From Michelle Malkin - Absolut Reconquista (You need to see)

(Leading story still at her site this morning)
http://michellemalkin.com


Absolut Reconquista Update: Coming to a billboard near you?
By Michelle Malkin • April 2, 2008 09:55 PM

Scroll down for updates…

The beverage of open-borders used to be Miller Light. Now, it is Absolut Vodka. The vodka maker’s latest ad redraws the map of North America to please Mexican consumers. (Hat tip - Snapped Shot and Jim Hoft).

Reconquista? What reconquista? Oh, yeah. That reconquista:

1absolut.jpg
http://michellemalkin.com/wp/wp-cont...4/1absolut.jpg

I hear McCain campaign advisor Juan Hernandez and Hillary campaign advisor Dolores Huerta both approve.

Bottoms up!

***

The “In An Absolut Worldâ€

Absolute disgrace.

Dixie

Email disapproving sent.

Everyone in America needs to see this. I just caught our e-mail alert that was scheduled to go out in a few minutes.

I added a BREAKING NEWS segment at the top with a link into this post.

W

So This is what Absolut Spirits Company is willing to do to make a buck. Pander to the mexican pro-illegal invader, reconquistas at the expense of the United States of America. I think the American Public will have a say in the matter before Absolut annexes ANY part of the US to mexico!

Another corporation who is willing to sell out the United States in order to make a buck!

They'll do anything to make a buck! What a bunch of bottom dwellers!

Email sent:

"Saw this today and you can bet your bottom dollar this American will never buy another bottle of your vodka. I am sending this article to everyone I know to included all my friends serving in Iraq.
CXXXX WXXXXXX
XXX XXXXX, NC
An American Vet.


Post subject: From Michelle Malkin - Absolut Reconquista (You need to see)
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-110444.html"

Disgusting.

Abslut's ad is absolutely disgusting. I am sending this to every Patriotic American I know. I'm sick of this bull crap about Mexico taking back the western US! We didn't steal it, we bought it from Mexico, fair and square. It is time these Mexican assholes got the fight they are looking for! I say if they won't go back peacefully, send 'em back in body bags! Bring it on, Pedro!

I just sent a firm, but polite e-mail letting them know that they have just outraged Americans, and they lied as well because the American southwest belongs to the United States of America, period! Everyone knows this!

I also sent letters of protest to Homeland Security (implied thread on our sovereignty) and with the ATF and FTC

ok, so Absolut is now on our 'do not use' list.... sad we were good customers.

i am so incredulous, i am looking at that and want to scream my head off, what on earth is happening here?

I think while we have our representatives on the phone about the visas, we also lodge a complaint about this.

Oh the irony! Just what Mexicans need more of...alcohol! Like giving crack to a baby!

Huerta & Hernandez are so dumb, if I were Mexican I would be insulted.

As an American, I am in Absolut disgust and will no longer purchase their products.

They are betting on the consumer to turn a blind eye and do the politically correct thing --ignore. LOL I don't think so!!!!!!

I have written my email and I have forwarded this to everyone on my list.

Another company to add to the boycott list

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cayla99

I think while we have our representatives on the phone about the visas, we also lodge a complaint about this.

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Cayla99 you're back. So glad to see you.

I'm sending this to my whole email list.


Oh ya and emailing Absolut since my son is a sous chef.

I see Absolut is gearing up for Cinco De Mayo. Like Mexicans need another excuse to sit around drinking all day. I just poured out the bottle in my cabinet. Guess it's time to switch brands! This ad is shameful!!!!

They got a mouthful of my absolute outrage. :evil:

This is IMO is one of the most Tasteless Un-American things i have ever seen. Looks like Absolute is asking for MAJOR trouble. Well congrads a**holes, cause you just got your wish......

Here is the contact info page for Absolut. I had to join their site in order to log on, don't know if the below address works for those who haven't gone through the sign-up process.

I sent them a very nasty email basically saying: ABSOLUTELY NOT


http://absolut.com/about?chk=-1369098754804873464

Here is the snail mail:

The Absolut Spirits Company
401 Park Avenue South, 7th Floor
New York, New York 10016

1 212-641-8700
siteinfo@absolut.com

Here is some more contact info.
Absolut is part of V&S. It would be prudent to let Moran's superiors know of our displeasure about this campaign. Multiple emails/letters to the corporate structure will get noticed. A single email to Moran (Moron) might just get tossed.

http://www.vsgroup.com/en/About/

Ketil Eriksen is the President of V&S Absolut
President V&S Absolut Spirits since 2005.
Born 1963, employed 2005. Norwegian citizen.
Former positions include General Manager Colgate-Palmolive Sweden &
Finland 1999-2005. Chairman of the Board of Maxxium, Board member
of Future Brands, Almondy AB and DFK AB.


