|
Aaron Baar of Mediapost is lamenting that some companies are offering customers
the chance to vote with their product choice—e.g., coffee in blue cups (Obama)
or red cups (McCain) at 7-Eleven, or Whirl of Change (Obama) or Straight Talk
Crunch (McCain) at Baskin-Robbins. The companies
announce the winners, providing voters with a wholly unscientific advanced
insight into who might be president.
Uncannily (or understandably), however, the results have correctly
predicted the winning candidate in past elections.
Mr. Baar clearly is a purist, because he doesn’t like this
kind of mixing politics with marketing.
He decries the fact the companies are doing this to make money, not
enlighten voters. He believes marketing
campaigns should stick to addressing “the issues they care about—even if that
issue is whiter socks.”
Well, beg to differ. Here’s the deal: First, American companies make money any way
the law allows (or haven’t you noticed?), including straw-voting for
president. Second, what possible harm
does it do? It might even remind people
to actually vote beyond their coffee cups and ice cream treats. If my candidate is behind at 7-Eleven, maybe
I’ll get up the energy to go to the poles on November 4. And if my kids think ice cream and voting are
connected, maybe that’s not such a bad mental association.
Furthermore, whiter socks are just plain boring, boring,
boring.
 |
