Good on ya! Skyy!

A $3 bottle of Vodka and a Britta water pitcher kicks ass over Skyy. Filter it about 3 times and you have liquid gold. The filter should last you for 20 gallons or so.

"SKYY Vodka would also like to make clear that all of the equally strong 'suggestions' in our own advertisements are absolutely 100% backed by rock-solid empirical evidence. That's right - hot airbrushed chicks WILL IMMEDIATELY BE YOURS if you partake of our particular flavorless mixture of alcohol and water."

There are a lot more tasteless things in the world than this ad.

Good for Skyy! Why is it okay for Absolut to go for shameless and controversial ads but it's not ok for Skyy to respond? It's okay for Absolut to pander to people who believe in open borders, yet Skyy is "drunk on outrage" and "presumptious" by responding with an accurate lesson in history?

Oh Gawd. Shut up, consumerist, and spare us the false indignation....

Tasteless? Na. This is good for SKYY. Pretty funny.

Those nitwits at Absolut had this coming, Skyy is just saying what 80% of America is thinking, and they will make a buck from it.

"What are you saying to our southern friends? That you love their constrained borders and vastly inferior military"

Well, I thought that this was a consumer blog, but what the heck, lets get into the politics right!

What we are saying to out Southern friends is that you have, oh God forbid I say it, borders!

Now constrained borders WTF does that mean? That they don't own America? News flash: every country has constrained boarders. Maybe we should talk about Israel's contrained boarders if you want to get into it. Israel is being being occupied by Palestine in the West Bank, they have the right to that land.

Its an argument that cuts both ways huh?

And about America's superior military compared to Mexico, yes, our military is far superior, but what did that even have to do with the ad or the press release?

All in all, I give this article a .5 out of 10, simply because its illogical and simply someone's excuse to push a Liberal talking point on a (supposedly) apolitical blog.

People hate MSNBC and Fox because they say they hide their bias. It seems like we can add the Consumerist to that category.

To the management of Consumerist: Please either admit your bias, or try and become moderate.

Dave Karreker!!

I liked him when he was the Sony America's mouthpeice during the first year of the PS3.

How's the new job Dave?

Being from Texas, and being married to a Mexican-American, I'm in the unique position of being able to say Absolut's ad was offensive as hell.

Good on ya, Skyy. Sure it's completely self-serving, but anything that increases the awareness of Absolut's stupidity is just fine with me.

@jefffromNY:
Let me try to clarify. Consumerist is biased to left when it comes to consumer issues. If you read the faq, it states that articles which are anti-corporate are preferred. On the weekends, there is the added flavor of political leftist opinion. This and the earlier article about the Absolut ad are examples. It is up to moderates and conservatives to speak up. I hope that helps.

Being from California, and not being stupid enough to let advertising sway my tastebuds either way, I drink Jewel of Russia Classic.

Skyy is just pandering to anti-immigration activists. There were a lot of effects beyond "changing mailing addresses" for the residents of those now-states, and anyone with half a clue about history is aware of that.

Guess they don't want to sell Skyy in Mexico. Or to me, since I have half a clue about history.

@aphex242: I thought lots of Texans were married to Mexican-Americans, how unique can you be?

@ClayS: Yeah, sort of, but the thing is that this isn't anti-corporate - well it kind of is, but the gist of this article is that somehow America is a bully for having borders and military.

And SKYY laughed at their competition's massive gaffe.

OK, maybe you could fault SKYY for advertising period, but then you would have to decry Absolut because they advertise.

Somewhere this doesn't add up. Absolut runs an anti-American pro-reconquista ad, and they are practically lauded for their effort. SKYY doesn't even create an ad, its just press release and suddenly they are wrong. But that isn't really my problem like I said (I am just pointing out a flaw in logic).

My real problem is this:
"What are you saying to our southern friends? That you love their constrained borders and vastly inferior military? "

Honestly, that is simply leftist newspeak for: "let those poor Mexicans in."

On the Daily Kos, Democratic Underground, Firedog, whatever other left blog, that is fine. But this isn't supposed to be a left blog.

LOL at Absolut ad being "a gaffe" and then Skyy's press release is "tasteless," "drivel," and part of a "circle jerk."

At least we found that you aren't anti-multi-billion-dollar-corporation when it comes Pernod. And for some reason you love the Pernod marketing flacks.

