1 Comment Sagesse
Today on the NOM California tour, we’ll find out if Jelly Belly has jelly in their bellies
September 29, 2010
By Adam Bink
Yesterday I wrote that we at P8TT/NTT were inquiring into whether Jelly Belly condoned NOM’s stop at their Fairfield factory headquarters, which will be this morning at 9:30 AM PST. Several of you wrote in and received responses. For example, Kate’s inquiry received back:
Dear Kate,
Thank you for taking the time to write; we appreciate hearing your thoughts and concerns.
We were unaware of the “National Organization for Marriage” coming to visit prior to several emails that we received. We do not accept reservations for our free tours and tour buses often stop here for our free public tours. We have not rented any of our facilities for this group and no event or rally will be held here.
Thank you for being among our special Jelly Belly fans. We value your patronage.
Sincerely,
Erin
Consumer Affairs Representative
and over at allied blog Joe.My.God, reader Carrie wrote in and received the same:
We were unaware of the “National Organization for Marriage” coming to visit prior to several emails that we received. We do not accept reservations for our free tours and tour buses often stop here for our free public tours. We have not rented any of our facilities for this group and no event or rally will be held here. Jelly Belly does not allow any group to promote their special interests, pass out flyers, or approach our visitors for their own interests at our public tours. We appreciate your offer to share with your blog community.
Sincerely, Kit McCoy
Consumer Affairs Manager
Jelly Belly Candy Company
Yesterday, we finally received our official response. Here’s P8TT/NTT friend and Frontiers in LA magazine news editor Karen Ocamb, who called the Jelly Belly spokespeople:
While everyone knows that Ronald Reagan had a penchant for jelly beans, LGBTs started wondering if the favorite candy maker was secretly antigay. I called Jelly Belly in Fairfield to find out. I spoke with Director of Communications Tomi Holt and John Jamison, Director of Retail Sales, in charge of the Gift Shop, tours and the Visitor Center. Jamison:
“We has absolutely no knowledge of this group coming to Jelly Belly prior to some emails and blogs posts yesterday.”
Holt:
“That was our first notice and they did not contact us directly.”
Jamison said he looked at the NOM website to figure out who they were and what they were doing and concluded they were just stopping their as part of their tour. Holt said there is no rally planned – they host about a half a million people a year for their own “top rated tour” of their facility. She also said that is not unusual for folks traveling on the Interstate 80, half way between San Francisco and Sacramento. Holt said, “a lot of tour operators stop here with whatever tour they might be on.” Jamison said they have virtually no idea what kind of tour group might be coming and they don’t take reservations. Holt:
“It’s not a policy of the company; it’s not something that was arranged with us. We were a little bit surprised by all of this.”
Jamison:
“At the Visitor’s Center, I would rather look at us as being politically neutral. We welcome all guests….We would never get involved in something like that. Now if they wanted to rent our banquet facility or conference rooms and have a private event, they could do anything they wanted. But that’s not something that’s obviously happened because I would know about that.”
Jamison and Holt laughed when I asked if Jelly Belly has a political action committee – “Oh, no, no. We do not have a political action committee.” Holt added that she did not think the company made a contribution to the Prop 8 campaign, albeit she doesn’t know about individuals. Jamison:
“We had no signs on our campus that took a position – which is why we’re a little confused over all this.”
Holt said that the company abides by all state non-discrimination laws and Jamison said they undergo anti-discrimination training each year. They do not know if the company has domestic partnership benefits. Both Holt and Jamison were adamant that they had no idea why NOM is stopping at their site. “We’re scratching our heads asking the same question. We’ve never heard of them before. We don’t know who they are.” They just want people – including LGBT people “to continue loving Jelly Belly,” a Halloween treat. I think the folks at Jelly Belly will remember NOM now – and not in a sweet way.
A few thoughts:
1. Clearly they never saw this coming, and by the tenor of various responses, are worried about a Target-style boycott. You can tell they’re trying to distance themselves.
