An e-mail we got recently, and a response:
From: "Name Deleted"To: MattBarker@tumyeto.net
Sent: Saturday, December 27, 2008
Subject: Just wanted to say...
I bought one of your decks the other day and I was really excited to try it out until I noticed that your
company openly supports Barack Obama. I can't believe you have the nerve to try and influence young kids
politically by posting his name on your product web page. Just sad. I will not be buying anything from Toy Machine
or any company affiliated in the future.
Sincerely,
Former Customer
My Response:
Good.
We at Toy Machine are not journalists and have no obligation to be unbiased or “fair and balanced.”
If you want “fair and balanced” watch Fox News.
We are a skateboard company that promotes personal expression.
We don’t wear blinders to what is happening in our world.
Any person who looked at our website during the election was free to post a comment.
If you would have looked at that, you would have seen a lively debate both for and against Obama.
Making a buck does not come before my right to voice my opinion.
Toy Machine will not cower silently in the corner hoping people buy our boards because a few Republican nut-jobs don’t want us to “Influence Young Kids”
“Young Kids” can’t vote anyway.
You are within your rights as a consumer to not buy our boards and I applaud your political spending practices.
I spend politically every day. And I would never knowingly support a company that supported George Bush.
Not supporting companies you don’t like is the real power we regular people have in this country.
Most companies only listen to dollars, so taking their dollars away is a great way to make them change.
But in this case, Toy Machine doesn’t want your dollars if it means staying quiet at a time when staying quiet is so obviously stupid.
Ed Templeton
Posted January 9th, 2009
well written. well said.
Posted By: just a pawn in the game on January 9th, 2009 at 12:40PM PST
AWESOME!
go obama!
go obama!
Posted By: NECKBEARD on January 9th, 2009 at 02:20PM PST
A company's political stance does have an effect on my purchases which is just one more reason I enjoy supporting your company.
When Apple openly donated and fought against prop 8 in Cali, I was more than happy to support them. I had been purchasing a laptop at the time.
What is this guy doing skating anyway?
Palin has passed bills to fine skaters and I doubt McCain enjoys our presence (although I shouldn't assume).
This kids either racist or bought in to the whole Obama's a terrorist conspiracy.
When Apple openly donated and fought against prop 8 in Cali, I was more than happy to support them. I had been purchasing a laptop at the time.
What is this guy doing skating anyway?
Palin has passed bills to fine skaters and I doubt McCain enjoys our presence (although I shouldn't assume).
This kids either racist or bought in to the whole Obama's a terrorist conspiracy.
Posted By: Ryan on January 9th, 2009 at 02:44PM PST
target boards are on sale right now.
Posted By: longjohn on January 9th, 2009 at 05:20PM PST
Haha....Ed said "Come"..
Other companies seem plastic and dull compared to Toy Machine...Toy keeps it reals!!that dude can keep riding his DGK and Sheckler boards
Other companies seem plastic and dull compared to Toy Machine...Toy keeps it reals!!that dude can keep riding his DGK and Sheckler boards
Posted By: Jgonzalez on January 9th, 2009 at 05:39PM PST
in your face !
dont mess with the tempster!!
he would crush you up with the his foot of knolage!!!
GO ED ! GO !
dont mess with the tempster!!
he would crush you up with the his foot of knolage!!!
GO ED ! GO !
Posted By: Aldo Di Bella. on January 9th, 2009 at 08:08PM PST
Fuck yeah, Ed! I saw a book at Borders that had campaign donations listed by company. It was insightful & I suggest anyone that is interested in voting with their wallet to seek out such a thing. Sadly, I cannot recall the title.
Posted By: Duckets did stuff. on January 9th, 2009 at 08:43PM PST
ed here's another event for you.
http://www.skatebook.tv/rob-dyrdek-instant-scoring-experience
Now contests can be held just like in the video games. That kickflip will be worth x+50 points for doing it switch.
http://www.skatebook.tv/rob-dyrdek-instant-scoring-experience
Now contests can be held just like in the video games. That kickflip will be worth x+50 points for doing it switch.
Posted By: Ryan on January 9th, 2009 at 10:05PM PST
fuck yeah, fuck yeah
Posted By: kellan it on January 9th, 2009 at 10:44PM PST
fuck the nigga
Posted By: your bitch on January 10th, 2009 at 09:28PM PST
me again, just saying hi.
