Keith Ellison condemns Lowe's for pulling ads from Muslim reality TV show

By Jessica Lussenhop Mon., Dec. 12 2011 at 3:07 PM

Lowe's: Let's boycott something together.

Rep. Keith Ellison has joined the outcry against home-improvement giant Lowe's after the retailer announced that it is pulling its advertising from a reality TV show called "All-American Muslim."

The show, which was intended as a portrait of everyday life for Muslim-Americans living in Dearborn, Michigan, has drawn the ire of the Florida Family Association. In emails to the show's advertisers, the FFA claims that "All-American Muslim" is "propaganda that riskily hides the Islamic agenda." They've called on all retailers to pull their ads from the program.

Instead of ignoring all that crazy, Lowe's did what they wanted.

"All-American Muslim" profiles several families in Dearborn -- two expectant parents, a cop's family, a young entrepreneur, a football coach -- in their everyday lives and in their struggle against bigotry in a post-9/11 America.

"All-American Muslim"

But this sinister baby-having, football-coaching community is deliberately hiding the truth about their religion according to FFA:

Clearly this program is attempting to manipulate Americans into ignoring the threat of jihad and to influence them to believe that being concerned about the jihad threat would somehow victimize these nice people in this show.

Lowe's was willing to bend to their demands. That decision got a huge reaction from Sen. Ted Lieu of South Carolina, who called it bigoted and "un-American." He's threatening legislative action against the company.

On Saturday, the retailer posted an apology on its Facebook page, saying in part:

Lowe's has received a significant amount of communication on this program, from every perspective possible. Individuals and groups have strong political and societal views on this topic, and this program became a lighting rod for many of those views. As a result we did pull our advertising on this program.

Rep. Ellison

That did nothing to quell the tidal wave of criticism, which now includes a reaction from Rep. Ellison, who is, of course, himself Muslim. Yesterday he released the following statement:

"Lowe's Corporation has chosen to uphold the beliefs of a fringe hate group and not the creed of The First Amendment, which guarantees the free exercise of religion. This is disappointing since the success of 'All-American Muslim' shows how ready the country is to learn about Muslims as Americans. This probably makes hate mongers uncomfortable--as they should be. Our nation's history is full of examples demonstrating how we have repeatedly torn down false divisions hate groups choose to create. But the struggle against bigotry and hatred must continue so we never give in to intolerance like Lowe's Corporation has done. Corporate America needs to take a stand against these anti-Muslim fringe groups and stand up for what is right because this is what it means to be an American."

Related content:

Tags:

All-American Muslim, Florida Family Association, Keith Ellison, Lowe's, TLC

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kazperz

Gotta love city page commenters, you must respect my opinion and how i feel things should be done, but i don't care for yours if its against mine. If you don't like someone else actions or ways and condemn them for it your doing the same thing back, your just as guilty. The old adage you point someone else out your got 3 pointing right back

Mememe

Well of course. Most people commenting on things on the internet don't actually read them through or articulate points, they just want to be heard.

Michelle Bachmann

So all opinions are to be respected no matter how wrong they are? In my opinion you should get a tattoo on your forehead that says "insert brain here."

Betty

Are you always this hostile?

LivingLiberally

I like how Conservatives have made this into a situation where Liberals are trying to force Lowe's to do something. In fact, Lowe's did choose to run ads during the program and it was Conservatives who were outraged and started the campaign to get Lowe's to remove them. Don't Christians have better things to do this holiday season that attack muslims? Maybe feed the hungry or help the poor?

Betty Boop

I think they are responding to how Sen Ted Lieu of SC is "threatening legistlative action" (quoted from article) against Lowe's regarding them pulling their ads.

Michelle Bachmann

The only thing conservatives do at this time of year is bitch about how there is a war on Christmas.

Nofreedom

Doesn't Lowes have the freedom to advertise where and how they want? Lowes is not preventing the show from airing, they are just not supporting it. For our politicians to waste our time and money on something like this is ludicrous. There are important issues at hand already.

Zeroisanumber

Lowes pulled their ads after buckling like wet cardboard to the demands of a group of racist assholes.

Michelle Bachmann

You don't understand how freedom works but that is because you are stupid. Sadly in America you are free to be as stupid as you want. See Lowe's is free to advertise where they want and we liberals are free to point our collective finger at Lowe's and call them stupid asshole idiots. We then are free to not ever go to Lowe's again while telling everyone we know what a bunch of bigoted assholes they are. You are free to not learn this basic lesson in freedom but not learning things is why you post such stupid know nothing things. You are welcome. You are free to not thank me but its rude.

Kirk the Conservative Jerk

Is calling people stupid your default argument to everything? It makes you appear very juvenilistic and demonstrates onesinability to debate in a civil manner.

Also, I love how you take both side of an issue within your thirdsentence; "Lowe's is free", and "we liberals are free to point ourcollective finger at Lowe's and call them stupid asshole idiots". (Agree with us or else)That would be like saying, "people are free to rob banks, but the cops arefree to arrest them.”One "freedom" infringes on the other.

You may want to take the stupid test @ stupidtester .com

Ihatestupidclowns

Umm, no. "Michelle" is saying that while Lowes has the right to do what they want with Lowes money, customers are free to spend the customers money elsewhere. There is no infringing of freedoms here.

You do not infringe on the "freedoms" of a retailer by not patronizing them. You are not robbing them. Comparing calling them "stupid asshole jerks" to robbing a bank is the dumbest remark on this board.

Michelle Bachmann

I call you stupid because you are stupid. It's also why I call you a bigot. It's not uncivil to use facts in a debate. If you really cared about being civil you wouldn't have made fun of dead children like you've done multiple times on here. Remember when you celebrated the deaths of dead children because they were gay? How civil was that kirk? Why are you lying about this again when you obviously have never cared about being civil.

P.S. I notice you are being extremely cowardly and not taking my bet. Remember Sean Hannity is super influential and he has made the entire country conservative. Us stupid liberals are too stupid to understand that and its so obvious. It's obvious Obama is going to lose but since I'm so stupid I will bet on Obama. If Obama wins the election you have to go away forever and stop posting. I will do the same if any Republican idiot wins. Why won't you take this bet kirk?

Dontunderstand

Thanks for cementing my point. Maybe if you could move past the self righteousness and name calling you would realize that is exactly what I was saying.

I value your right to act like a jerk but I don't respect your actions.

Michelle Bachmann

It's creepy you post under like 5 different names. Your point remains stupid. Why is Lowe's freedom to be a bigot more important that my freedom to complain about them being bigots? How is it a waste of money for a politician to use his bully pulpit to stand up to a massively powerful corporation like Lowe's? Keith Ellison is standing up for the people he represents in Minneapolis. Muslims face a lot of bigotry and hatred in their lives so I find it pretty understandable that they would push back against a horrible decision like the one Lowe's made. Maybe I'm wrong that you are stupid. Please explain to me how Congressman Ellison shouldn't be standing up for the people he represents? How exactly does a Congressman protecting people in his district from bigotry by a corporation not fall under his duties as a Congressman? Why is Lowe's freedom to be a bigot more important than my freedom of speech to call them a bigot? No one is saying Lowe's isn't legally allowed to be this stupid. I am saying if they are this stupid I won't shop there. Why don't I have the right to say this?