“This week, Apple Computer is launching a campaign to sell a new product, the $499 Mac Mini, that portends to transform the world in a way the original Mac didn’t. But Republicans will be needed for the campaign to succeed,” David Hill writes for The Hill. “To research this column, I read lots of discussion boards all across the Internet, and it’s evident that politics still play a role in computer purchases. Just as there are red states and blue states, there are also Mac Democrats and PC Republicans. These battles were especially nasty after Apple went public with its politics and added Al Gore to its board of directors.”
Hill writes, “Apple’s leader, Steve Jobs, seems to have sensed last year that his company was getting too ‘political.’ He backed off some of his campaigning for John Kerry and cryptically signaled to The Wall Street Journal’s Walt Mossberg in an interview that he understands the problem. ‘People have said that I shouldn’t get involved politically because probably half our customers are Republicans — maybe a little less … [but] I do point out that there are more Democrats than Mac users so I’m going to just stay away from all that political stuff because that was just a personal thing,’ Jobs said.”
“There are, in fact, devoted Republican Macintosh users, but that is not the perception. So Apple desperately needs to introduce a replacement image to achieve the original Mac’s vision. There would be no better way to do this than to add a Republican or two to Apple’s board of directors. Mac users such as Karl Rove or Arnold Schwarzenegger adviser Mike Murphy would be possibilities, but Rush Limbaugh is the most obvious choice. Rush is an ardent Mac evangelist and knows a thing or two about marketing. Even if Limbaugh is not put on Apple’s board, the company should market through his daily radio program, paying Rush to tout his favorite computer the same way he builds mattress sales for Select Comfort,” Hill writes.
Full article here.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
U.S. President George Bush a confirmed Apple iPod user (images included) – December 22, 2004
Rush Limbaugh calls for Apple iCal to Sidekick solution – November 12, 2004
Apple CEO Steve Jobs: ‘I’m going to just stay away from all that political stuff’ – August 25, 2004
President Bush, candidate Kerry both use Apple PowerBooks – July 14, 2004
Apple Computer Board member Gore blasts President Bush; is this good for government Mac sales? – February 09, 2004
Rush Limbaugh: Why does Apple put politics first? – June 27, 2003
Rush Limbaugh comments on Gored Apple – March 21, 2003
The Mac is Bush to Windows’ Clinton – October 25, 2002
Conservative Mac users miffed at Apple’s Jimmy Carter page – October 14, 2002
Mac users of all stripes weigh in on Jimmy Carter flap – October 15, 2002
Rush is awesome!
… Rush the same genius that said that Donovan McNabb was overrated and getting a free ride because he’s Black?
Wrong, Joe, Rush said McNabb was overrated because their great defense was the main reason for the Eagles success in the past and the sports media was hyping McNabb because they were pulling for a black QB to be successsful.. Now this year McNabb has stepped up his game and proved himself. McNabb still has a tendency to throw errant passes that most QB’s don’t. He’ll have his chance on February 6th.
BTW, as a conservative Mac user, I’m surprised by the rancid comments by our fellow liberal Mac users. Glad I’m not a lib.
MacZac,
I fear nothing, Al Gore wasn’t put on the Apple Board because of his politics and to say that mush gumball should be, is a “feature looking for a benefit” as they say in sales. The rationale is bunk and the insinuation that Gore was put there for political reasons is bullsh*t.
The thing that always amazes me about liberals is that they espouse the view of equaility, be nice to each other, help each other out, everyone deserves a chance….yest the absolute most hateful rhetoric ALWAYS comes from them.
Let’s look back at a few replies so far from all of you fair and balanced minded liberals…
“Rush is a lying scumbag… no freakin way.” – KillBill
“A fat lying drug addict, military avoider, and all around scum bag is supposed to replace the vision of “the computer for the rest of us”? Give me a break. Give me a f**king break.” – CitizenX
“apple does not need a fat, drug-addled, bloviating, lying piece of rotting maggot filth to shill for them. only imaginably repressed, hateful, ignorant armchair pundits do.” – nova silverpill
“Rush is an idiotic lying anti-intellectual; Apple’s board is populated by very intelligent people. Putting Rush on Apple’s board would be like putting a live slug in a supercomputer. It wouldn’t really help, and it would be no fun cleaning up all of the slime he leaves behind after he inevitably explodes.” – Sum Yung Gai
“Who the hell would want to put a racist on the board of directors?” – Anti-Rush
The only Mac fatty-boy Rush should pimp is the Big Mac. His version of a Happy Meal would have prescription drugs included as well. Screw Rush. He’s a has-been anyway.” – Hemorrhoid Rage
“Right and Hitler also would sell more macs..dumb A…” – seabasstin
“Isn’t Rush the same genius that said that Donovan McNabb was overrated and getting a free ride because he’s Black? Just who is that Super Bowl quarterback named? Does anyone really think this numskull belongs anywhere but in the forgotten past, certainly not on Apple’s Board?” – JoeTakata
Now go back and find one disparaging comment formt he conservatives that posted. even the ones that DO NOT like Rush.