Posted By: your bitch on January 10th, 2009 at 09:30PM PST
you tell em Ed!
Posted By: scisssorhands on January 11th, 2009 at 10:17AM PST
who's this Obama dude everyone keeps talking about?
Posted By: ? on January 11th, 2009 at 03:24PM PST
Real shit! To each their own!
Posted By: M-Nugz on January 12th, 2009 at 07:32AM PST
yes exactly.
i totally agree with you.
"Making a buck does not come before my right to voice my opinion."
i totally agree with you.
"Making a buck does not come before my right to voice my opinion."
Posted By: oh yeah on January 12th, 2009 at 08:48PM PST
The Tempster rapes once again!!
Posted By: Jacob on January 12th, 2009 at 11:20PM PST
Kick him in his fucking ass, Ed!
Posted By: pete mctitty on January 13th, 2009 at 02:51AM PST
yeahhhhh baby you got him good.
Posted By: jay on January 13th, 2009 at 08:59PM PST
Sure is good to read ones own comment on the internet.
Posted By: I just skateboard sometimes on January 13th, 2009 at 11:47PM PST
gnarly fucken gnarly I wont support Bush either!
Posted By: Gibbel on January 15th, 2009 at 10:33AM PST
Look,Ed I need meat from cattle.
Posted By: I just skateboard sometimes on January 16th, 2009 at 12:28PM PST
idont like politics. or mccain, and now im still not a huge fan of obama. or how bush is being treated. i can say whatever i want because im a skateboarder, yay! im just too nice.
Posted By: matty on February 1st, 2009 at 10:16AM PST
hey guys im frome iran im comming soon very soon cuse toy machine is my love and skateboarding is my freedom
i will go toy machine cuse im nwe pro some say its stupid but im do it job
ed i love u - josh i love u - matt ilove you - nick i love u billy i love u - johny i love u - diego i love u - austin i love u
toy machine or die
i will go toy machine cuse im nwe pro some say its stupid but im do it job
ed i love u - josh i love u - matt ilove you - nick i love u billy i love u - johny i love u - diego i love u - austin i love u
toy machine or die
Posted By: slug ((erfan)) on February 17th, 2009 at 11:22AM PST
erfan_forgoten@yahoo.com
Posted By: slug ((erfan)) on February 17th, 2009 at 11:24AM PST
Ok I quite frankly dont like obama or mccain but I dont care if someone promotes there canidate but obviously your some dumb fuck liberal who thinks that promotion of the canidate you dont like is brainwashing the younger kids who cant even vote. Sir you are truly fucking retarded
Posted By: Mark on February 23rd, 2009 at 06:16PM PST
\"who\'s this Obama dude everyone keeps talking about?\"
lol who let trapasso on the comment boards
lol who let trapasso on the comment boards
Posted By: ? on February 23rd, 2009 at 06:18PM PST
toy machine or die
Posted By: slug on February 24th, 2009 at 11:40AM PST
Fuck that kid. At least he expresses how he feels. But, Ed definitely showed him.
And, all this means is: loyal pawns will be getting more decks.
And, all this means is: loyal pawns will be getting more decks.
Posted By: raunchy on March 2nd, 2009 at 06:11PM PST
Good for you, everyone is so afraid of letting people know what they think, just so they can make a buck. Good for that guy to express himself, but to judge you for doing the same....this is what is wrong with Republicians.
Posted By: mom of skaters on March 26th, 2009 at 07:22PM PST
what a cunt ohh my god what a CUNT!
Posted By: the dude on April 22nd, 2009 at 11:13AM PST
i bet that unworthy idiot traded his deck in for dope. or a go team bush tee shirt. or got a sweet deal on both.
Posted By: kjoy<3toy on April 30th, 2009 at 02:33AM PST
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Posted By: Crollevejep on May 1st, 2009 at 12:15PM PST
While I don't support Obama, I do greatly admire your stolidity. Openly supporting him won't indoctrinate people. Sometimes people just need to stop being sensitive and suck it up.
Posted By: Eric Vance on April 24th, 2010 at 10:13AM PST