2. The question this raises for me is what will happen this morning. Two official company representatives have said “no event or rally will be held here”, and “Jelly Belly does not allow any group to promote their special interests, pass out flyers, or approach our visitors for their own interests at our public tours.” That leaves Vota Tus Valores with few options. Will security force the Vota Bus off the premises? Will NOM be allowed to solicit Jelly Belly tourists in support of political candidate? If so, how far from the actual factory and gift shop will they be permitted to do so?
Will Jelly Belly stand firm on their statements? Or do they have jelly in their bellies?
We’ll see what happens this morning. Stay tuned.
Filed under: NOM Exposed,NOM Tour Tracker-California
67 Comments Leave a Comment
1.
Lesbians Love Boies | September 29, 2010 at 12:02 am
subscribing
2.
Lesbians Love Boies | September 29, 2010 at 12:04 am
A third choice is NOM takes the Jelly Belly tour and doesn't engage with anyone else…which is what I think they will do. They have to somehow save face.
3.
Mark M | September 29, 2010 at 12:05 am
Well it sounds like I can continue to enjoy Jelly Bellies.
Will be interesting to see how this all plays out today.
4.
Mark M | September 29, 2010 at 12:06 am
So long as they don't try and pass out any of their propaganda materials to other tour visitors.
5.
Lesbians Love Boies | September 29, 2010 at 12:14 am
nom…nom…nom mmmm. jelly bellies!
resubscribing and waiting for caffeine to kick in.
6.
Gregory in Salt Lake | September 29, 2010 at 12:14 am
Free samples! (do JB's come in Beer or Pork Rind flavors?
7.
Gregory in Salt Lake | September 29, 2010 at 12:15 am
Yay!
8.
Lesbians Love Boies | September 29, 2010 at 12:16 am
lol – I just had a Brian Brown as Al Bundy thought…shudders
9.
adambink | September 29, 2010 at 12:34 am
Yeah, actually, my money is on that, given the pork rinds/On The Border episodes. The whole tour seems like the kind of thing where you have dinner w/a friend and talk shop for 3 minutes just so you can bill it to your company. They talk to a handful of voters a day and other than that it's a vacation tour across California.
10.
Alan E | September 29, 2010 at 12:38 am
Mmm Jelly Belly…
11.
Lesbians Love Boies | September 29, 2010 at 12:40 am
I wonder if Carly might be having doubts hooking up with a hate group.
12.
Lesbians Love Boies | September 29, 2010 at 12:41 am
BTW Courage Campaign, I haven't received notice of this post in any of my emails.
13.
Chris in Lathrop | September 29, 2010 at 12:54 am
Well, NOM could certainly be handed packages of Egg Yolk flavored beans, for all the egg on their faces!
14.
StraightForEquality | September 29, 2010 at 12:55 am
Subscribe now, read later.
15.
Kate | September 29, 2010 at 1:00 am
Just when you thought all this couldn't get any better…..
16.
Gregory in Salt Lake | September 29, 2010 at 1:06 am
Yes LLB…I've been wondering that…and waiting for more info about/from Carly (wondering what forthcoming video with reveal….)
17.
John B. | September 29, 2010 at 1:07 am
Is it possible they're yanking your chain a bit, and being intentionally misleading about their scheduled stops in order to trip you up or make you look foolish? While I support what P8TT is doing, with you literally following them on the road I would be concerned that they might use this latest "tour" to portray you as a bunch of stalkers. Never mind that you're exposing them for the frauds they are (which I think is important)–their followers and supporters will never see your side, only what NOM wants to show and tell them.
18.
Kate | September 29, 2010 at 1:15 am
If they even show this morning, they will do so exuding complete innocence about having promoted it as a tour stop on their web site and having "Fairfield" painted on their bus. They'll say it was just a staff stop, like that infamous staff dinner Judy and Laura O. et al exposed. This is how they are hoping to make Us look like fools and overreactors to the Jelly Belly PR people. I sure hope that by some miracle, unlike at their other stops, they actually have some supporters show up to prove that this had been promoted for just that purpose. Anybody here have some YES on 8 signs that could be used for the occasion???
Jelly Belly needs a reason to express their anger at Fiorini……
19.
Lesbians Love Boies | September 29, 2010 at 1:15 am
I am not getting any emails from Pt88 – is anyone else having an issue, or is it just me.
20.
