USAA demonstrates cowardice in political combat…
For as long as I can remember, United Services Automobile Association has been operating in my life, in the peripheries during my early pre-Vietnam days in the Army when NCO’s grumped about the low cost insurance and financial services being offered exclusively to officers, until our time, decades later, in and out of San Antonio, the institution’s home. In those years we had multiple accounts, banking and investing, with the behemoth it had become. In our two decades around and about San Antonio, we had many friends who worked for the growing financial services company who had nothing but praise for the family-friendly corporate culture. In the years I worked in community relations for a United Way agency in San Antonio, I was frequently on the huge corporate campus of USAA as they were a major source of funding and support for non-profit, community support agencies. During that period USAA opened their doors to enlisted military personnel, earning further admiration from this old soldier.
Last week USAA corporate leaders deliberately and decisively drove that great company off the long road of patriotic service it had so long followed and went headlong into the murky ditch of political correctness. by pulling its advertising from the Sean Hannity Show. Worse, they quite deliberately did this at an opportunistic time, when the conservative FOX Network, a respected alternate source of America’s news for the active, retired and veterans’ military communities USAA serves, is being besieged by liberal forces seeking to silence its conservative voice. FOX is, and has been since its inception, a popular favorite with the troops and their families, a voice which reverberates throughout and resonates within the lives of millions of patriotic Americans who wear or once wore the uniform, the overwhelming majority of whom rejected their use as the petri dish of social experimentation imposed on them by their Democrat recent commander in chief and the media monopoly that overwhelmingly supported his liberal aims. What’s more, as The Daily Caller points out, USAA’s excuse that it dropped Hannity because it does not support “opinion” shows is pure hogwash
Leadership at USAA, if you can call it that, seems to have conveniently forgotten that the “S” in their name stands for services, and not services in the sense of providing financial products and securities, but Services in the sense of Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard. Those entrepreneurial officers who founded the company back in 1922 with the express mission of serving the military officers’ community would be horrified by this craven collapse of its long-standing devotion to military culture and cowardly capitulation to the pernicious threat of political correctness. The military community should bury our White House in letters of objection to this move reminding our president that Sean Hannity was likely his single greatest media supporter during the recent campaign and still is. And, yes, Tweets to the Commander in Chief are fine, to encourage him to reach out to USAA to advise them that as the troops are unhappy with USAA’s caving in to liberal craziness and overreach, he as their commander, is by necessity, unhappy as well and suggests a wiser course of action is called for. SecDef Mattis should be copied on absolutely every such communication with the Commander-in-Chief. He might wish to save them for his bedtime reading.
Perhaps a soundly-sleeping General Mattis could keep a few of those left-leaning USAA execs awake at night…
Added: It seems that USAA has reinstated their advertising policy with the Hannity show, according to USAToday.
The San Antonio, Texas-based company said Tuesday it will also start advertising again on other programs where it had suspended ads, including “Hardball” and “The Rachel Maddow Show” on MSNBC, and Jake Tapper’s “The Lead” on CNN.
Category: Politics
*FACEPALM*
What eligible demographic do they expect to attract by advertising on the rachel madcow show, hardball, and the lead? It can’t be that much.
The only ones I can think of are legacies whose parents once served.
Apparently, there are 4 or 5 veterans that are actually democrats and watch MSNBC. Their identities are unknown as they are in the witness protection program because of it.
Commissar… just saying
Some liberal puke on USAA just being sarcastic and getting even “OK you want Fox news, we will give you liberals as well”!
They apparently got the message when thousands of customers bombed the phones and social media telling them they were going to cancel their accounts. And BOOM, “Oh, Our Bad, Yeah we’re going back to be a Hannity Sponsor.
It works both ways. Funny about that.
But who called about them cancelling the ad buys on the commie news network and MSDNC?
Far better had they initially pointed out that they strive to reach and serve all service members, regardless of political views, and that’s why they advertise on left-leaning as well as right-leaning opinion shows. At least they’ve rectified it now, but in the meantime they brought needless controversy upon themselves.