In summary:

Market in a way that upsets large segements of Americans but pleases smirking urbanites in NY, LA, & SF: Good marketing

Market toward a large segment of Americans with a miniscule risk of impacting a small market segment in Mexico: Bad marketing

Standard disclaimers apply:
This is just my snarky opinion. You're entitled to your views, your corporation owns the blog, it's your property, I don't pay your salary, you have to answer to the Gawker media empire and not the readers, etc.

@jefffromNY:
Interestingly, Mexico is far more protective of their borders than are we.

And I have no problem with letting Mexicans in, but let's do it legally and above board. We need to know who is here. If we need to, let's raise immigration quotas and welcome the people that want to come here to work and earn an honest living.

I only drink potato vodkas, but Hurray For Skyy. Clearly its distilled for (apologies to Ace of Spades), "Skyy is distilled for Rural Pennsylvanians You Corncob-Smokin', Banjo-Strokin' Chicken-Chokin' Cousin-Pokin' Inbred Hillbilly Racist Morons." So sayeth Obama's PR hacks. Long live the Reconquista!

Fail.

Really, I generally appreciate the heck out of Consumerist, but you're dead wrong on this one. And the tediously PC snark and tone of this 'report' reveals more than a touch of racism and general ignorance.

Skyy is way better than absolut, consumerist do you need a wambulance? Being from Arizona originally absolut can go suck it. I guess consumerist is anti 1st amendment.

Ah look at this, Absolut is a advertiser in the Gawker network, ya no bias there, can't exactly call that consumer friendly either.

[gawker.com]

Let's separate the politics from the advertising. I could care less about the political aspect. I wrote the post because I'm amused by Skyy's hypocrisy.

You have two companies competing in a global market. Absolut's ad tried to appeal to Mexican pride and pissed off Americans. Skyy is trying to slam Absolut, which I can't help but read as an implied knock against Mexicans.

The opportunism strikes me as crass. I seldom find anything offensive don't really care who's offended by what, but assuming the first ad was offensive, why is it ok to placate Americans with something that might be offensive to Mexicans? That's hypocrisy.

This would have nothing to do with your advertiser relationship with Absolut would it?

Figures Consumerist would have its own brand of self-hatred.

Boo on Consumerist.

First you denounce the legal and moral rights of Wal-Mart to recover the duplicative payments on a single injury, then you denounce Skyy was rightly denouncing the asinine and archaic notions of Atzlan.

Obviously Consumerist is afflicted with blinding hubris.

@Carey

Implied knock against Mexicans? Are you really that daft? Because a company comes out and denounces an ad that shows part of the United States as Mexico and insinuates that it would be more of a perfect world is not knocking Mexicans?

What if Absolut was marketing in Palestine, and showed Israel still as Palestine, and headlined "It An Absolut World".

If people denounced that, would it be a knock against Palestinians?

Sorry...

Decency and Logic = 0
Carey = 1

You won Carey, congratulations.

I think both ads are hilarious, but I'm a history nerd. And I also don't regard vodka ads as SERIOUS BUSINESS.

Skyy has just proven they are opportunistic, classless boobs with NO sense of humor.
And considering their marketing seems to aim for the progressive side instead of the Freeper red-meat one, it seems VERY stupid on their part.

I'd MUCH rather buy from a company that tries a funny that doesn't work (although, I thought it was HELLA funny) and one that sounds like a racist grandpa yelling, "Kids, get off my LAWN!"

@etc:
"If people denounced that, would it be a knock against Palestinians?"

The leftists would say yes it is. They generally favor radical Mexican and Palestinian groups over America and Israel.

And again, to the slow thinkers: Americans have no business dictating which ads other countries can view.
Or, should Mexico, China, etc., have veto rights on any ads that air in the US? Perhaps call in the UN?
Which might not be so bad, considering the fact that they aren't filled with the righteous, humorless self-importance that some Americans obviously have.

@Trai_Dep:
Americans are voicing their opinions on the content of these ads. And yes, Mexico and China have those same rights as well. America is full of foreign lobbyists seeking to influence everything from government policy to US public opinion and we Americans give them that freedom. I'm sure we and most other countries cannot do the same in China.

Just as you have the right to your sense of humor and to express indignation, so do others that may have a different opinion.

I think this press release is just an attempt at being funny, but comes off sounding clunky and weird.

@Carey: Well said, Carey.
It's wryly amusing that with ALL the problems that are unfolding that impact Americans, the blue-haired FREEPER grumps focus on this of all things.
Simple fact is that Skyy sidled up with these sad, unsexy teetotaling them over, well, glamorous, youthful, sexy us. Not a smart segmenting choice.