Lesbians Love Boies | September 29, 2010 at 1:16 am
My dyslexia showing again!
21.
bb | September 29, 2010 at 1:17 am
It would be interesting to know just how many emails Jelly Belly received. I'm sure, based on the email response that I received, they were totally caught off guard.
I really hope the Jelly Belly holds up to their commitment and be neutral in this. It's really sad when a hate-organization, like NOM, uses unsuspecting retailers and business owners to spread their hate.
22.
Lesbians Love Boies | September 29, 2010 at 1:18 am
If people do show up I hope that NOM pays for their entrance (if there is a fee) into the tour, and NOM should buy each a bag of Jelly Bellys!
23.
Kate | September 29, 2010 at 1:26 am
I think the tours are free. (Right, Ann?) But there is that issue about whether or not they offer beer-and-pork-rinds Jelly Bellies. These bumbling tour folks can do all their xmas shopping here and charge it to Maggie.
24.
Anonygrl | September 29, 2010 at 1:44 am
Lets make sure that several of us archive their website in screenshots, at the very least, so they cannot later claim "We never said we were stopping THERE!"
This also protects our trackers, who are just following the El Autobus del Fracaso's own itinerary.
25.
Kate | September 29, 2010 at 1:48 am
Already done …..
And there is a text version I copied-and-pasted into this site a few threads back.
26.
Kate | September 29, 2010 at 1:52 am
Or they even talk to minors who cannot vote and then call it macaroni for their expense account……
27.
Gregory in Salt Lake | September 29, 2010 at 1:52 am
I have a typo-ridden posting-life…. :/
28.
Lesbians Love Boies | September 29, 2010 at 1:54 am
I am going to resubscribe…perhaps i might start getting updates then : )
29.
Gregory in Salt Lake | September 29, 2010 at 1:55 am
Great work Kate & LLB! thanks for covering the bases!
30.
Kate | September 29, 2010 at 1:55 am
Does the candidate, in this case Fiorini, have to actually give their endorsement to this type of public "support," or can any ol' people just spend a fortune having a bus painted and then go out campaigning? Granted, Fiorini is anti-equality, but I would think that even she would want to remove herself from this fiasco.
31.
Kate | September 29, 2010 at 1:57 am
I think that Ann is likely very busy creating new merit badges. Today's events could likely result in quite a demand.
32.
Alan E. | September 29, 2010 at 1:57 am
Not sure I checked the button. Trying again.
33.
Lesbians Love Boies | September 29, 2010 at 1:58 am
Alan, I am not getting any emails from them (all morning since a little after 7am). Let me know if you start to get emails and updates.
34.
Anonygrl | September 29, 2010 at 2:03 am
Good question. Perhaps someone should call her campaign office and ask if she endorses this project. Be interesting to find out.
35.
Kate | September 29, 2010 at 2:12 am
jeez, i hate it when i use the same adverb twice in such close proximity.
36.
Alan E. | September 29, 2010 at 2:14 am
I checked my spam box to be sure, but I'm still not getting anything. Can someone please post again so I can test something else out to see if that did the trick?
37.
Lesbians Love Boies | September 29, 2010 at 2:16 am
Here you go…but like I said, I am not getting them either.
38.
Kate | September 29, 2010 at 2:17 am
Just up on their twitter site:
YouTube of our new @tusvalores radio ads going up in CA today! http://dlvr.it/65Wwc #tcot #latino #votabus http://www.VotaBus.com
39.
Lesbians Love Boies | September 29, 2010 at 2:18 am
I just got an email of a post from 6:50am this morning. At least I don't feel so lonely now
40.
Alan E. | September 29, 2010 at 2:21 am
You can buy all of the rejects for a lot cheaper than the regular ones in the store. Just as good, just misshapen.
41.
adambink | September 29, 2010 at 2:24 am
Actually, Brian Brown and company repeatedly referred to the Trackers as "stalkers" during this past summer's tour. Nothing new, and nothing anyone is worried about.
On their followers and supporters, I'm a little confused on what your path is to get NOM to show "our" side in a good light to "their followers and supporters". Of course they won't. They will portray us as stalkers and radical homosexual-loving activists, and probably always will. Life goes on.
42.