When I was on active duty, USAA only serviced officers. After I got out, they accepted enlisted so, I tried to get car insurance with them and they told me that I’d been out too long. Now, they spam the crap out of me trying to get me on board. I hate USAA.
They expanded eligibility in increments over the years. Unfortunately, they didn’t catch up to you until you were past the point of caring. They’ve given me excellent service for over 30 years so I have no complaints.
“They expanded eligibility in increments over the years”
Kind of like the VFW.
I agree. I have heard bad things about USAA before this drama. And I didn’t trust them, simply because they advertise too much, if that makes any sense. And I am very leery of companies that try to hard sell former service.
When I was a PFC, I bought my first car. I had about 7 years driving experience on other vehicles.
I called USAA first, of course. They, however, told me I was “uninsurable”. No tickets whatsoever. Just “uninsurable” because I had not previously had car or insurance. They further told me I would have to go get special “high risk” coverage.
State Farm, on the other hand, said “New driver and car? Sure! We can insure you. It will get cheaper once you have been driving for a while, but we can write you today.”
I called USAA back and said State Farm was covering me. I thought I was uninsurable. “You are. We cant cover you, as you need special high risk…..yadda yadda. You are uninsurable…”
They have been spamming me for decades. Idiots.
Their insurance is way over – priced. You’re not missing anything. I dropped them like a hot potato after shopping around for auto and homeowner insurance. I’ll never go back
Agreed. Getting I get better insurance through Geico and better interest rates through Service Credit Union. I’m not sure why everyone always gives them those rave reviews. They still beat Bank of America and Well’s Fargo in my book, though.
The used to be the best around. I had them for years, and when another insurance company called me, i just mentioned USAA, and the reply was always ” yeah, we can’t beat them” then a number of years back due to medical issues, we had to file bankruptcy. because of that, they dropped us at our next renewal, so we went to Farmers. I recently called them, just to see where they’d come in now, and they were almost double. Apparently if you’ve been with them from back in the day, their rates are still great, but anyone looking at them now will get raped…
I had no idea what USAA stood for until today. I’ve been tossing their junk mail for many years without ever having opened any of it. Always go with your gut feelings.
As a young LT in Germany they completely hosed me on a 1 1/2 year old car that was totaled, as they knew I was frequently working 6 days a week and was in no position to fight with them on the value of the car, a 1968 Jag XKE. I never insured anything with them again. Like many large corporations in this country, they are run by a bunch of “progressive” limousine liberals.
I hate fucking USAA more than you then some. They want enlisted money but I have first-hand proof they treat enlisted differently. They pulled that crap on my retired MSgt son and I shoved it up their corporate ass. USAA is no longer the company it was when I became a warrant in 1974. If you have USAA, check your home insurance coverage, they will very quietly increase it annually without asking. If you agree to a voluntary repossession of a car with a USAA loan, if you are enlisted, plan on a zero-dark early pounding on your door. They pulled that crap on the kid as well and I guarantee you they will not pull that again on anyone in this family. USAA sucks, strong message to follow.
My youngest son financed a car through USAA. Somehow, during his payment history, they began depositing his car payments in an “insurance account”. Except he had no insurance account with them. Then after 4 or 5 months, he’d get a notice that they’d repo his car if he didn’t come up with 5 months worth of payments.
Then he’d have to go through the whole thing of copies of his cancelled checks, faxing them to USAA, with his account number which they knew, it was on all the paperwork.
Finally he got the car paid off, and dropped them like a live grenade.
Only thing I use them for is their car-buying service, which is about once a decade.
The idiots who made this decision should be shit canned. Hubby and I have been members since 1996 and both kids are members through us. WTF where they thinking? I’ve seen comments on WZ claiming that management of USAA has been infiltrated by liberals. This dumbassery lends that credibility. And even though they’ve retracted, that they will continue to advertise on “The Rachel Maddow Show” and Jake Tapper’s “The Lead” pisses me off. Those two lying liars are part of the treasonous left.
