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Pass The Grey Goose

Posted by ANGELA WINTERS in At TMV.
Apr 7th, 2008 | Comments

Swedish company, Absolut, wants us all to drink to Mexico reconquering the entire U.S. Southwest? Interesting. I can just imagine the eyeballs of several FOXNews hosts exploding out of their sockets. Honestly, I’m not very happy to see that ad either and I’m sure many other Americans aren’t amused.

While I could hysterically call for a boycott as others have, I don’t drink, so I’m not really an authority here. I know people get hooked on a certain type of liquor and will ride it till they die. Word on the street is the mass exodus to Grey Goose is in the works. Personally, I think people are too lazy for all that boycotting stuff unless its something very important.

I wonder if Mexico can make up for all those lost U.S. sales? Doubt it. Oh yeah, and there was the obligatory apology after the fact, which some are calling a non-apology. It’s really just an ad, but kind of a crappy message IMO.

Los Angeles Times : Mexico reconquers California? Absolut drinks to that!
La Plaza : Sparks continue to fly over Absolut’s Mexico ad
On the Campaign Trail: Absolut-ly sorry
In An Absolut World Everyone Would Drink Grey Goose – Blogger News Network
FOXNews.com – Vodka Maker Apologizes for Ad Depicting Southwest as Part of Mexico

Ads by Project Wonderful! Your ad here, right now: $0

ChrisWWW

Haha... looks like the ad worked. They got people talking.

Marlowecan

It's amazing that an major ad agency has no apparent understanding of the existence of the Internet...and how things can move virally.

The strange Abolut non-apology suggests, in my experience, that someone senior in marketing had their fingers in this...not just some rogue graphic designer freelancing in Mexico City.

Angry Americans can rest assured the marketing executive responsible will probably get a major bonus at the end of the year for his "employment of innovative cross-platform synergies."

Hahahahahaha....

Idiosyncrat

Well, this American is most definitely amused... :-D

FWIW, Marlowe, as evident by the ill-reception of British comedy on these shores, irony and self-deprecation isn't something that generally plays well here in the States.

DLS

I've seen maps like that before. [shrug]

What I'm surprised about is that Superdestroyer hasn't remarked about it yet. [grin]

Davebo

So a bunch of folks are mad at the Absolut add, and are planning to switch to Grey Goose? A product of Cheese Eating Surrender Monkeys (France)???

lurxst

I think all American's foreign policy positions should be based on beer and alcohol advertisements.

ChrisWWW

I think all American's foreign policy positions should be based on beer and alcohol advertisements.

I don't see how we could do much worse. Right now are leaders are just drunk on power...

Rudi

Recontinista(sp) is as relevent as Cinco de Mayo. Plus, the map is close to the NA map pre 1846. This is just something to excite the Fox crowd when no blonds go missing or are shown half naked on Billos show.

Slamfu

Well I'll never touch a drop of absolut again. Also, I'm certainly not a FOX crowd guy but up until now I've always taken the panicked claims of the right as the standard crap immigrants have to put up with since the 2nd wave of Europeans hit American shores.

But obviously someone in mexico figured this would resonate with people there. Way to stoke the anti-immigrant sentiment and make me feel like there is something to the claim that mexico wants to take over the American southwest. Stupidest ad I've seen in ages.

MaryL

Oh, relax already. You know -- you bloody well KNOW -- that Mexico is not going to conquer the U.S. or any part of it. That ad is a jab, a nose twist, from one of your major trading partners sharing your southern border. It's all part of a very long history of underdog humour. Surely you aren't quaking in your collective boots over a joke, are you?

Oh, wait. This reminds me of Trudeau's old joke about Canada being a mouse in bed with an elephant. Well, there's the even older joke about elephants being deeply terrified by mice.

Those of you who have your gaunches in a twist about this silly little ad: BOO!

(Sheesh!)

pacatrue

Well, the ad would have to be run in Mexico as many Americans wouldn't be able to name the country.

Yes, yes, I made a joke about American geography knowledge, and yet I still love my country.

archangel

i think absolut is going to run an add showing canada taking over everthing south of their border to touch the green area of the US that used to be Mexico, and that will leave just I think, ala, ark, la, miss, fla

Slamfu

I'm not seriously worried about the mexican flag flying over any SW state capitals, but advertising speaks to things we either believe or want to believe. I just found myself very irritated by it.

T-Steel

All I need to know is who's making the Cosmopolitans? All this talk about vodka got a man thirsty. Once I get a few of those Cosmos in me, maybe I'll discuss this Absolut thingy.

StockBoySF

"Stupidest ad I've seen in ages."

I agree with that. I don't really get it- but then it's Monday and I suppose I'm dense at the moment.

I suppose someone in the ad agency thought the ad was cute... I can see cute, but I still don't get it...

As far as the right-wingers howling at it.... now THAT is something I can see... but it would be just as stupid as the ad.

SteveK

Absolut Vodka's statement regarding this silly brouhaha:

“We are sorry if we offended anyone. This was not our intention. We will try to explain. Though you may not agree, I hope you understand.”

“We have a variety of executions running in countries worldwide, and each is germane to that country and that population. This particular ad, which ran in Mexico, was based upon historical perspectives and was created with a Mexican sensibility. In no way was this meant to offend or disparage, nor does it advocate an altering of borders, nor does it lend support to any anti-American sentiment, nor does it reflect immigration issues. Instead, it hearkens to a time which the population of Mexico may feel was more ideal.”

“Obviously, this ad was run in Mexico, and not the US — that ad might have been very different.”

hat tip to "Strange Maps":
http://strangemaps.wordpress.com/2008/04/05/264...

All the Mapmakers Union would say on the subject was: "BOO!"

too funny.

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