Kate | September 29, 2010 at 2:26 am
Adam — It's 9:25 ….. are you guys at Jelly Belly?
43.
Lesbians Love Boies | September 29, 2010 at 2:29 am
I don't mind them considering me a stalker – or a radical, homosexual-loving activist : ) As long as they are spreading lies, misinformation and fear to the public I will be here.
Adam, can you get copies of the literature they are handing out?
44.
New | September 29, 2010 at 2:30 am
Nom probably thinks that the pink JB is gay. Obviously too fruity, a bad influence for the children.
45.
Anonygrl | September 29, 2010 at 2:32 am
I am almost as excited to see if the FAILautobus shows up at the Jelly Belly factory as I am find out what the next court document will say.
How often in one lifetime do you get to utter THAT statement and actually mean it?
46.
Lesbians Love Boies | September 29, 2010 at 2:32 am
Here they are at the Capital
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uRycyW8nAQ
47.
Kate | September 29, 2010 at 2:34 am
Amen! They are definitely keeping us entertained whilst we await the filing of Our side's documents.
48.
Kate | September 29, 2010 at 2:35 am
I see they still have that hummingbird operating their camera.
49.
Kate | September 29, 2010 at 2:43 am
Great angle. All the crowds of supporters must be hiding behind that palm tree.
50.
Santa Barbara Mom | September 29, 2010 at 2:44 am
LOL! Thanks for the morning humor, Anonygrl…………….actually made me laugh.
51.
Judy | September 29, 2010 at 2:54 am
I recognize some of the people listening in the "crowd" as being from the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center. The only people not there to protest might be the three people in the middle holding literature with the flag on it, which makes me suspect these three are from on the bus.
I don't see anyone there as a legitimate audience. Not even one.
52.
Kate | September 29, 2010 at 2:56 am
All the more reason that those of Us who are able to show up at these stops appear with equality-identifying signs or clothing.
53.
Kate | September 29, 2010 at 3:00 am
F5 F5 F5 ….. impatiently waiting for the Jelly Belly report.
54.
nightshayde | September 29, 2010 at 3:07 am
Not that I have an ounce of respect for the woman, but we should probably spell her name correctly. It's Fiorina – not Fiorini.
Sorry. I'm a proofreader by trade….
55.
Kate | September 29, 2010 at 3:08 am
Whoops. Maybe I was mixing her up with Fellini…..
56.
Gregory in Salt Lake | September 29, 2010 at 3:26 am
watching video…Laughing and choking at Hummingbird comment **GASP!**
57.
Bob | September 29, 2010 at 3:37 am
Kate at the very bottom of the page on the link you posted it says this is not authorized by any candidate or any candidates committee. does that mean Fiorina did not authorize this campaign??
58.
bonobo@dishmail.net | September 29, 2010 at 3:39 am
subscribing
59.
Chris From CO | September 29, 2010 at 3:57 am
Put the damn mic down its like screaming at person in front of you. Your dont have an audiance, they can hear you. LOL.
60.
Dave D. | September 29, 2010 at 3:59 am
As a 501(C)(4) organization, they don't have to have Fiorina's approval, and unless the law has changed in the last few years they are prohibited from coordinating with her campaign.
On a different subject, I was disappointed that they didn't go where they said they were going in Davis. I went out to Central Park because I wanted to meet the P8TT'ers and thank them in person. Since I didn't get to meet you, thank you P8TT'ers.
I think they would have had a pretty typical sized "crowd" in Davis. I saw one possibly Hispanic man with 2 boys who seemed to be waiting for something, and left about 20 minutes after the bus was scheduled. They might have been supporters, but every one else seemed to have other reasons for being in the park.
61.
Kate | September 29, 2010 at 4:01 am
Ah, apparently that's so, Bob. I didn't even see that. But take a look at Dave's helpful info above:
Dave D. | September 29, 2010 at 10:59 am
62.
Elizabeth Oakes | September 29, 2010 at 8:06 am
And I believe they do make "booger" and "barf" flavors for their Bertie Bott's Beans packets. Useful under the circumstances, mayhap.
63. NOM at the Jelly Belly to&hellip | September 29, 2010 at 11:42 am
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