Paula Eriksson
Vice President Corporate Communications
V&S Absolut Spirits
117 97 Stockholm, Sweden
Phone: +46 8 744 72 36
Mobile: +46 70 190 12 07
Fax: +46 8 744 70 44
E-mail: paula.eriksson@vsgroup.com

Jacob Broberg, Senior Vice President Corporate Affairs & Communications, V&S, phone +46 8 744 70 33, mobile +46 70 190 00 33, e-mail jacob.broberg@vsgroup.com

UPDATE: Pernod Ricard Execs Tout, Defend Absolut Acquisition



By William Spain

CHICAGO (Dow Jones) -- Two days after its $8.3 billion purchase of the Swedish parent company of Absolut vodka, Pernod Ricard executives were busily touting their new acquisition's growth prospects -- and defending the hefty price they paid to get it.

In a conference call with reporters early Wednesday, Emmanuel Babeau, Pernod's deputy managing director in charge of finance and Alain Barbet, chief executive of the company's U.S. unit fleshed out some details of the deal, which was announced Monday and will help the French spirits firm come closer to parity with industry leader Diageo (DEO).

The company has made repeated references to how close the purchase will bring them to the British behemoth in terms of size but Babeau flatly rejected suggestions -- made privately by some competitors -- that it overpaid just to get there.

"There is nothing of vanity" about the acquisition, he said. "Vanity is not creating value. [It was] a well-considered strategic move."

Besides, "size is not everything," he added, although "it is important for some elements."

Pernod topped other bidders in the auction for Vin & Sprit, including Sweden's Wallenberg family and two American rivals, privately-held Bacardi and Fortune Brands (FO), the latter of which already has a joint venture deal to distribute Absolut in the U.S., that runs through 2012.

After the deal closes, Pernod will be just 2 million nine-liter cases away from Diageo in terms of global sales volume, compared with 18 million previously. Also, Pernod actually will have more of the world's top 100 premium brands -- 19 -- than the 18 held by Diageo. Among the other tipples in its portfolio are Chivas Regal scotch, Jameson Irish whiskey and Martell cognac, along with Jacob's creek wine and Mumm champagne.

He also noted that "we believe we are getting a very good price" when the deal is compared to some other recent vodka acquisition, pointing out that Pernod paid a lower multiple for Absolut compared to those forked over when Diageo bought half of Ketel One in February and Bacardi $2 billion buy of Grey Goose in 2004.

And to guard against currency fluctuations, especially the weak dollar that has been dragging down the top lines of European companies doing business in the U.S., a slight majority of the debt it is taking on - with an initial interest rate of 5% -- is structured in dollars.

Pernod expects the deal, which including debt and a special dividend, totals almost $9 billion, to generate cost savings of $198 million to $237 million annually within two to four years. Excluding one-time items, the transaction should be neutral to earnings in the first year, Babeau said, and add " significantly" to profit thereafter, it said.

Absolut is the top premium-vodka brand worldwide, with around 11 million nine- liter cases sold in 2007. It is one of only four international spirits brands that sell more than 10 million cases a year.

In the United States, a market where Pernod is trying to gain ground, Absolut is the top premium-spirits brand and the acquisition will vault the company into the No. 2 spot, with a 14% market share, leapfrogging both Fortune's Beam Global unit and Bacardi. Diageo's Smirnoff, which sells at a lower price point, is the only larger vodka.

Babeau said the company has no plans to try to get out of the joint venture with Fortune - a move that would put on the hook for a substantial break-up fee.

"It is a clear contract we will fulfill," he said "It cannot be a unilateral decision."

In order to get Absolut, Pernod will have to give up its distribution deal with Stolichnaya vodka, although it will continue to push the Russian spirit during a "transition period," the length of which Babeau declined to define. That brand has also been growing at a good clip but he stressed that "it is virtually unknown outside the U.S." and it would take a decade to build it up to the level that Pernod is now buying in one fell swoop.

While Pernod plans to extend Absolut's reach deeper into emerging markets -- especially the so-called BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) nations -- the U.S. is and will likely remain the biggest single source of the brand's sales and profit for some time to come.

