Slandering SUV drivers: Environmentalists go overboard with smear tactics

Union Leader ^ | 1/09/03

[kattracks]

THE ANTI-SUV division of the wacky wing of the environmental movement has outdone itself in its hysterical criticism of people who drive sport utility vehicles. Now they are running television ads accusing SUV drivers of financing terrorists, which is outrageous.

The ads were created by columnist and gadfly Arianna Huffington. She modeled them on the Bush administration’s anti-drug-use ads, which suggest that if you use narcotics you may be financing terrorism. The ads are so misleading that ABC’s New York affiliate won’t run them. An official from that station told The New York Times, “There were a lot of statements being made that were not backed up, and they’re talking about hot-button issues.”

If a connection between buying oil from the Middle East and funding terrorism exists, then everyone who buys petroleum products — from SUV drivers to long-haul trucking companies to Honda Civic drivers to people who grease their hair and dry clean their clothes — may indirectly contribute dollars to terrorists. But you would never see an ad suggesting that if you send your suits to the dry cleaners, you support terrorism.

In cities across the country, SUVs have been smeared with dog excrement, doused with acid and even burned by environmental activists. Yet no activists are attacking New England homes that use oil heat and are built with sawed down trees, or the owners of 20-year-old cars that get worse mileage and produce far more pollution than SUVs, or the owners of pickup trucks, which can get worse mileage than some SUVs and are better sellers.

If those in the anti-SUV crowd were rational, they would stop targeting SUVs and focus on retiring the fleet of aging gas guzzlers left over from the 1970s and ‘80s. These vehicles are much more damaging to the environment than are SUVS. But those old sedans aren’t driven by middle class and wealthy suburbanites, who are the real targets of hatred for the anti-SUV crowd. Can you imagine environmentalists shouting insults at a poor family in a 1978 Chevrolet or an old couple in a 1984 Cadillac? Of course not. But those people are doing more damage to the environment than a yuppie driving a 2002 Ford Explorer.

[DeaconRed]

"If those in the anti-SUV crowd were rational, they would stop targeting SUVs and focus on retiring the fleet of aging gas guzzlers left over from the 1970s and ‘80s."

MZ Huffington can kiss my Grits.
I will now go out and buy another SUV
I don't have any breathing problems (Thank God), but I can not ride right behind one of those Gas Guzzlers, I get a headache from the fumes.

[rudehost]

In cities across the country, SUVs have been smeared with dog excrement, doused with acid and even burned by environmental activists.

Stop calling them activists. They are eco-terrorists. I don't know what the media's fascination is with eco-terrorists that when they blow up something for mother earth they feel the need to put a nice name on their activities.

[Tripleplay]

This works both ways. Elitists may regret this.

I can think of quite a few adds illustrating the hypocrisy of Babs, Arianna, Penn, etc.

[NRA2BFree]

MZ Huffington can kiss my Grits.

When she gets through with yours, she can kiss mine. lol

[laredo44]

The ads are so misleading that ABC’s New York affiliate won’t run them. An official from that station told The New York Times, “There were a lot of statements being made that were not backed up, and they’re talking about hot-button issues.”

This would seem to disqualify any future ads for Democrats from running on the station.

[laredo44]

Yet another example of the control freaks whittling away at liberty. So sad.

[dtel]

Watched Cavuto this morning, and he had the Hollywood guy, Bender (Pulp Fiction), who produced the videos on a remote interview.
Cavuto absolutely torched this witless character, had the man talking about trading his 'Benz in for a Previa (on order, waiting for it before he sells the 'Benz) and talking about we all have to sacrfice in the war of terror. Yadayadayada
Cavuto basically just hangs up on the guy.
Uh, OK, Later.
It was pretty humorous.

[R. Scott]

I hope they don’t realize that my ’83 Camaro only gets about 12 – 14 mpg city.

[Fresh Wind]

I wonder how many SUV's Norman Lear has parked in his 21 car garage (with the tennis court on the roof)? I wonder how much mid-eastern oil is burned to heat and cool Arianna Huffington-Puffington's 9000 sq. ft. mansion? Enquiring minds wanna know.

[Claire Voyant]

Cavuto exposed Bender as a Hypocrite...Hannity exposed Huffington as a Hypocrite....and Lear has been exposed as a Hypocrite with his 21 CAR GARGAE!! HAHAHAHAHAH......

I Love the smell of a Democrat stepping in it in the morning!

[RightOnline]

Can anyone tell me what happened to Huffington??? I mean............that wench has literally gone off the deep end. She has done a 180 in her philosophy........

Is this what happens when a woman loses her man to another man??

[Leisler]

At one time Lear owed a four engin 707. Had a double king size bed in it. Real garish.

[bmwcyle]

Arianna Huffington's ex-husband came public that he was gay. I am beginning to think he did not start the marriage that way. She is something that rimes with itch.

[Fresh Wind]

BTW, no one should confuse trash-TV producer Norman Lear with aviation pioneer and entrepreneur Bill Lear, the creator of the Learjet and the 8-track!

[The Raven]

[Fresh Wind]

Betcha I know how he gets in there!

[copycat]

Gadfly is an excellent word to describe Ms. Huffington.

[trebb]

My Jeep Liberty gets 17-18 MPG around the local area and 23 MPG on the road. It will comfotably carry 5 people without changing the mileage, but I want to p*ss the eco-terrorists off, so i usually drive it with just me in it.