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October 1, 2004
IBO: Help Stop Rumor
By QBlog in
Are you a Quixtar IBO? Did any other Quixtar IBOs send you an email that begins like this?
CREST, TIDE MAKER GIVES MONEY, CLOUT TO REPEAL LAW FORBIDDING SPECIAL RIGHTS FOR HOMOSEXUALSIf so, you should know that, according to Quixtar Managing Director Ken McDonald, those IBOs are spreading "unsubstantiated rumors." What follows are excerpts from an email McDonald sent to IBOs:P&G policy leads to support for homosexual marriage
Dear B.W.,
Procter & Gamble, makers of Crest toothpaste and Tide detergent, has publicly thrown their support and money behind the homosexual political agenda...
Dear IBO:I received a copy of this rumor a couple of weeks ago from a friend (not a Quixtar IBO). I pretty much ignore any email I get with "FW" in the subject line but I saved this one for some reason. What's really bizarre about the email, and Quixtar's swift and unambiguous response, is that from what I can tell, the RUMOR IS TRUE. You can read the entire "email rumor" at Urban Legends which describes the rumor as "true." Snopes also proclaims it as true and gives a lengthy explanation of why it's true.Quixtar has recently learned that there are rumors being circulated that suggest Procter & Gamble (P&G) is promoting same-sex marriages and is being boycotted by the American Family Association. They are unsubstantiated rumors. Under no circumstance should they be repeated...
...To be crystal clear, Quixtar and Alticor do not condone the use of unsubstantiated rumors in the promotion of this business. Disciplinary action shall be taken against any IBO who is found to have used unsubstantiated rumors in connection with their Quixtar business...
...If you have questions or concerns, please contact Quixtar Business Conduct and Rules at qbcr.department@quixtar.com or call 616-787-6712.
Oddly enough, McDonald's email has angered at least one IBO (and I suspect a few more). David McDougal voices his disapproval of what he feels is an effort to suppress his right to "express my personal beliefs in the area that I feel is needed." McDougal sent an email to Quixtar about this matter stating his opinions:
As a IBO, and a christian, I am furious that your firm would bother to try and debunk another christian organization that in even the least is trying to help stop the propogation of at minimum pre marital sex...So does McDonald's email suppress free speech or is the message just the cost of doing business in these litigious times? Who knows, but I wonder how many IBOs share McDougal's sentiments?...How I as a IBO choose to market my products as long, as I am representing a competing products ads in full is legal and a very common practice...
...In closing, thank you for the notice that P&G may be coming after me if I post information about them. Also thank you for sending a email to all your IBO’s basically supporting the a-moral position that P&G is taking.
I should point out that a Sept. 17 article from Money Magazine explains the rumor this way:
...the groups are mixing two unrelated issues. Shelton said the company opposed just the Cincinnati statute and not efforts by the group to amend the Ohio Constitution to ban same-sex marriage.Whatever. So maybe the rumor is sort of true but not completely true? I don't know. But I think McDonald's email demonstrates that Quixtar does not want to be connected with this rumor (true or false) in any way whatsoever. The Randy Haugen incident will never be forgotten.
- Post Updated to add IBO commentary (10/02/04)
Comments
Looks like Quixtar sent out the Ken McDonald email to every IBO in it's database. I did not receive a copy of the original that Quixtar is referring to. This is the first I heard of it.
if you want to read the original AFA (American Family Association) letter that they are refrencing, you can see it on my site at:
http://www.level13designs.us/blog/wordpress/index.php?p=174
I have not received the official email yet, although some in my group have.
I believe the email is an example of the litigious nature of our times as well. But more so; the nature of the two companies involved.
P&G and Alticor need another lawsuit between themselves like Elvis needs another Fried Peanut Butter and Banana Sammich.
And for two points, tell me why an "Elvis" reference is appropriate for this topic.
Clue: It's an obscure reference based on the source of the rumor.
Gee Quixtar has more problems with people trying to force their ways on people.
It looks to me like three things are going on here:
1) P&G wants to be able to give benefits to partners of gay workers in its workforce, but the present law makes it hard to do so without appearing "pro-faggot." Repealing the cincinnatti amendment prohibiting (sp???) would allow them to do that by saying that not doing so would be discrimination against the group.
2) Alticor, having dealt with the fallout from P&G rumors of yesterday, puts out a pre-emptive letter saying "Don't Spread This Rumor!" Amongst other things, it protects their butt by showing good faith effort against the rumor.
3) The Am/Quix Kingpins, having used P&G as their punching bag for years, jump on the bandwagon which for once has a thin sliver of basis in fact.
Dear teen people of America, there is four stupid kids at my school think I do drugs, but I know its not true, and the good lord knows its not true. What do you?
iWANT TO CHANGE MY SPONSOR BECAUSE OF PERSONAL REASON, AND HE IS NOT TEACHING ME ANYTHING ABOUT QUIXTAR. I REFUSE TO ORDER ANYTHING TO MAKE HIM ANY MONEY. I WILL NOT BE ORDERING ANYTHING UNTIL MY SPONOR IS CHANGED. I HAVE A 600P/V ORDER WAITING TO BE ORDER. I WOULD LIKE KAREEM ALI TO BE MY SPONSOR RIGHT AWAY BY 12/11/07.
Qblog,
I just received a copy of this email too.
Posted by: Dave S | October 2, 2004 1:03 AM