Comments on: founders planned parenthood update

By: Sara

Sara — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:06:47 +0000

For my gender studies capstone project at GVSU I have set out to raise the funds Planned Parenthood missed out on, and show Founder’s Brewery their wrong step by sending around a petition of this very nature.
Please help me surpass my goal of 500 signatures by visiting the link and signing here:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/support-planned-parenthood-of-grand-rapids

By: J.R (not junior)

J.R (not junior) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:20:32 +0000

Well, someone linked me the post saying that the founders founder had released a statement…seeing a hipster douchebag mustache blog I honestly just assumed that you were he but I didn’t read it too closely — it had been a long day. I apologize I assumed and made an ass out of you and me

That being said I thought I WAS addressing someone up there at Founders with those comments, I wouldn’t have been as derogatory towards you had I known you were fighting their stupidity. Peace buddy.

By: srdailey

srdailey — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:02:02 +0000

ummm, myironicmustache was one the firs sites to bring attention to this issue. i’m not sure why you’re addressing me/this site rather than mike stephens or founders.

By: J.R (not junior)

J.R (not junior) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 04:30:00 +0000

This is purely a public relations issue for Founders brewery. This area is like some type of bastard mirror of the bible belt, speaking as an independent politically and an Atheist..er..religiously, this is just another example of conformity to the branding that the “big three” controlling families have put on West Michigan.

Founders makes great beer. It’s a great bar, but they don’t do good PR! You’re decision should have involved the people that VISIT your bar, instead you make a unilateral decision that pisses a lot of your fans off!

Take note from the recent debacle with Whole Foods and their CEO, the dumbass goes out and makes a political statement contrary to the voice of their publics and gets his company some BAD PR!

You can do what you want Mr. “Ironic Mustache”, but so can we as offended consumers. I personally will boycott founders beer for no less than 30 days because of your actions, and if I find a better alternative I may never return. Don’t care? Okay, but remember and angry consumer tells 3000 people I’ll get started tomorrow.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 01:34:43 +0000

It saddens me that you people think you’re on a holy mission from God to impede upon the fund-raising of a reputable charity that supports women and families in need, especially in economic times like these. Who are you to step on the feet of some harmless artists and designers who are simply doing what they love for a cause they believe in?

Founders doesn’t kill babies, you people kill GR.

By: srdailey

srdailey — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:00:35 +0000

i agree with what a lot of what rei is saying here. i almost think that local threads should have taken a stand if the cause was that important to them. clearly, it wasn’t. not that that’s a bad thing, money for charity is money for charity. i still would’ve liked to see the money go to PP as originally intended before the religious right scared founders into submission. regardless of what the president says, it’s pretty clear that that’s how it went down.

By: Rei

Rei — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:34:05 +0000

This was an unfortunate series of occurrences and I am disappointed with the decision to not support PP. I agree that a response to it was due but the concentrated vitriol upon Founders squarely seems to shy away the blame from other parties involved. Some assholes don’t like seriously needed edifices such as Planned Parenthood because of some horseshit that other assholes told them. Founders didn’t create the ignorance, but they did give into it. In turn, Local Threads pandered to Founders’ demands. Singling out Founders seems selective and, worse, dismissive of the obtuse individuals who are starting fires like this all the time.

By: Steadyracer

Steadyracer — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:07:45 +0000

Rei, I think people just don’t like being disappointed in the decisions of businesses and organizations we support. People feel let down. Their success feels like our success, and when they do something wrong, it feels like we are wrong for continuing quietly like nothing happened.

Its harder to be proud of your favorite local tavern when they make a choice like this, then give a reason that contradicts their actions on top of it. If in their open letter they said, “We cannot support Planned Parenthood. We do not believe in this charity.” I would respect it. Heaven knows I have charities I do not believe in. But their wishy-washy answer offends my sensibilities, and insults my intelligence. Is it the political backlash they fear, or do they not support the charity? The inconsistency of the whole “we must be neutral…….but Food Pantry is a good cause” statement makes me not want to support them.

By: Rei

Rei — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:56:56 +0000

That’s true (although I would say that the food bank is less controversial). Founders is not being neutral, as is the case when one supports a charity. I’m just taken aback by the demeanor of the backlash (mostly on fb) against Founders regarding this.

By: Steadyracer

Steadyracer — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:46:37 +0000

or…

The best way that Founders could have really stayed neutral is to say ANY charity is welcome at Founders, and the views and opinions of the charities are not that of Founders. But kicking out one charity after-the-fact, and then condoning another one is just bad business.

p.s. who ever said that a food bank couldn’t be considered just as controversial? Its fake neutrality.