very, very best.
John / Billybob
“The latest advertising campaign in Mexico from Swedish vodka maker Absolut seemed to push all the right buttons south of the U.S. border”
Of course it did. It assuaged the impotent, empty-headed pride of Mehico, a third-world SH#T hole of a country.
Introduced old friend to Grey Goose at local bar. 2AM he awoke with chest pains. ER found heart blockages he was unaware of. Now corrected.
Told him he owes Grey Goose a thank you letter. :-)
The team that convinced Absolut to abandon the campaign that they've used for the last 15-odd years - and go with ads like this - thought they had the Starbucks campaign in the bag. To Starbucks credit, they weren't all that impressed.
Michelle Malkin has done a great job of exposing Absolut. Check out her site for contact info for the Pernod clowns that continue to defend Absolut’s ad to this very minute.
The trouble is that it really will happen. Mexicans have taught the reconquest since the Mexican American war. Our leadership and the populace show signs of being unable to resist(vice addiction, obsession with sport etc.)Take a look at the Mexican names that are starting to fill our public offices in California.
,BR>
In a perfect world Mexico would be much farther away
Ha, ha, ha. That "sight gag" is so funny!
I wonder what they would think of it if Absolut Vodka ran a cartoon showing Mexico as "South Texas"?
Not quite so funny or politically correct? It might ruffle a few Mexican feathers down south?
What a load of BS. This guy is completely FOS. (Sorry, can't help it as this kind of stuff brings out the potty-mouth in me).
Mr. Moran is saying that the advertisement is based on an "historical perspective on what Mexico once was"? but the ad is cearly stating that in an "absolut" (meaning "perfect") world it would still be that way...so I fail to see how it has nothing to do with current immigration/border issues.
Ugh..I hate Absolut anyway - it's syruppy and tastes nasty. I prefer REAL vodka (Stolichnaya & Belvedere - Russian and Polish vodka, made by the experts of vodka).
Gentlemen,
I note with disgust that Absolut is running an advertising campaign attacking the borders of the United States of America. As a citizen of the United States I remind you that my country is the greatest nation in the world and the last country where freedom exists.
My county's borders were established over centuries by free men paying for those borders in their blood. These borders are not a joking matter.
Our southern borders are currently under attack by an invasion of illegal aliens from and through Mexico. And Absolut’s advertising gives the invaders and those who enable them a sense of legitimacy!
Absolut’s advertising declares it an enemy of the United States. But my government need take no action. The people will do that. And it will be by simply not buying your product.
Not worried? Ask French wine producers how they fared when their government stabbed us in the back over the War On Terror. I hope you have a lot of warehouse space.
Gentlemen, you have spit on my country. Now your product won't even be used here as mouthwash. Enjoy the consequences of your actions.
Furiously,
XXXXX
Well said. Can you share the email address so I can send my own letter? I can’t seem to track it down. Thanks.
I'm sticking with this stuff and will make sure I don't ever get Absolut when I can't find the superior brand.
This URL should shortcut the process: http://absolut.com/about?chk=-563410805885906
Once that page loads, select “Contact” and then use Absolut’s form.
Otherwise, start with: www.absolut.com . Complete its age disclaimer. From the next page select “Absolut Access”. On the page after that select “About Absolut”. That will finally take you to the page I initially mentioned where you can select “Contact” and finally leave your comments.
Good luck and give ‘em hell!
Glad your friend is okay, and YES, he does owe them thanks!
ps -- saw your Freep page, THANK YOU for your service to this country.
I overdosed so badly on Vodka at age 17 that to this day (a century later) the mere smell of straight Vodka will make me woozy. I wish they made some other product I could boycott.
Some? When I looked at their blog with the lame apology there looked to be pages and pages of posts by offended people. I made sure to show a few friends last night who I’m sure today are also showing others. Hope they can sell enough Vodka in Mexico to make up for the marketshare they will lose in America.
Anyone notice that the advertising message “IN AN ABSOLUT WORLD” is in English while the rest of the ad’s print is in Spanish? Mighty strange for a supposedly Mexican-based ad campaign.
Or is this just pandering to the illegal aliens and their treasonous US allies?!
Thank you!!! Belverdere beats the socks off Grey Goose ... and Absolut.
I'm coming home in a few days. I'll drink whatever the heck I want to drink. ;-)
And it won't be Absolut.
How do you do yours?
Just typing this is making me even more anxious to get home. I can taste it now. Haven't had it since Christmas. LOL
I’m a classic vodka martini fan.
But Belverdere just shines in any form. The taste is clean and fresh.
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