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Carbonite (CARB) CEO David Friend admits the decision to withdraw from sponsoring the Rush...

  • Saturday, August 11, 2012, 8:15 AM ET
    Carbonite (CARB) CEO David Friend admits the decision to withdraw from sponsoring the Rush Limbaugh show after the radio host called a woman a "slut" on the air didn't pay off for shareholders. CARB's Q2 results missed growth targets and its stock price fell 15%. Friend says that while he stands by the decision, the move caused "a bigger hole in our revenue than we thought."
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This news story has 20 comments:

  •  
    Hate sells. Intolerance sells.
    11 Aug 2012, 08:34 AM Reply Like
  •  
    3-times divorced. Morbidly obese. History of drug addiction.

    He's the perfect role model for self-restraint and personal moral conduct.
    11 Aug 2012, 08:45 AM Reply Like
  •  
    Irregardless of what type of individual Rush Limbaugh is, the decision basically cut off the company from a segment of their customers. I don't know of any business that can decide to only sell to liberals or conservatives.

    Personally, I'd guess this is just an excuse and the whole thing is overblown.
    11 Aug 2012, 01:36 PM Reply Like
  •  
    > I don't know of any business that can decide to only sell to
    > liberals or conservatives.

    Sure you do: NWSA
    11 Aug 2012, 02:45 PM Reply Like
  •  
    Good.
    11 Aug 2012, 08:49 AM Reply Like
  •  
    Im with you, I think Limbaugh is great. Politically correct dialogue makes me want to puke. Its one of the few media outlets that tells it like it is.
    I also like seeing the conservatives using the wallets to show support.
    11 Aug 2012, 10:14 AM Reply Like
  •  
    The decision to distant yourselves from that pompous ass was certainly correct, but to blame your companies demise on that decision is wrong.
    11 Aug 2012, 08:53 AM Reply Like
  •  
    CARB's Q2 results are probably the result of their products screwing up customers' computers and the loss of precious data.
    11 Aug 2012, 09:07 AM Reply Like
  •  
    Good to see that timid businessmen with spines of pabulum pay a price in the only place that matters to them, the bottom line.
    11 Aug 2012, 10:39 AM Reply Like
  •  
    The CEO should be fired for his pompous decision.

    This is the same guy that supports another host who used the same word in connection to a woman but who just happens to be a lefty host. So clearly this man has no consistency when it comes to "values".

    This decision just shows how dumb this guy must be. Limbaugh has the largest radio audience in history (and probably any other media as well) and the most devoted listeners so even a simpleton would know that this would result in a loss of business.

    I doubt his shareholders want him to express his political opinions in the context of business operations and strategy.
    11 Aug 2012, 12:04 PM Reply Like
  •  
    Alot of Chick-Fil-A franchisees probably feel the same way, right about now
    11 Aug 2012, 01:25 PM Reply Like
  •  
    The comments by the owner of Chick-fil-A has resulted in sharply increased business as Americans rushed to patronized their nearest location to face-down intimidation from leftists and assert their support for the First Amendment.

    Hopefully executives notice that pleasing conservatives is good business.
    11 Aug 2012, 03:37 PM Reply Like
  •  
    They'd better enjoy that one-time bump, because Huckabee isn't going to fire up a rally for them every day. I am quite confident that the lost business from liberals is more permanent than the temporary support of conservatives. Most franchise owners are pissed that they have been drawn into this shitstorm. There are plenty that have come out against the founder's comments.

    I agree with the commenter above that alienating any big segment is just stupid business.
    11 Aug 2012, 03:46 PM Reply Like
  •  
    Big difference, Chick-Fil-A CEO made an unpopular comment but didn't change his advertising model or business. CARB's CEO made a bad business decision, whether he thinks what Rush said was right or wrong.

    The fact the that CARB CEO made the decision that effected his shareholders based on his morals was plain wrong.
    12 Aug 2012, 07:33 PM Reply Like
  •  
    "I am quite confident that the lost business from liberals is more permanent than the temporary support of conservatives"

    I thought liberals were vegetarians anyway.
    12 Aug 2012, 09:25 PM Reply Like
  •  
    @Poor Texan. Ha! Liberals also tend to be lower income, so have to eat at fast food chains ;-)
    13 Aug 2012, 11:17 AM Reply Like
  •  
    Hi Mike -- I see them as quite similar situations, although the particular mechanics were different. Dan Cathy deliberately waded into the public fray, just as much as Reed Hastings did, alienating a big segment. Po-tay-to, po-tah-to in my book. Cheers.
    13 Aug 2012, 11:23 AM Reply Like
  •  
    Oops, David Friend, not Reed Hastings. Need more coffee
    13 Aug 2012, 11:52 AM Reply Like
  •  
    It was a hell of a pop, but then you have to face the drop.

    The reactionary 'shish boom bah' was quite impressive, but in the end, it is very difficult to reverse 50 years of progress. We didn't end up with the current moral code overnight; nor are we likely to reverse it in a matter of days either.

    Say what you want, but a bunch on right wing reactionaries are going to be buried by a generally smart gay and lesbian community (that is savvy enough to not eat at chick fiil a to begin with. You mess with fire, you get burned, and that breast is about to become well done.
    11 Aug 2012, 04:53 PM Reply Like
  •  
    How bout JCP stock and Ellen ??
    11 Aug 2012, 06:08 PM Reply Like
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