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“And Slippers!”: Rudy Giuliani Gets Skewered For MyPillow Spot, But Politicians Have A History Of Hawking Products

  

Category:  News & Politics

Via:  hallux  •  3 years ago  •  16 comments

By:   Ted Johnson

“And Slippers!”: Rudy Giuliani Gets Skewered For MyPillow Spot, But Politicians Have A History Of Hawking Products
“I’ve been sleeping on MyPillows for some time,”

S E E D E D   C O N T E N T



A video spot of   Rudy Giuliani   hawking   MyPillow   products elicited ridicule and a bit of wonder of what has happened to the man once known as America’s Mayor, but it’s hardly anything new for a political figure to give in to the temptations of commercial endorsements.

The spot was part of Giuliani’s   Common Sense   podcast, this one centered on the latest fascination with UFOs.

“I’ve been sleeping on MyPillows for some time,” Giuliani said on his show,   posted on YouTube . “I love them, simply the very best pillows ever made. But I just found out they also have a wide assortment of other incredible products. Like their mattress toppers, sheets, towels.” Then Giuliani held up footwear as he said, “And slippers! And more!


All sorts of well-known former elected officials have hawked products, ranging from Viagra to hotels to gold. Giuliani himself is under federal investigation and is defending himself in a lawsuit filed by elections systems companies Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic.

Giuliani and other Trump supporters may be a bit more brazen in their willingness, but it’s not like this hasn’t been done before.


Sebastian Gorka, the defender of Donald Trump who worked at the White House at the start of his term, has been appearing in spots for   dietary supplement Relief Factor .


The explosion in podcasts, meanwhile, has all sorts of political pundits interrupting their commentary to make pitches for their sponsors, including on PodSaveAmerica shows and others like Hacks on Tap.


This, however, is neither a phenomenon of the post-Trump presidency, or even of the modern media environment.


Back in the 1970s, American Express enlisted William E. Miller for spots, and he may have been better known for doing those commercials than he was as Barry Goldwater’s running mate in the 1964 presidential election.


Other presidential also-rans tried to capitalize on their moments of fame: Geraldine Ferraro followed her 1984 vice presidential run in a spot for Diet Pepsi, while Bob Dole’s presidential run was followed by a Visa spot and then, most famously, by a Viagra ad, and then by a Pepsi parody of that commercial.

In a spot back in 1989, former House Speaker Tip O’Neill emerged from a suitcase to endorse Clarion Hotels. “Now that I am out of the House, I spend a lot of time on the road. With Quality, Comfort, Clairion and Sleep Hotels, you can get a comfortable room with a great price anywhere you go. They even give me a 30% senior discount. Now who says a politician can’t control spending.


The spot was one of several that O’Neill appeared in that year. He and Alexander Haig, the former Secretary of State, also did an ad for the Trump Shuttle, the airline started by the man who would later become president. At the time, there was some consternation over O’Neill’s move to cash in on his fame. CBS News’ Andy Rooney told   The New York Times , “Anyone who has an independent position or opinion has to be awfully careful about saying something for money. It makes all their other opinions suspect.”


That sentiment actually sounds a bit quaint more than 30 years later, as it’s now a given that former elected officials will mull the option of a post-public career in lobbying, a practice commonly referred to as the government “revolving door.” But in a way, it is just another form of serving as a paid spokesperson.


Of course, putting a politician in an ad is a bit different in these polarizing times than it was even in the recent past. Giuliani is a controversial figure, and his choice of products to promote – MyPillow, a brand now tied to Trump, as founder Mike Lindell pushes election claims – is probably the least surprising thing about the spot.





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Hallux
Professor Principal
1  seeder  Hallux    3 years ago

The harder you love Trump, the harder you fall.

 
 
 
Tessylo
Professor Principal
2  Tessylo    3 years ago

OMG he's pimping for my pillow now?  How the alleged mighty have fallen.  Pimping himself out on Cameo and my pillow!

jrSmiley_10_smiley_image.gif

 
 
 
Kavika
Professor Principal
3  Kavika     3 years ago

America's Mayor has become America's Fool.

 
 
 
Trout Giggles
Professor Principal
3.1  Trout Giggles  replied to  Kavika @3    3 years ago

and America's Village Idiot

 
 
 
Veronica
Professor Guide
4  Veronica    3 years ago

I bought some years ago.  They flattened out & I tried to get my $$ back or replacement & guess what?????  Saw no return of $$ or new pillows - the guy is a scam artist.  The pillows suck dickweed.

