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Another Reason to Hate Carl's Jr.

Posted by Gustavo Arellano in Eat It!, Naranja News

February 13, 2008 2:40 PM

Permalink | Comments (3)

This month's issue of Portfolio devotes its cover to the modern-day Carl's Jr.--not the quaint regional chain run by a bigot burger baron but one based in Carpinteria and operated by religious hypocrites. Say what you want about the conservativism of founder Carl Karcher, but at least the man was consistent, not like current Carl's CEO Andrew Puzder. Karcher loved making money but refused to let his advertising become repugnant or offensive; under Puzder, Carl's has become notorious for its commercials featuring moral icons such as Paris Hilton, Hugh Hefner, and Dennis Rodman. We don't mind the ads--companies need to make money. But then Puzder offers this gem to Portfolio reporter Joe Keohane regarding those commercials, which Karcher publicly condemned:

"I'm probably more a member of the religious right than I am anything else, so these are my people I'm offending. That's kind of a weird thing, but I can't run the business to the aesthetic tastes of any particular group in the country. And I will tell you, when we run these ads, sales go up and they don't come down."

Really, Puzder? Chik-fil-A and In-n-Out have done just fine producing food loved by millions while sticking to a conservative Christian business philosophy. Jesus doesn't take kindly to hypocrites--didn't that statue of St. Francis of Assisi Karcher had in your company's former Anaheim headquarters teach you anything?

 

Comments (3)

  1. Anonymous says:
    February 13, 2008 17:39

    jerome (carl's son) is a catholic priest In Orange County

  2. Know Em All says:
    February 13, 2008 18:32

    Get Help...Please

  3. Tommy I says:
    April 16, 2008 04:15

    So I guess it comes down to this - regardless of what social and religious beliefs you have, the real issue is the short-term profits of your company. These boneheads must think their target demo will forever remain stoned, sloppy, stupid, unemployed 18- to 34-year-olds that still live with their mothers, and will do anything that they think might appeal to these Neanderthals. What's next - belching and farting? Perhaps urinating in public? I spend thousnds a years on fast food, but not a penny to this company, just because of their ads.

    Aside from what these ads say about our society, I guess the principles by which these wingnuts live are always for sale to the highest bidder.

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