My point has been made. Thanks you.
One last thing – just because a man express HIS opinion that HE felt that someone was being treated a SPECIAL way by the press becuase of his race DOES NOT MAKE HIM A RACIST!!!!! And Donovan McNabb IS WAY overrated – the only reason he finally made it to the Superbowl after choking 3 STRAIGHT YEARS was because there weren’t any other decent teams in the NFC THE ENITRE YEAR!!! New England will expose what a lousy QB DMac is – and it has NOTHING to to do with race. The man just straight up SUCKS as a QB ( all he is is a tight end that can throw)!!
Final score – NE 49 Philly 3
What about hillbillies? They need Macs, too. What about lesbians? They should appoint a lesbian to their board to attract that segment. What about children? Maybe if they had a kid on their board they would get better penetration in the education market. What about welfare mothers? I’m sure appointing a welfare mother to their board would really encourage all welfare mothers to buy Macs.
Yes,
Put more conservatives in places of power. My plan is falling into place!
Bwahahahahahahha!
But this Mac? It’s too pragmatic. It’s for thinking people, and I ceratinly don’t much use for those kinds.
CitizenX, perhaps I wasn’t clear enough, and consequently you missed my point.
I was commenting on your “…JUST…chimp…enablers…mush…gallows.” comment. That was quite and invective. I’ll raise you with: The gallows is reserved for those who compromise for freedom. Including those who fear free speech.
I think it is up to the shareholders to elect a slate of directors, whether they want Rush, Gore, whatever, I could care less, as long as they have the interest of Apple in hand. I do not agree with the original articles premise that Rush should be on the BOD to balance Gore, however, he does “sell” the mac, when given the opportunity.
Zac
Frankly, I didn’t read through the flame war above.
A small sample scan was enough. Pretty dire.
A small observation.
True personality comes out in several venues.
One is when driving and the other is online!
Both are good indicators because in both situations there is little or no accountability.
It took me a while but I figured it is much better to talk about Apple in this venue, and talk about politics on the political sites.
I frankly could care less if Steve is a liberal. He’s an effective leader but from everything I’ve been led to believe he’s a difficult guy to get along with. But so was Winston Churchill.
I buy Apple products because they’re the best. End of story.
The magic word is ignominious.
My opinion is oviously moot at this point since i’m about the 9 millionth reply… but:
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO
ok I’m done. Fat, bloviating, lying, drug-addicted asshole.
Liberals suck! Complete liars!
Rush exposes liberals for the fakes that they are. Right on Rush!
to citizen x, more than you know, i am familiar with your exploits. i can drop a few names as well, so let us both assume we have our own connections and leave thus alone.
to a more general point. i am very left. ok, more specifically – left handed. which means i am right brained, thus leaning to more conservative view points (republican).
a lot of people hate rush. ok. a lot of people hate al gore. ok. people look at a glass half empty, others half full. no matter how you slice it – it’s still a half glass. the grass is not greener on the other side – unless the other side is astro-turf. jobs may have a political agenda, the federal government let microsoft off the hook. i love red meat and potatoes. fruitarians are really weird people. i work for a living, have a nice house, a beautiful family and i am concerned about my daughter’s future.
but above all of that, i love my mac. i love using my mac. i have great respect for SJ regardless his political views. i have respect for al gore regardless his political stances. i have great respect for george bush regardless his political stances.
and beyond all that – i hate windows, and ballmer is a monkey boy.
oh, and i did have an opportunity to have lunch with bill gates, i know david brubeck and his wife extremely well, and have dined with dr. koop on several occassions. and oh yes, i have had acquaintences with al and tipper (both al and i attended St. Alban’s – at separate times, and was at his daughter’s wedding).
Sigh. Not this again.
First, Al Gore is on the board of directors because he has knowledge of how government purchasing works. How? Because, while Vice-President, he helped revamp the way government purchasing works. So he probably has some valuable insights into what Apple has to do if they want to sell to the government.
Remember the guy they put on the board of directors from The Gap? They brought him in because he has a clue about retail. Those are the kinds of people you want on your board of directors.
Rush Limbaugh is a commentator. He runs a very popular radio show. But I don’t see what knowledge he brings to Apple’s board of directors that can help Apple out. Heck, I like Matthew Broderick. But even though he’s a die-hard Mac user, I can’t see electing him to Apple’s board of directors.
Sara Jessica Parker for the Apple board!
It makes as much sense…
MATTHEW BRODERICK??!! Oh, hell no!! He can’t be on the board of directors!! He’s married to that woman who played that hussie on TV, and he was in that play with that Harvey Fireman or Firestone or Flintstone or whatever his name is… He would be the END OF ALL THINGS APPLE!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!