@ClayS: ...a "controversy" manufactured by the right-wing, hot-air machine.
The same machine that got us into Iraq and created a regulatory (or lack thereof) that allowed poisoned toys, food, medicine, pet food AND fueled multi-trillion dollar deficits that children yet unborn will be paying for.
Now, they're upset about a freaken tongue-in-cheek ad appearing in a local market. I don't blame them - it's their nature. The idiots that are so easily distracted from important things? Hate America. Pure and simple.

@Trai_Dep: Do you live in the US? If so, you can leave now - don't let the door hit you in the ass. Could you imagine if Absolut put out an ad in the same context about China/Tibet borders? What about Palestine/Israel? It was tasteless and offensive because of the general premise not necessarily because Americans are trying to dictate what ads others should view.

On a lighter note I'm glad Skyy responded in this nature. Its no different than a political figure criticizing another's comments.

Annnd lastly let's try and keep the political banter on the Consumerist down to a minimum.

Carey, Skyy was smarter, regardless of it being crass.

Absolut -- Try to promote product in a third level market by dissing occupants of your single largest market.

Skyy -- Try to promote product in your first level market by dissing occupants of one of your smallest markets.

By any stretch Skyy was executing the better marketing plan.

@erica.blog: Yes, but how many Texans married to Mexican-Americans are here? :)

Point noted. Not 'unique', maybe 'somewhat unique'. lol

@Snakeophelia: Yeah, that pretty much echo's my sentiments.

Still not sure why Consumerest gave Absolut a pass, but scolds Skyy as "Tasteless".

Carey, do you have bias towards a certain brand? :-)

@Trai_Dep:

Your partisan nature is painfully overt and apparent.

The fact of the matter is that a few polls have been taken about this particular issue, commissioned by unbiased groups, and predominantly Americans in general are offended by the ads.

Also, your assertion that people who denounce the ads is equivalent to dictating the content of ads in other countries is absolutely fallacious, there is no equivocation.

You are nothing but a partisan, self-hating bigot, and you use strawman argument techniques to frame someone's contentions different from what they really are.

You've used this controversy as a sound off point for your liberal rhetoric, which just goes to show your own opportunistic nature in proselytizing your own brand of liberal indoctrination and agenda.

Who is the hypocrite now? You are doing precisely what you are accusing Skyy of doing. Take your partisan, myopic soap box home and keep the discussion relevant here.

even if it is a slow day please referain from making this site about corporate politics.

Please explain to me what a press release is doing on this website that is not related to a product or issue?

The skyy press release in no way help consumers or changes the quality or quantity of the skyy product.

This site is shamelessly trying to keep the absolut ad controversy going for page hits. This clearly has nothing to do with the consumerist and it's audience.

Your politics are not mine. If you want to support a revionist history agenda point me to a better consumer blog.

But if you like maps
try an ad that shows poland as part of germany "absolute reich"
Poland as part of Russia
"Absolut motherland"
A map with tiawan and tibet as free countires
"Absolut freedom"

A map of india with tibet(pre 50's)
"absolut christna"

A map of the world without isreal
"absolut theran"

A map of of spain that includes mexico
"absolut empire"
A map of mexico tha shows the indgenious peoples
"absolute repression"

A map of mexico that shows the weath of europen decendents vs indgenious decndents
"absolut injustice"

A map of korea and china as part of japan
"absolut destity"

A map of africa inder colonial rule
"absolut prosperity"

Heck the list of wonderful humorous maps goes on and on. Add a catchphrase and they are absolut gold.

There should really be some truth in advertising with hard alcohol. Something along the lines of "Skyy gets you drunker, quicker!" or "Nothing gets you drunker than Absolut."

This is the first article that has almost made me take the Consumerist off my RSS (and therefore keep me off this site). Yes I am one person, but you make money every time I come here.

Carey, I find it ever so strange that you tell us to drop the political aspect, when you made it that. We only comment on what we see, you brought a far-leftist (very very far) point of view that America is somehow guilty for being an awesome country with borders.

I will drop it, but if you expect to not lose readers when you talk politics and tell us not to you are wrong.

And whoever made a reference to Ace of Spades - you are the man!

@etc: saying something don't make it so.