As the article states, this wasn’t so much about lefty leadership as it was the commotion (scandal would be too strong a word) over Hannity’s airing of the Seth Rich conspiracy theory stuff. Hell, even Fox apologized for it.
Removing their advertising was the right thing to do, as was reinstating it after the point had been made. That decision exists independent of their choice to also advertise on CNN’s shows.
The only point made was that USAA would lose a whole lot of business, if they continued sucking up to the likes of Madcow, Matthews, Tapper and the rest, and turned their backs on the other side of the political spectrum, while pushing the big lie that they didn’t advertise on opinion shows. Now, they’re scrambling to make up for the idiocy that came out of their marketing department.
Where are these companies demanding the leftist fake news outlets which have been slandering the president and his entire staff as being unamerican traitor russian spies? Seth Rich is a legit story whereas 24/7 MSNBC and CNN are running with the most unhinged wild speculation based on zero criminal activity and no backlash what so ever from corporate America. Funny how that works…
Yeah, funny how REALITY seems to have a liberal bias. But you wouldn’t know that living in the Fox News bubble.
Please take your meds and stay away from sharp objects.
The goldfish says we are all confined behind glass…..
Who is this Seth Rich dude?
Ok. I’ll google it….
Oh shit, LC, thanks for the heads up on this conspiracy to kill a Bernie Sander supporter for leaking the DNC secrets.
Criminals and murderers, the whole DNC and Clinton cabal.
Amazing story. Thanks again.
Where is their “outrage” over that skank Kathy Griffin’s photo with the bloody head of the POTUS? Are they going to pull advertising until CNN shitcans her stupid ass?
Fire the SJW’s that made the Hannity decision…
She’s been fired.
Me, I got a great quote from USAA – until they found out my shepherd had nipped someone (a scratch, actually) at which point the said as long as I owned the dog they would not insure me. If I got rid of my dog I would be OK. FTFO on that… got different insurance. The dog since died, but their quotes haven’t ever been lower since then either, so we’re still strangers.
Drive past USAA’s back gate at quitting time and one would think that you were in India.
The mighty FNC is taking on water. Hannity sees the writing on the wall, and is going to eventually bolt. He’s also highly pissed about his mentor the late Roger Ailes, and friend Bill Shine getting dumped. Without Bill O’Reilly the prime time ratings are taking a massive hit. FNC for first time since 2001 are no longer on top in the cable news ratings. The lefty Murdoch brothers James & Lachlan, and their liberal wives are reshaping FNC. Inch by inch the right of center program philosophy is being discarded. It must be said Ailes & O’Reilly brought alot of the shite storm on themselves & Fox News by thinking it was ok to harass female employees.
Before I go running around in a panic, I’ll wait and see what happens.
I dont’ think FNC is going to go away and maybe/probably Hannity is not, however, if he does, then he’ll find another platform as he has a very rabid and loyal fanbase.
Oh and they just FIRED KATHY GRIFFIN.
http://money.cnn.com/2017/05/31/media/cnn-kathy-griffin/index.html
Fox News exposed themselves as part of the swamp during the 2016 election and heavily promoted never trump turds on their programming basically doing the exact same thing as all of the other major cable “news” channels campaign for Hillary until the election in the hope Trump was defeated. Megyn “spelled like a stripper” Kelly bet her carrier on it and lost. George Will did the same and was let go as well, but there are still numerous never Trumps on the network routinely falsely portraying themselves as conservative while advocating for the end of 2nd amendment rights like Charles Krauthammer and the Weekly Standard clown Stephen Hayes.
Murdock’s family is turning the channel into another left wing cesspool and many viewers are leaving. The only one still at Fox News that dares question the insanity that is today’s unhinged left is Tucker Carlson and it’s only a matter of time until he’s thrown out to appease the wolves.