(The deal also brought it Cruzan rum, filling a hole in its U.S. product portfolio. Pernod has a deal with the Cuban government to market and distribute Havana Club but can't sell the brand here due to U.S. restrictions on trade with the Caribbean island nation. Bacardi claims it still owns the trademark, although it was nationalized following the Cuban revolution. Pernod has battled Bacardi over the trademark in numerous countries, winning in virtually every instance - except here.)
And if Pernod is making an expensive move into the market just when a looming recession is starting to really the pinch consumer budgets, the head of its U.S, operations isn't sweating it.

"We are conscious of the slowdown but what we are seeing in our portfolio is that premium brands in vibrant categories continue to do very well," Barbet said. "The [bar and restaurant] environment is a little slow but we have some pick-up in off premise. We are not seeing a lot of the doom and gloom that other industries are right now."

Absolut marks Pernod's third multibillion-dollar acquisition in the last decade and follows its Seagram deal in 2001 and the 2005 buyout and break-up of Allied Domecq. While it is still missing a top-end marque in the fast-growing tequila category - and has in the past expressed the desire to get one - for Babeau, "we have pretty much what we need now."


http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsS ... cquisition

Sent email to all I know.

Isn't this advocating the overtaking of American States? This goes beyond 1st. Amend. free speech! Where are the PC police now? Does PC only work one way, the radical way? How far will this whimpy govt. in D.C. let these anarchists go, before they step in & say, "enough?" I often wonder what country I am living in that has lost all sence of self-respect to allow this kind of trash in the name of 1st. Amend liberty! We need to elect reps with guts & a sence of who they are & what this country is all about. I've traveled abroad & many people ask, " what has happened to America?" These folks still look to us as leaders of a free & hopeful world. Don't believe all the rhetoric about how we are hated. They only ask the same questions we are asking about our govt. Why are you taking it? Stand up & fight & save our country!

Have sent it out to everyone on my list. Going to email Absolut now :evil:

I just sent this e-mail to Mr. Moran at Absolut:

Dear Mr. Moran,
I'm writing in reference to the recent Absolut ads depicting the Southwestern United States belonging to Mexico "in an Absolut" world. Perhaps you didn't foresee the potential backlash of doing such, but I imagine you've probably received many complaints about it since.

The fact is, most of us Americans take our sovereignty very seriously. The notion of a Reconquista even in a marketing piece comes across as fairly insulting. I think you'll discover it will impact American sales to the same extent as Chevrolet's marketing campaign did for the Chevy Nova (translation: It doesn't go).

Since many Latino advocacy groups preach about an actual Reconquista (and population demographics show it's actually happening to some extent), citizens are VERY sensitive when marketing campaigns encourage such a movement, even by accident.

I hope you will consider removing the offensive pieces and decide on a different way to market to your respective demographic in a way that doesn't alienate patriotic American citizens.

Thanks for your time and consideration.

Smirnoff will do.

Let's send this link to bars all over this country.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Squire

I just sent this e-mail to Mr. Moran at Absolut:

Dear Mr. Moran,
I'm writing in reference to the recent Absolut ads depicting the Southwestern United States belonging to Mexico "in an Absolut" world. Perhaps you didn't foresee the potential backlash of doing such, but I imagine you've probably received many complaints about it since.

The fact is, most of us Americans take our sovereignty very seriously. The notion of a Reconquista even in a marketing piece comes across as fairly insulting. I think you'll discover it will impact American sales to the same extent as Chevrolet's marketing campaign did for the Chevy Nova (translation: It doesn't go).

Since many Latino advocacy groups preach about an actual Reconquista (and population demographics show it's actually happening to some extent), citizens are VERY sensitive when marketing campaigns encourage such a movement, even by accident.

I hope you will consider removing the offensive pieces and decide on a different way to market to your respective demographic in a way that doesn't alienate patriotic American citizens.

Thanks for your time and consideration.

---

Far better than mine. I think I lost my temper

I sent the Mexican Consulate employee claiming San Diego for Mexicio video and this Absolut link to my Federal Senators, and Congresswoman (Zoe Lofgren!), my Governor, and my local Mayor demanding a specfic response, not PR.

I also sent an email to Absolute advising them that our family:

1. will never again buy any of their products.
2. will tell all the stores we frequent that we will boycott their business unless they cease stocking Absolut products. ( I will photocopy the ad to show them).
3. will try and convince all family, friends and all Americans to boycott Absolut.