* Cite your "reputable" disinterested polls.
* Since the issue is Mexican ad, explain how it's not the USA laughable, hypocritically trying to dictate another country's media content.
* Since your panties are in a bunch over this issue rather than the dozens of real ones facing this country, explain why you hate America so.
* Judging from your profile, you're prime material for Standing for Freedom in Iraq. Why haven't you enlisted in the military? Since I'd bet that you were one of those chomping at the bit to start it.
No? That's hypocrisy, my America-hating friend...

@Techguy1138:

A map with tiawan and tibet as free countires
"Absolut freedom"

@laserjobs: wow, thanks for a really useful, awesome idea. I'm going to try this with other liquors as well! Cool!

"Presumptuous, eh? Like assuming your press release won't be picked up in Mexico?"

Actually, since the press release is directly referencing a factual, existing treaty that Mexico and the United States have then there should be no problem with it anywhere in the world.

The Absolut ad suggested a perfect world where the treaty didn't happen, and perhaps there might have been even more bloodshed to get the borders to look today like they did at that point in the conflict.

Sounds to me like apples and oranges.

@Trai_Dep:
Pointing to a spelling error as support as ignorance is disingenuous at best.

To give you some historical perspective.
The PRC ,Peoples Republic of China, Lays claim to Taiwan as a part of their country.

The people of Taiwan often hold while they are Chinese as a people that they are not a rogue section of China but a separate nation.

The history is quite complex but after the imperial Japanese were defeated in China the standing government was greatly weakened bu the war. Communist sentiment was high at the time and a revolutionary movement was started. The established government being substantially weakened by Japanese rule fled to the island of Taiwan after a string of military and policy defeats.

The official government of the main land was listed os Taiwan for many years after PRC was the defacto government.

Taiwan no longer claims to be the legitimate of the main land but main land China claims Taiwan. China frequently threatens Taiwan with military force while alternating between demanding unification of the island nation.

Often the offers are met with consideration by the people of Taiwan. The oppressive rule of the PRC in Tibet is a frequently sited argument against unification at this time due to fears that the same will happen to them.

This is not totally founded but Taiwan has largely given up on han,wai,wu etc distinctions and may be in a for a bit of a racist shock when such a unification happens.

So I was pointing out with my analogy that it would be a horrible move to list Taiwan as part of the peoples Republic of China.

But really thanks for boiling a complex argument down to a spelling error. It make you look classy as you are.

Whoa, talk about missing the point. Twice.
I gave a pass on the typo/misspelling. We're bigger than that, right?
But suggesting that Taiwan isn't a free country, NOW, is remarkable. Those guys have done more, and face more, and face it more bravely, than most democracies on the planet.
To be unaware of this - to not be floored with admiration of the fine example they set - seems ill-informed.
That is the ignorance I was referring to.

Comparing Taiwan's history to one instance of snarky ad copy created solely for the Mexican market seems tawdry and insulting to their bravery.

Likewise, Absolute would never run a PRC- or Imperial Japan-dominated Pacific map. For the simple reason that it's not funny or ironic. But you guys are too uptight to be able to see the difference.

Being from Mexico, living in Texas, and being married to a white American woman, I'm in the unique postion of saying that Absolut's ad was funny and only meant as joke like the many "a woman's world" or "it's a man's world" or many other "what if" ads.

The sentiments of Skyy and the people who fell so insulted by Absolut's ad only reveal similarities between the US and other countries we love to criticize, like China or Israel. We believe it's OK for us to protest and criticize Israel's growth and occupation or China's grip on Tibet but when someone makes a joke about the good ol' US of A, all hell breaks loose.

The great majority of Mexicans couldn't be less interested in what country Texas, California, etc are in.

It was an ad and joke. So, lighten the hell up.

@Trai_Dep:

Here we go with more of your intellectually dishonest bigotry.

I don't know if it might be a poor command of the English language, or your assistance in still utilizing strawman argument techniques, even though I have already pointed out your intellectual deficiency in that regard...but America ISN'T trying to dictate anything. There hasn't been any legislation passed, there haven't been any diplomatic envoys sent overseas to deal with this matter. At most, individuals have held a company accountable, with their spending dollars, for their actions in another country. Since that company (Absolut) also solicits business here, it is well within the bounds of reasonableness to hold them accountable for their actions overseas as well. I'm sorry if your anti-capatalist fascist mindset conjures up such rage at the prospect of Americans voting with their dollar and/or denouncing the actions of a company that solicits business here as well.

My panties aren't in a bunch about this issue, but obviously yours is. In fact, you were the one that used this issue as a platform to push forth your tiresome and unoriginal rhetoric.