I have been with USAA since I was 15 years old (36 years). My father was an O, and when they authorized enlisted, I swapped to service member from Dependent. I am pretty disappointed with them, a fan of Fox News and agree with Hannity on alot of things.
USAA has many of my accounts, but has already lost my mortgage business, and car buying business.
Methinks I will be rethinking my relationship with them if they would like to continue with their SJW/PC attitude.
Fuckem.
Edit to add: Inundate them (USAA) with calls and emails, with the threat (promise not bluff) of leaving. These are our dollars they are taking in and making choices with. They might as well be AARP. No need to bother the POTUS on this. He has bigger fish to fry.
I always view business trying to bank on military/veterans suspiciously.
USAA is now on my shit list a long with cars.com, Kellogs, Google, ect. These leftist companies can fuck right off.
I’ve got minor problems with this post on a few levels, PT:
In the interest of fairness, USAA did also get rid of its advertising with Rachel Maddow. What the company is apparently trying to do is avoid an appearance of supporting news media bias. It’s not an issue with me if a firm wants its ad spend to go towards supporting fair and balanced quality journalism instead of a trashy food fight.
In the second place, there doesn’t seem to be any need for the White House to get involved in this. USAA’s main responsibility is to its customers and shareholders. As long as it stays within the bounds of legality, it shouldn’t be the government’s concern even if as a private vendor its base involves mainly the military.
Finally, it seems as though every time you turn around there’s some obscure group pushing an agenda, and the people within that group causing the agenda to be pushed are unidentified. In this instance, for example, some anonymous person or group at Media Matters for America was annoyed with Sean Hannity and set out to harm his career. This same group was also apparently able to escape any personal pushback by being protected with an NGO cloak. It’s not right.
Such insidious protections are also becoming endemic if you consider that there’s a large proportion of political news now being trotted out from anonymous sources. If you’re going to accuse somebody of something, you need to be willing to be held accountable. Otherwise, you’re just another craven coward who should be outed for the sake of ridicule.
Perry, you evidently failed to follow the link provided to Daily Caller. USAA advertises on far more leftist shows than conservative and at the time I wrote this there was no indication they had suspended any of that advertising.
As for White House involvement, as explained in the main text, the president IS and should be quite naturally involved in anything that affects the well-being of his troops.
Lastly, Soros financial ties to many of these “obscure” groups are well established and not just some conservative conspiracy theories. Talk about foreign meddling in the American political process!
George Soros, like Rupert Murdoch, is a naturalized US citizen. While Soros donates money, Murdoch has access to the eyes and ears of almost every American on a daily basis. What was that you were saying about foreign meddling?
Did Murdoch go out and confiscate property of his Jewish neighbors while they were carted off to the camps? Because Soros did that, and called it the best time of his life.
I wonder how he ever got US citizenship?
USAA definitely suffered a self-inflected wound here.
I don’t think they’ve gone leftist though, they just responded poorly leftist demands without thinking, then corrected themselves. Hopefully.
As already stated, they can do a far better job to prevent future dick stepping by stating their policy is to reach the broadest of swath of service members regardless of political views and will advertise accordingly. This insulates themselves from having to micromanage every potential offense on any side, and seems to be the only smart business thing to do. (Unless they are going to take a side, which isn’t the smartest of business moves necessarily, but can certainly reflect the culture it wants to be in.)
I’m former enlisted and became a member only when they allowed enlisted veterans. We’ve been very, very satisfied with them as a bank and insurance provider and don’t see any reason to stop using them now or in the future so long as they continue to be this way.
“Social Responsibility” is the rage in big business and when I got my MBA… just look at some of the other “socially conscious” businesses out there, like Starbucks.
Someone in PR/Advertising or even in the “C” suite made a decision and it came back to bite them in the ass.
Hannity is kind of blowhard. But I think the rep from Mercedes Benz of all places said it best:
– the luxury car manufacturer told BuzzFeed its “rule of thumb is that we do not pull our ads based on editorial content. Our feeling is that a variety of viewpoints is part of the natural discourse that takes place in a free media.”