Jeez, this is getting out of hand.
[On the other hand, if there’s some way to get Wayne Gretzky on the board (who would probably have as much purpose or reason as Limbaugh or any other entertainer to be on the board), then I would support that…]
What and how has Al Gore helped Apple computer?
Has anyone ever seen Al Gore with an Apple computer?
CitizenX said
“I fear nothing, Al Gore wasn’t put on the Apple Board because of his politics and to say that mush gumball should be, is a “feature looking for a benefit” as they say in sales. The rationale is bunk and the insinuation that Gore was put there for political reasons is bullsh*t.”
I tend to agree that he wasn’t put on the board for political reasons. He is however a HUGE political target since he was VP and failed presidential candidate.
Observers probably are wondering exactly why he was put on the board, what did he have to offer? Look at some other board members. Bill Campbell left (or was kicked off) after his company Intuit dropped mac support for Quickbooks (He didn’t contribute to Apple in a positive way). Mickey Drexler from Gap/ Banana Republic came with gobs of retailer knowledge that translated into a winning retail store strategy. The new guy from Target came with some real distribution and supply chain know how. Well, that and his connections and relation to target. Its not a passing coincidence that Target carries iPods and Mac minis.
oard members who don’t contribute something go like Campbell and Ellison, board members who contribute stay like Drexler and the Target guy. So where is Al Gore’s contribution?
Hope this wasn’t too weak of an attempt to get the topic to a less politically fueled bash session.
Hey Peter,
Thanks for the reply before I could even post the question. Maybe I should have refreshed after reading the flames and before posting. (no sarcasm, really thanks!)
Great post Peter
I’m a liberal progressive, and as such I welcome all voices. As a person who values careful deconstruction I have no interest in promulgating lies. So you see, there are people who can be liberal who value the essentials.
From my point of view, it’s the corporate media that lies. And people like Ann Coulter, Bill O’Reilly, Wolf Blitzer, Dan Rather, and Rush Limbaugh are the kind of people who do the lying. The corporate media is interested in smoothing over things and squashing dissent – either through lies or ridicule or by simply not covering stories.
Good-hearted people of all views and beliefs are being harmed by the thing the media calls politics. The only thing that matters is cause-and-effect, and we should all be looking to understand how our actions cause good and bad consequences for ourselves and the rest of the world around us.
It is for the above reason I call myself a liberal, because I value truth and to that end I am open to all constructive voices.
Limbaugh and his ilk do not fit into that criterion. They serve a master whose interest is not truth or education, but the status-quo and corporate interests…
…Interests of the shareholders very often counter the interests of common people – their stakeholders. Have a look at copper mining in Chile and Peru for examples of things these people will never discuss on their “entertainment” shows.
I’m on my 5th Mac, starting in 84. I’ve listen to Rush sence he started here in Sacrament CA. He’s given Apple millions of dollars of FREE advertising. He loves Macs! If you want to be a left-wing sissy & continue with 2% of the market….. I don’t. LET’S SELL MACs!! Advertise on Rush!! He’d sell 3 million MACs extra each year! As a right winger I love my Mac & there are millions like me.
You can go as far left as you want, and as far right as you want, or be standing squarely on the middle of the fence and you will still find the Mac.
Simple as that.
Whether Rush would be a good fit for the Apple Board of Directors is up to the rest of the Board, not just SJ. And if it happens, it would have to be for reasons that are damn sure to be better than those promulgated by everyone who has the time to post to this page (myself included).
darknite
No doubt powerful people are appointed to the boards of corporations and it seems a mystery to us. Al Gore and Apple is a mystery to me although it does make sense from a government purchasing perspective, and in lobbying efforts. Who knows. Apple can also choose it’s spokesmen, after all they pay the bills.
If rush wants to mention Macs in his broadcast, that is his business. Arguably he is all the negative things people say he is. In my mind he is. I listened to him for over 6 years so my view is based upon some experience. I am not talking out of my ass. Quite frankly I would think it would make Apple a target. Paint that old bulls eye right on the ripe Apple.
Should Apple seek him out. Why buy the cow when you are getting the milk for free. The best advertisement is the one from a true believer. Should Apple reward him. No more than all the other Mac Evangelist out there, every one of you on this board that believes.
Was there a political agenda behind mr. hills article. Before 9/11 and that chimp in the white house, I would have said no.
A big fat idiot he is. Also, he is a liar, drug addict, hypocrite, fear-monger, facist, radical right-wing nut. But, don’t get me started! Stick to Apple stuff and leave politics at the door!
(Oops, I meant Tom Brokaw whom I’ve personally witnessed pull some pretty egregious stuff on behalf of the powers that be, and not necessarily Dan Rather whom I rarely see.)
Blah blah blah. Liberal and conservative are myths. Stand still long enough and you’ll find yourself at the head of a revolution.
And the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.