Bad connotations? Chrysler

Chrysler Shuns Marketing Deal With Dukes of Hazzard Movie

InsideLine/Edmunds
Friday, June 17, 2005

Chelsea, Mich. - The Chrysler Group will not tie in any
marketing of its 2006 Dodge Charger with the upcoming
movie, The Dukes of Hazzard, because it is afraid the
display of the Confederate flag on the movie's vintage
Charger will offend some viewers.

The movie, scheduled to open August 5, is based on the TV
series that ran from 1979 to 1985 and featured "good old
boy" cousins eluding authorities in The General Lee, a
1969 orange Dodge Charger with a Confederate flag on the
roof. The movie stars Jessica Simpson, Burt Reynolds and
Willie Nelson.

"They gave us the treatment for the movie and talked
about a marketing deal, but we said we can't participate
if you keep the Confederate flag," Jason Vines, Chrysler
Group vice president of communications, told Inside Line.
"It's offensive to a lot of people. But they [Warner
Bros.] said 'no.' We still get a mention of the Charger
in the movie, but we couldn't do anything beyond that."

The Confederate battle flag, also called the Southern
Cross, has been at the center of controversy for years.
It has been described as a proud emblem of Southern
heritage and as a shameful reminder of slavery and
segregation. The Southern Poverty Law Center says more
than 500 extremist groups use the Southern Cross as one
of their symbols.

What this means to you: The General Lee rides again, but
Chrysler doesn't want anything to do with it.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=106116

On Sat, 18 Jun 2005 20:10:04 -0400, RichA wrote:
Thats silly. That flag is a naval battle flag, and part of the
battle flag for the army of northen virgina... I mean come on, its a
flag. Get over it ppl, if chrysler wants to avoid racial problems with
it, then remind people there were black confederate soldiers who
faught in the ACW...... I will say this I saw the trailer for the
movie this weekend and it looks pretty good, they jump every damn
thing in site..... Oh well I prefer my mustang if I can get it
repaired.

Lee

>
>Chrysler Shuns Marketing Deal With Dukes of Hazzard Movie
>
>InsideLine/Edmunds
>Friday, June 17, 2005
>
>Chelsea, Mich. - The Chrysler Group will not tie in any
>marketing of its 2006 Dodge Charger with the upcoming
>movie, The Dukes of Hazzard, because it is afraid the
>display of the Confederate flag on the movie's vintage
>Charger will offend some viewers.
>
>The movie, scheduled to open August 5, is based on the TV
>series that ran from 1979 to 1985 and featured "good old
>boy" cousins eluding authorities in The General Lee, a
>1969 orange Dodge Charger with a Confederate flag on the
>roof. The movie stars Jessica Simpson, Burt Reynolds and
>Willie Nelson.
>
>"They gave us the treatment for the movie and talked
>about a marketing deal, but we said we can't participate
>if you keep the Confederate flag," Jason Vines, Chrysler
>Group vice president of communications, told Inside Line.
>"It's offensive to a lot of people. But they [Warner
>Bros.] said 'no.' We still get a mention of the Charger
>in the movie, but we couldn't do anything beyond that."
>
>The Confederate battle flag, also called the Southern
>Cross, has been at the center of controversy for years.
>It has been described as a proud emblem of Southern
>heritage and as a shameful reminder of slavery and
>segregation. The Southern Poverty Law Center says more
>than 500 extremist groups use the Southern Cross as one
>of their symbols.
>
>What this means to you: The General Lee rides again, but
>Chrysler doesn't want anything to do with it.
>
>http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=106116