USAA has always been remarkably consistent. If they want to lose media face time by pulling out of his show well that is their loss.
They have been consistent to a certain extent, and I consider them the best in the business.
However, caving to a left or right political/pressure/agenda is another story.
So again, fuck’em.
Just saying, Sir.
Please tell me what Hannity did or say that pissed off the special snowflakes? I must have missed it? What is all the bullshit about, I have no idea??
Hannity ran with the story that Seth Rich, a Democrat political worker at the DNC, may have been the source for the DNC emails that were leaked to Wikileaks. Rich was whacked in D.C. some days after a Podesta email saying the leaker, or some likely suspect, should be severely dealt with to set an example. The demorats/hildabots don’t want this story or investigation into the guy’s murder on the airwaves.
USAA here in San Antonio. A major employer of H1-B’s. 🙁
Perhaps, but you’re not moving very high in the org unless you’re a veteran.
I had them once and I will never use them again.
That clown Robles used to be in charge.
No clue who it is now.
CEO is Stuart Parker, and Chairman of the Board is retired USAF 4 star Lester Lyles.
I saw some of the outrage on social media, a lot of it was from anon trolls who likely never served. And regardless, USAA changed based on real customer’s input. As long as USAA beats others on their pricing, I’ll stick with them. No one offered a zero closing cost mortgage, that alone saved me thousands. And they paid the fees, not rolling them into the loan like other lenders. No fee checking, free ATMs, free checks, even Navy Fed Credit Union isn’t beating that.
Good for them. Get a clue Poetrooper.
FOAD, Joe. Typed with all sincerity, go climb an unstable rock and let it roll over your worthless ass.
Go suck start a howitzer, Joe.
Or suck off your homeless pothead buddies in the bathroom over at Joel’s.
“Get a clue, Poetrooper.”
Says the clueless man…
This falls under the heading – behavior has consequences. All you tough, self reliant conservatives ought to understand that.
USAA sure understands it now, don’t they Joe?
I fired USAA 25 years ago because they tried to argue that my auto claim was bogus.
Yeah…eff them.
I didn’t need this event to know they were full of snake shit.
I had USAA for years as my bank and insurance company. They are great until you hit any type of financial hardship. Oh and don’t let your kids get in any wrecks because they will cancel you insurance with little notice. I have switched to Navy Federal and they have been great. Now USAA keeps emailing and sending mail wanting to give me a credit card (they cancelled mine years ago even though it was never late), give me auto insurance (see above), refinance my house (they refused that back in 08), and be my bank. The only thing they are good at is advertising. Screw them; I would sleep very well if they went out of business.
I tell GEICO that every time I hear from them – if they cut back on their damn little lizard/what you do advertising 50%,
maybe their rates would not be so high and I could go back to insuring with them. I’d rather a company SHOW me they are good and keep their costs down than for them to tell me how good their marketers think they are.
Amazing how the squeaky wheel gets the oil. In other words, a minority pushes their agenda on a business and the business listens to them. The silent majority is silent so that is why they get their way. By the way, the silent majority are people born in 1945 and earlier. Baby boomers are people that were born after 1945 when their fathers came back from over seas during WW 2. I’m of the silent majority based on my dad was Coast Arty and a 16 inch gun instructor based at Fort Tilden, NY and Earl Weapons station,NJ.
“…FOX Network, a respected alternate source…” I’m sorry, milk came out of my nose when I read that.
“…those left-leaning USAA execs …” How the hell do you know the political affiliation of the executives at USAA? Answer – you don’t have a clue, you’re just using what you consider a slur.
“….craven collapse of its long-standing devotion to military culture…” Ha! Seriously? Seriously? Dumping a lying, unhinged conspiracy theorist TV infotainment host is, again, the craven collapse of its long-standing devotion to military culture? Heavy, man. You can really lay the bombast and grandiosity on thick, can’t you Poet?
Anyway, what one man calls cowardice another man calls good business sense.
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