Glad To Be Of Assistance

Readers have e-mailed with Purina's response to criticism of its sponsorship of the WRKO website, which promotes bigoted WRKO broadcaster Howie Carr. Here's an excerpt from one:

Please know that we do not sponsor Howie Carr or advertise on his program. We are sorry you apparently received some incorrect information regarding our affiliation with Howie Carr. We have shared your comments with management and are fully investigating this matter to determine how this misunderstanding occurred.

Nestle Purina PetCare Company has family friendly programming guidelines in place that are monitored and enforced.

Nice guy that I am, I have endeavored to assist Purina with its enquiries.

Dear Purina,

I am advised that you are investigating how people came to understand that Purina sponsors Howie Carr, a Boston-based newspaper columnist and radio personality who expresses hate-filled views toward gay men and lesbians. I am pleased to assist you with your enquiries.

A few days ago, I posted on my weblog excerpts of Mr. Carr's Sunday May 16 Boston Herald, which included the following statements by Carr:

[Bigoted statements from Carr, quoted below.]

I also mentioned that Purina ONE is advertised through banner ads on the website of WRKO, a station on which Mr. Carr has a daily radio program.

Since that date and as recently as 7:15 p.m. today, a banner ad for Purina ONE reading "Take the Purina ONE 30-day Challenge" appears on WRKO's webpage for Howie Carr, as well as on a separate page entitled "Mug Shots" which includes photographs of Mr. Carr with various persons, and another of a young man -- apparently a subordinate of Mr. Carr -- dressed as a penis. (The man appears directly beneath Mr. Carr and Chris Matthews of MSNBC.)

I am not offended by Mr. Carr's juvenile photograph, but I am offended by his intolerant statements based on hateful stereotypes. I would imagine that a large portion of your customers -- of all sexual orientations -- likewise find those statements offensive and non-family friendly. Purina is free to spend its advertising dollars as it chooses. My only intention is to allow Purina to make an informed decisions re: spending, and to give the same opportunity to present and potential Purina customers.

I would be happy to publish, with your consent, any response you have regarding Mr. Carr and Purina's advertising on his employer's website.

Sincerely....

Thanks to the readers who sent the responses from Purina.