Chris Davis, a savvy staff writer for the Memphis Flyer, put fast food franchise restaurant owner Mirabile Investment Corporation in the fryer recently after he noticed signs on several Burger King restaurants that read, “Global warming is baloney.”
After first noticing the signs, Davis called up one of the Burger Kings to try and find out what was going on.
Here’s the transcript of the call (which I copied verbatim from Leo Hickman at The Guardian – thanks, Leo!):
Davis: Hi, I’m calling from the Flyer about your sign. Does Burger King really think global warming is baloney?
BK: [Hang-up]
Davis: [Calling back]: Your sign out front says global warming is baloney.
BK: I don’t see that, sir.
Davis: Well, it does.
BK: I don’t see that sir… I change the signs and that sign’s been up for a week.
Davis: Well, I have pictures that I took this afternoon–So, there’s no question that your sign said it and so did one in Midtown. I want to know if it was on purpose, or if it was a prank someone pulled on you.
BK: Let me get the manager. [several minutes of dead air then the same or very similar voice picks up.]
BK: Who were you holding for?
Davis: A manager, about the sign. I have pictures of the sign and people have called me upset. I just want to know if it’s a mistake or not so I can report it.
BK: Let me go outside and look at the sign and I’ll call you right back. [exchange of contact info]
[Phone rings, Davis answers]
BK: The sign was put up yesterday.
Davis: And it’s not a mistake?
BK: No.
Davis: It reflects the opinion of BK international?
BK: Yes. Would you like to talk to the home office? I can give you a number.
Davis: I’ve got the number, I’ve already contacted them. Thanks.
Davis finally heard back from Burger King via an email from Susan Robison, the vice president of corporate communications at the Burger King Corporation:
This statement ["Global Warming is baloney"] does not reflect a Burger King Corp. (BKC) opinion or view. The two restaurants where these signs appeared are independently owned and operated and were not authorized to display this statement. The signs have since been removed. BKC believes in operating as a socially responsible company and is committed to making a positive impact in the communities where it lives and works.
According to the Guardian, Mirabile Investment Corporation owns more than 40 Burger Kings across the South, as well as a few Poopeyes and All In One franchises.
Apparently, readers of the Memphis Flyer have been contacting Davis to say that they have seen signs at many of the restaurants MIC owns.
[Via: Guardian]
shut up, global warming.
I say baloney as well.
The point of this article is?
You know it this kind of emotional knee jerk reaction that has done so much dmage to the Green Movement. It looks like all the skeptics and deniers have to do is sit tight and wait for the Greenies to self destruct. It seems to be an effective strategy.