National Rifle Association (NRA) Unethical Marketing
Over the last week President Obama has instigated a battle with the NRA of America, due to his proposed “crackdown” on American gun control laws after the tragic Newton shooting. The NRA has always been pegged as an agressive marketer and advertiser for minimalist gun controls in the USA, however their latest video has sparked intense controversy across the country and even worldwide. The NRA’s newest video titled “Stand and Fight”(http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/341463) starts off with a scene of President Obama and his children, the question is then posed “Are the president’s kids more important than yours?”. The video then goes on to attack Obama and peg him as an “elitist” and “hypocrite” due to the fact that he disapproved of having armed guards in American schools, while his daughters receive 24/7 protection from the US Secret Service. This video blatantly crossed the line in regards to unethical marketing, and took a direct approach to attacking President Obama and his family. While American citizen’s may not agree with Obama’s proposed legislation on gun control, much of the country has taken to social medial outlets to resent the NRA video. The White House called the video “repugnant and cowardly”. While I agree that all children are equally important, using the President’s children in a national political debate is a prime example of an unethical marketing technique. The NRA has taken no heed from the bad media attention it has received and has continued to release a second video to further label Obama as an elitist. This video has also received bad media and political attention from many politicians, and iconic figures in American society.
In closing, I believe the “Stand and Fight” took an unethical approach to expressing the National Rifle Association’s views on President Obama’s legislation, in an attempt to gather support. I believe that the video was far too personal, and subsequently the NRA should remove the video and issue a formal apology to President Obama, the children of America, and most importantly Obama’s daughters.
