Features

FedEx, Sears pull ‘Politically Incorrect’ TV advertisements

By Lynn Elber AP Television Writer
Thursday September 20, 2001

LOS ANGELES — FedEx and Sears pulled out as “Politically Incorrect” sponsors after host Bill Maher called past U.S. military actions “cowardly.” 

Maher said Wednesday his comments were aimed at political leaders, not soldiers, and he defended his right to offer criticism in difficult times. 

“I should have been more specific,” Maher said. “I never meant to imply nor have I ever thought that our actual servicemen are cowardly. ... It’s our government, it’s our politicians, who have been cowardly in not letting the military do their job.” 

“If we don’t face our problems realistically, we won’t overcome them,” the TV talk show host added in a phone interview. 

FedEx reviewed the ABC show’s Monday edition after receiving complaints, spokeswoman Carla Richards said. The company’s 30-second spot for its FedEx delivery service, which aired during the show, has been pulled indefinitely. 

Retailer Sears, Roebuck and Co. also said Wednesday it canceled its advertising on the show after customer complaints prompted it to review the program. 

“Customers voiced a concern for bashing our leaders, our military and the country,” said Sears spokeswoman Lee Antonio. “Sears is very entrenched in the communities where we do business ... and very sensitive to where we place our advertising.” 

The company recognizes that freedom of speech is critical to America and that “Bill and his guests can say whatever they want to,” Antonio added. 

On the show’s first broadcast since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, guest Dinesh D’Souza took exception to descriptions of the terrorist hijackers as cowards. 

“These are warriors, and we have to realize that the principles of our way of life are in conflict with people in the world,” said D’Souza, an author. 

Maher concurred, saying: “We have been the cowards, lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away. That’s cowardly. Staying in the airplane when it hits the building, say what you want about it, it’s not cowardly.” 

In Houston, KSEV talk show host Dan Patrick said he was “appalled” by the comments on the show and told listeners to urge their ABC station to drop “Politically Incorrect,” the Houston Chronicle reported Wednesday. 

“When you call our men in the (armed forces) cowards and our military policy cowardly, and when you call these hijackers ‘warriors,’ that should not be tolerated,” said Patrick, the station’s general manager. 

Maher, in turn, took issue with his critics, whom he said were willfully misrepresenting his remarks. 

“I understand people have a lot of anger and hate. They should direct it toward the terrorists and not me,” he said. “It’s amazing that I should have to point out I find that (the attacks) despicably evil.” 

During the show a chair was left empty in honor of frequent guest Barbara Olson, a commentator who was aboard the hijacked plane that crashed into the Pentagon. 

ABC issued a statement of support for Maher’s program. 

“While we remain sensitive to the current climate following last week’s tragedy, and continue to do our part to help viewers cope with unfolding events, there needs to remain a forum for the expression of our nation’s diverse opinions,” the network said.