Posted on 03/13/2002 12:43:21 PM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
Several anti-gun groups claimed victory over National Rifle Association on Tuesday, after H&R Block, the tax preparation company, severed a marketing agreement with NRA.
However, H&R Block wouldn't confirm or deny any change in policy, and NRA accused the anti-gun groups of misleading people.
H&R Block, as part of a marketing campaign promoted in NRA membership magazines, said it would make a contribution to the NRA for every member who becomes a new H&R Block customer.
"The termination of this agreement is a tremendous victory for everyone who was outraged that a reputable business like H&R Block would support an extremist organization like the NRA," said Michael Barnes, president of Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.
But NRA said the Brady news release was misleading. "H&R Block has cut ties with all interest groups and not singularly the NRA. This isn't a victory for gun control groups as the Brady Campaign would like people to believe," said Kelly Whitley, NRA spokesperson, in an interview with CNSNews.com.
"Other interest groups will no longer be part of this program with H&R Block. These [anti-gun] groups should do some more research before they mislead the public," Whitley said.
"Alliance for Justice" President Nan Aron said: "Let this send a loud message to other corporate partners of the NRA. If you support the NRA, we will work to make sure that your employees, customers, and all of your stakeholders know that you support an extremist gun lobby that is out of step with mainstream America."
H&R Block did not return several phone calls seeking comment. The company's Web site did not contain announcements indicating any change in policy with NRA or other charitable organizations.
Time to Put H&R Block on Notice
Tax Service Company Caves-in to Anti-Gun-Rights Extremists
March 13, 2002
Wide distribution permitted and encouraged.
This is not about the NRA. Even if you are one of those gun-rights activists who dislike the NRA, believing them to be too compromising, you need to take action on this.
This about businesses caving in to the political agenda of the anti-gun zealots at the Brady Campaign, Gun Industry Watch and others.
If we let this stand unpunished, more businesses will bow to the extremists.
The facts: H&R Block had an agreement with an organization called Memberdrive. Memberdrive made an agreement with the NRA by which the NRA got a royalty for each member who used H&R Block. The anti-gun-rights extremists threatened protests this Saturday in numerous cities. H&R Block caved, severing the deal.
See the joint Brady Campaign, Gun Industry Watch press release about the cave-in here. See the H&R Block letter announcing the cave-in to Brady here.
Action step 1: Sign the online petition I have created at link.
Action step 2: Write a letter to Linda McDougall, H&R Block V.P. of Communications (who wrote to Brady about the cave-in), telling her that H&R Block has lost your business. Fax or snail mail this to her – email gets ignored, but paper doesn’t, so if you email her, send paper too. A phone call wouldn’t hurt either. (My letter to Ms. McDougall is below.)
Whatever you do: keep it polite but firm, clean but frank.
Linda McDougall
V.P. Communications
H&R Block
4400 Main Street
Kansas City, MO 64111
Phone: 816-932-7542
Fax: 816-753-8628
Email: lmcdougall@hrblock.com
Action step 3: Go to your yellow pages. Call your local H&R Block branch and explain that you will not give it business because of this decision by headquarters.
Action step 4: A) If H&R Block already is doing your taxes – especially if you gave it business because of this deal – stop the process. Explain to your representative that you have decided to take your business elsewhere because of H&R Block’s decision. B) If you already have paid for these services, demand a refund – after all, now that H&R Block has changed the situation, you turned over your money under false pretenses.
[snipped byline and letter to McDougall]
Let the Freeping begin!
Judging from their response, I think it is safe to say that H&R Block does not support the Bill of Rights. They are more concerned about what anti-civil rights extremists think than they are about supporting the civil rights of every American.
Sir:
It has come to our attention that you have broken off ties with the nation's oldest civil rights organization, the National Rifle Association. Is this true?
We do not want to advise our members that H&R Block is no longer a supporter of civil rights if this is false information coming from the radical anti-civil rights groups. However, if you have caved in to pressure from the extremists we want our members to know so they can decide whether or not to keep doing business with a company that is hostile to the Bill of Rights and our freedoms.
Sincerely,
John Bender
Executive Director
Seniors United Supporting the Second Amendment
Their Response:
Thank you for sharing your views with us. We have taken the matter very seriously.
H&R Block offers its products and services equally to all taxpayers. The company does not take a stand on social issues outside the realm of tax and financial services.
This tax season H&R Block entered an agreement with a marketing company to expand our ability to market our tax products and services. A number of organizations interpreted this agreement in a way that had H&R Block taking a particular side of a social issue - something our company does not do. Therefore, we are ending the agreement to remove ourselves from a debate we don't belong in and to prevent any outside group from using H&R Block to promote their agenda.
H&R Block's sole focus remains on helping all Americans with their tax and financial needs.
Thank you for your e-mail.
Another victim of politcal correctness gone awry.
How pathetic! The anti-gun groups have been getting pummeled so badly that one possible incident that might go in their favor is trumpeted as a "victory."
Excellent point, Abundy. Of course, only a couple days ago, our side was glad to find out they supported us. So, I guess the pot's right, now. (sigh)
Thanks for the ping, SUSSA.
Liberals lie. They can't help it any more than dogs can get over making piles on your lawn. It's a part of their damaged egos.
The problem here is, are big businesses going to roll over on anyone the Left starts a hissing campaign about? That is what the NAACP did with Georgia to get them to change their state flag a year ago. They threatened the business lobby with a boycott, and the businessmen went to the fixers in the state legislature. The lege waited until the elections were over and then moved in with a quickie flag-change bill, the RINO's all voted for it, and boom, done deal. The Left got what they wanted and didn't deserve. In Mississippi, on the other hand, it went to a plebiscite, and the Nasty-Ass Association of Creeps and Perverts got stuffed, clubbed, and slapped around in public, just like they deserved.
The key point here is, if you let the RINO's and C of C types cave on a principle, if you let them "take it private" and don't raise hell and demand a public vote -- guess what the morlocks of the Left are going to do?
How ironic it is, that the same people who complain so much about the 2nd amendment, don't realize that the 2nd Amendment guarentees their ability to spout such blantant BS, under the 1st Amendment...
To quote another liberal idiot (even idiots occasionally say something profound), "Stupid is as stupid does..."
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