 
 
 
Tessylo
Professor Principal
4.1  Tessylo  replied to  Veronica @4    3 years ago

"The pillows suck dickweed."

So does Mikey - the trumpturd's little wienie.  

 
 
 
Veronica
Professor Guide
4.1.1  Veronica  replied to  Tessylo @4.1    3 years ago

eiwwww - what an awful picture in my mind now....

 
 
 
Tessylo
Professor Principal
4.1.2  Tessylo  replied to  Veronica @4.1.1    3 years ago

200w.gif

 
 
 
Tessylo
Professor Principal
4.1.3  Tessylo  replied to  Tessylo @4.1.2    3 years ago

200w.gif?cid=82a1493b7e311pca0yv94mdi6x8wdlivog0aplym8iq3488f&rid=200w.gif&ct=g

 
 
 
Veronica
Professor Guide
4.1.4  Veronica  replied to  Tessylo @4.1.2    3 years ago

Yes, THAT!

 
 
 
Veronica
Professor Guide
4.1.5  Veronica  replied to  Tessylo @4.1.3    3 years ago

And, THIS!

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
5  JohnRussell    3 years ago

Im gonna cut Giuliani a little bit of slack for hawking My Pillows on his podcast.  If they are the ones that want to advertise on his show he has to read it. 

 
 
 
Hal A. Lujah
Professor Guide
6  Hal A. Lujah    3 years ago

I’ve been sleeping on MyPillows for some time”

Oh wow, things are worse for Rudy than I had imagined!  He can’t even afford a mattress.

 
 
 
Kavika
Professor Principal
6.1  Kavika   replied to  Hal A. Lujah @6    3 years ago

Do they sell mattresses at the ''Four Seasons''?

 
 
 
Kavika
Professor Principal
7  Kavika     3 years ago

My Pillow seems to be the perfect fit for Rudy of the Four Seasons.

Lawsuits and settlement

In April 2016, a class action lawsuit was proposed for the pillows being falsely advertised, among the complaints being that Lindell is marketed as a "Sleep Expert," despite having no board certification or special training in sleep medicine. [7]   The   Better Business Bureau   received 220 complaints regarding the company from 2013 to 2016. [28]

In August 2016, the   New York State Attorney General 's office charged that My Pillow failed to collect and remit over $500,000 in sales tax. The company denied any wrongdoing but agreed to pay $1.1 million in settlement. [29]

On November 1, 2016, My Pillow agreed to pay $1 million ($995,000 in civil penalties and $100,000 to California charities benefitting homeless persons and victims of domestic violence) to settle a   false advertising   lawsuit brought in   Alameda County Superior Court   by   Alameda County   and eight other   California counties . [30]   The lawsuit challenged the company's marketing claims. This included claims without proof that its products could help people with   fibromyalgia ,   restless leg syndrome   and   sleep apnea . [30]   In the past, the company had published testimonials claiming its products could ease symptoms of   cerebral palsy ,   acid reflux   and   menopause . [30]   As part of the settlement, the company was banned "from making claims in California that its pillows can cure or treat diseases and their symptoms without a human trial to back up the statements." [30]   "In addition, My Pillow must stop promoting itself as the 'official pillow' of the National Sleep Foundation because it failed to disclose its financial connection with the foundation to consumers." [29]

In November 2017, the lawsuit, which challenged the appropriateness of the marketing, packaging, and sale of My Pillow products, including health claims about the product,   buy one get one   promotions, and the use of third party endorsements and logos, was settled. [8]

Ratings and reviews

A 2016   Consumer Reports   review of the company's pillows found a mixed reception after at-home testing, finding that "only one-third of the group said they would buy MyPillow again." [31]

In January 2017, the   Better Business Bureau   (BBB) announced it had revoked the accreditation for My Pillow and had lowered its rating from an A+ to an F [32]   based on numerous consumer complaints. The main issue addressed by the BBB was the constant use of their   buy one, get one free   offer. The BBB's Code of Advertising requires that offers or discounts must be made for a limited time, or the deal becomes the normal price of the product. [33]   It remained an active promotion, as of August 2020. [34]

 
 
 
Hal A. Lujah
Professor Guide
7.1  Hal A. Lujah  replied to  Kavika @7    3 years ago

Lol, there is truly no such thing as a crackhead that is also a sleep expert.  While everyone else is sleeping they’re either hitting the pipe or driving around looking for more crack.

 
 

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