Overstock.com's CEO Speaks About Ron Paul's Supporters Calling
Posted January 6th, 2008 by Video Double
output
Seems that Patrick M. Byrne, the CEO of Overstock.com is feeling the pinch from people outraged over Fox News excluding Ron Paul from the presidential debates. His message to the public appears below.
Ron Paul, Fox News, & Me
Dear Customer,
Because Overstock advertises on Fox channels, Overstock has been receiving calls and email messages about Fox News decision to exclude Dr. Ron Paul from the upcoming January 6 forum in New Hampshire, a decision that seems especially rank given the fact that in yesterdays Iowa Caucus Dr. Paul out-polled Mayor Giuliani by a factor of 2.5:1. I always enjoy hearing from our customers, particularly those who display political commitment of any flavor, and I thank them for their calls and emails.
In October Dr. Paul came to Utah, and he and I visited for an hour in my office. After that meeting, I gave him the largest donation I could under federal law: it is rare to meet a politician who understands the Constitution, and rarer still to meet one who thinks it binds the government meaningfully (I would give Dr. Paul more were there not now a federal blackout on free speech known as "McCain-Feingold"). In a television interview last week I stated that, while for the first time in my life I felt there are several candidates qualified to be president, my #1 choice would be Dr. Paul.
That said, I believe that pulling Overstocks advertising from Fox would represent an inappropriate conflation of my personal politics with my corporate responsibilities: thus, fellow supporters of Dr. Paul, my answer to you is, "no." However, I have contacted Fox and told them that, as a major advertiser, I believe it is unconscionable of them to exclude Dr. Paul from participating in this forum on January 6, thus denying our polity the opportunity to make an informed choice.
Respectfully,
Patrick M. Byrne, Ph.D.
CEO, Overstock.com
PS If you wish to join me in asking Fox to refrain from trying to warp the public discourse, email Fox Senior Political Producer Marty Ryan
PPS If you wish to learn more about (or support!) Dr. Paul, click here
PPPS There is no particular reason you should be interested, but in case you are, in the last several weeks I gave PBS and NPR interviews where I discussed these political views.
KUED PBS Television :: KUER NPR Radio
(You can also find and comment upon these on my blog, www.deepcapture.com)
source: http://www.freedomsphoeni...
===================
Should Ron Paul supporters decide to contact more Fox advertisers, here's the Dailypaul.com list:
# # #
Bookmark/Search this post with:
Patrick M. Byrne, Ph.D. is right on his choice for now
I applaud Mr./Doctor Byrne for his decision based on seperating his personal preferences from his corporate responsabilities. That tells me he is also a representative of the people (share holders). However, if customers withdraw their support of Overstock.com due to their affiliation, he will be forced to make another corporate decision. Mr./Doctor Byrne, I thank you for your personal support of Ron Paul, I am thrilled that you and I are in the same boat(RP). However, my family will no longer be purchasing from Overstock.com due to its support of FOX. A media company that promotes war and political wrong doings. Thanks again for your personal support of Ron Paul. God Bless, The Moore Family
Dear Sir, Thank you for you thoughts!
The weak and the strong can not keep the same company!!
Dear sir,
I would never want you to go against your convictions to place your adds on any station that you want. That is your Decision. I appreciate your comments about Dr. Paul and understand how Fox has put you in a box.
Unlike most companies yours does indeed sink or swim on INTERNET users.
Having said that, although I love your site and have used it often, if you post one commercial on Fox after that debate starts and Ron Paul is not in it, I swear by everything that I hold Holy that I will never and I repeat never purchase another product from your site again.
I realize you have a hard decision to make but there is no room for compromise on my belief that if you would support with your money Fox News which you know to be trying to manipulate who is going to Win the Presidency, then I with my money can never support your site again.
These are core beliefs that the Paul supporters have and you know that we are not kidding and you know we move as a group. We will hold this boycott long after this election and someone will step in to take your companies place in providing those services to us INTERNET users.
I realize this is a major decision on your part and wish you to do what is in your heart but we will likewise do what is right for our Country!
Millions hate Fox News! Think of the publicity your company would get if it was the first company to openly go against these tyrants.
Not just Paul supporters but millions of Democrats also hate this news organization and if you ever wanted to stand with the public, Now is your chance to be one of us.
This sort of thing only comes around every few hundred years, We ask you to stand with the people on this issue of Principles and not be part of something that is destructive to what our Founding fathers put in place to protect us from tyrants.
I pray for you and your family and believe what ever you do, let your principals be your guide because that is what we as Ron Paul supporters will do.
There is no coming back from this decision that we have made!
Ron Paul for President in 2008!
I posted this the other day,
I posted this the other day, but good to read again! It was def. a great bump for us considering their monthly traffic.