And how did you gather all of that from my profile? All of a sudden I am pro-Iraq war? All of a sudden I didn't enlist in the military?

What in the world are you blathering about? More strawman argument techniques. Since your argument has no substance, you just conjure up an alternate reality, make assumptions, and then attack those fallacious notions.

The funny thing is, you do your own stance a disservice by showing your ignorance. Look at the way you act? Look at the way you attack people. It just goes to show people how you really are.

And no, I don't hate America, but I do hate dimwits like you that can't argue substantively, so they just utilize rhetorical terrorism.

@Trai_Dep:

I think you are purposely blinding yourself to a very relevant fact regarding this issue - the push for Atzlan is very real This is not something that is derived mainly from jest. The movement for the recolonization of south western US, and the reclaiming of Atzlan is very real. America saw this most recently in the may day demonstrations around the US from the multitude of Hispanic and Latin groups that held signs up proclaiming their intent to retake the homeland of the Nahua peoples. This isn't some crazy, nonsensical ad with no basis in reality...Absolut was trying to tap into their nationalistic pride by tapping into this movement.

Also, have you lived in Taiwan, or are you speaking merely out of conjecture? I lived in Taiwan, and it is nothing like how you describe it, and the mistruths that you purvey regarding their status as a sovereign nation also needs a bit of edification I believe because you are way off base, and obviously don't understand the political and diplomatic realities.

If I were you, I would spend less time reading dailykos and starting political arguments where they don't belong, and read a book or two. Hell, maybe visit a country or two that you pretend to be acquainted with.

SKYY's execs are funny drunks.

I'm not going to express my opinion about the ads. As a guy working in marketing I already know that playing with people's feelings is sometimes the best way to sell a product. This case is not exeption. Skyy and Absolut are having a great time having free publicity for their products ignited for a silly ad and a silly press release.

What really worries me is how are some people reacting to both. As far as I can see and understand, the good ol' U.S. is quietly resembling the good ol' Germany of the 30's and 40's. And you know what I mean. You're just looking like an american and modern version of the nazi affairs and doctrine.

Yes, I understand the U.S. must defend it's soveirgnity and soil. Yes, I agree you MUST enforce your physical borders and immigration laws. Yes, I also understand that you're owners of your country and can do whatever you please with it and if that means getting immigrants from Mexico or somewehere else out, you're free to do that and it's within your rights and obligations.

What I don't understand it's your hipocresy and irrational hate of late times. And many comments here in the Consumerist and around the net are overflowing with hate and rage.

You're upset about an silly ad, but you don't say anything when the world reminds you that you illegaly invaded Afghanistan, Iraq and some territories in Somalia. You also seem to forgot how much damage your past administrations have done in South America (Panama, Chile...) and also you seem to totally be ignorant aboout the fact your CIA has been putting it's nose and dirty fingers everywhere since many decades ago. And also it looks to me that you're totally blind to how your own society is suffering in aspects that range from the economy ones -subprime meltdown anyone?- to the social ones -school shootings, social polarization-.

You're afraid of terrorism and conmdemn it, but, may I remind you of Vietnam? You condemn the extreme regimes of China, Venezuela, and Cuba and while I agree with you, you don't look yourself at the mirror and see how democracy failed in your own house some years ago and all the crimes your country has made in the name of freedom -Abu Gharib, Guantanamo Bay- democracy and peace. How come you also forgot your original roots -History tells that WASP's are not native from this continent and that the U.S. were founded by immigrants from all around the globe- and all the ideals and feelings behind your constitution?

I'm saying all this not because I hate the U.S. or have anti-american feeling (I have family, friends, business partners, and other interests there). I don't condemn anything you've made in the past or are going to make in the future. I simpatize with you in many ways and aspects. And as I've told, I totally agree to your immigration laws and to the enforcing of your boders. But, because all that, it's hard for me to turn my eyes away from what are you becoming. How are you reacting to this silly things (damn, after all they are just two f***ing spirits companies making sales with BS) and how the hate and intolerance are hanging from your tongues and fingers. And how, after all, your giving those opposing your country and hating your people the reason on all what they say. It's sad how the american dream, the symbols of peace and freedom, and the U.S. image of being the strong but fair leader, the goodmaker, the good titan are quietly washing from the eyes of those who still have faith on you... including me...

Sorry for the long comment and you may skip it freely if you want. Just wanted to express my 0.2 cents about this.