We should all be boycotting Mexico too (vacations and products).

ENOUGH!

It isn't only Absolut vodka that needs to be boycotted:

Quote:

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About The Absolut Spirits Company, Inc.
The Absolut Spirits Company, Inc., headquartered in New York, is a
subsidiary of V&S Group and operates under the auspices of V&S Absolut Spirits in Stockholm, which produces and markets ABSOLUT(R) VODKA, ABSOLUT CUT(TM), Level (TM) Vodka, FRIS(R) Vodka , Plymouth(TM) Gin and Cruzan(R) Rum. The Absolut Spirits Company, Inc. imports ABSOLUT VODKA, Level Vodka, Plymouth Gin and Cruzan Rum in the US and distributes the brands through FutureBrands LLC, a joint venture with Beam Global Spirits and Wine.

---

Link

ABSOLUT® Vodka Product of Sweden. ABSOLUT, ABSOLUT VODKA COUNTRY OF SWEDEN & Logo, ... Imported in the US by Absolut Spirits Co. New York, NY.

Quote:

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The Absolut Spirits Company has acquired a controlling interest in U.S.-based rum, brandy and wine supplier Cruzan International.
Publication: Food & Drink Weekly
Date: Monday, October 3 2005
Subject: Alcoholic beverage industry (Mergers, acquisitions and divestments)
Product: Beer, Wine & Liquor, Whsle

The Absolut Spirits Company has acquired a controlling interest in U.S.-based rum, brandy and wine supplier Cruzan International. The V&S Vin & Sprit subsidiary bought the controlling stake in Cruzan from Angostura, pursuant to an earlier-announced stock purchase agreement between Angostura and V&S. Subsequent to the execution of the stock purchase agreement, V&S assigned all of its rights to Absolut, which purchased all 4.29 million shares of Cruzan common stock beneficially owned by Angostura, currently representing approximately 63.6% of the company's outstanding common stock, for $121.837 million.

---

http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade ... 291-1.html

The man who pauses on the paths of treason, Halts on a quicksand, the first step engulfs him.
Aaron Hill

Email sent:

Dear Sir!



I cannot express the level of outrage I feel about your Absolut “Reconquistaâ€

http://www.absolut.com/iaaw/blog/give-u ... t#comments

Tons of comments being left on this ad at their blog site.

Can someone please fix that url link on page one. I can't read it scrolling back and forth.

If Congress had a little insight, patriotism, and guts then they would be holding hearings on the collapse of the country rather than worrying about the collapse of Bear Stearns. But, it's all about the global economy (stupid?) and political correctness rather than the country, I guess.

The scary thing is that Absolut probably did some research into this before running the ad and this is what appeals to their target audience. They might not care too much about the rest of us; but to offend the target audience would be a no-no. So, it would seem that we have a bunch of people in our midst who want and support reverting back to 18th century illusionary Spanish maps. Neither Spain nor Mexico ever owned the northern portion of what is shown on that map to be Mexico because the Apaches and Comanches wouldn't allow it; however Spain/Mexico did claim it on those paper maps.

It's sad that the American people (not the ones here, obviously) are generally too ill-informed or ignorant to see what is happening and then either too indoctrinated into political correctness and open border propaganda and lies or too obsessed with getting bigger SUVs or just too numb from being beaten down so long that resistance is considered futile even if they do figure it out.

Comment posted on their site. We need to crash their phone system with calls too.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cvangel

Email sent:



Furthermore I called asked "Are you getting alot of calls this morning?" To which he replied "Sure". Then I asked "What the h___ do you think you're doing?" I told him Absolut needs to pull this ad TODAY and issue a public apology to the American people. i also told him I've sent this story to everyone I know as are many Americans. He said it was the Mexican office that did it and he's put a call in to them but hasn't heard back yet. The guy was very patronizing. INFURIATING

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And that shows how they view things in Mexico, doesn't it?

I sent out links about this to all 50 people in my address book.

I'm also a member of a yahoo group with 3,080 members. The topic is health issues, but I sent info about this outrage to all of them with just one click. I'll probably have a few lambast me for sending out something not on topic.....but oh well. Just trying to reach the masses.

Squire your email that you sent is excellent.

Please research and provide the email address of the President and Chairman of the Board of the company that owns the Absolut label!!

John

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cvangel

Comment posted on their site. We need to crash their phone system with calls too.

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do you have a phone number?