Wal-Mart cuts ties with PR consultant over controversial Republican TV ad
{{date|October 30, 2006}}

[[w:Wal-Mart|Wal-Mart]] severed links with [[w:Terry Nelson|Terry Nelson]], a Republican strategist, last night because he had connections to a controversial Republican Party advertisement in [[w:Tennessee|Tennessee]].  The ad's purpose was to blast Democratic Senate candidate [[w:Harold Ford|Harold Ford]] Jr, who is running against Republican [[w:Bob Corker|Bob Corker]].

A blonde woman in the ad says, "I met Harold at the Playboy party". As the spot ends, she winks and says breathily: "Harold, call me!".  The ad also "criticised" [[w:Canada|Canada]]. "Canada can take care of [[w:North Korea|North Korea]]," a man in the television ad says. "They're not busy."

Nelson and his company, CrossLink Strategy Group, were hired by Wal-Mart last year in an attempt to help the company.

[[w:Jesse Jackson|Jesse Jackson]], an American politician, and other leaders signed a letter distributed by WakeUpWal-Mart.com, asking the company to end its relationship with Nelson.

In an interview with the [[w:Associated Press|Associated Press]] Nelson said, "There was no intention to offend anybody and it's unfortunate if people took offense. That was certainly not what people planned for or hoped for."

A spokesman for Wal-Mart, David Tovar, issued a statement saying Nelson's company had "sent a letter to Wal-Mart ending its working relationship with our company."

== Related news ==

*{{Wikinews|title=U.S. Republican Party television ad bashes Canada |date=October 26, 2006}} 

== Sources ==

*{{source|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/story.aspx?siteid=mktw&guid=%7BABE79F2C-722E-4092-9A9C-C16A463286BE%7D
|title=Wal-Mart says PR firm quit following flap over TV ad
|author=James Covert
|pub=MarketWatch
|date=October 30, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/28/us/politics/28walmart.html?ref=politics
|title=Wal-Mart Dismisses Adviser Who Created G.O.P. Ad
|author=Michael Barbaro
|pub=The New York Times
|date=October 28, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://news.monstersandcritics.com/northamerica/article_1215495.php/Wal-Mart_dumps_consultant_in_political_row
|title=Wal-Mart dumps consultant in political row
|author=United Press International
|pub=Monsters and Critics
|date=October 28, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/politics/4294001.html
|title=Wal-Mart, consultant end relations over ad
|author=
|pub=Houston Chronicle
|date=October 27, 2006}}

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[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:Canada]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Economy and business]]
[[Category:Wal-Mart]]
[[Category:Republican Party (United States)]]
Wal-Mart severed links with Terry Nelson, a Republican strategist, last night because he had connections to a controversial Republican Party advertisement in Tennessee.  The ad's purpose was to blast Democratic Senate candidate Harold Ford Jr, who is running against Republican Bob Corker.

A blonde woman in the ad says, "I met Harold at the Playboy party". As the spot ends, she winks and says breathily: "Harold, call me!".  The ad also "criticised" Canada. "Canada can take care of North Korea," a man in the television ad says. "They're not busy."

Nelson and his company, CrossLink Strategy Group, were hired by Wal-Mart last year in an attempt to help the company.

Jesse Jackson, an American politician, and other leaders signed a letter distributed by WakeUpWal-Mart.com, asking the company to end its relationship with Nelson.

In an interview with the Associated Press Nelson said, "There was no intention to offend anybody and it's unfortunate if people took offense. That was certainly not what people planned for or hoped for."

A spokesman for Wal-Mart, David Tovar, issued a statement saying Nelson's company had "sent a letter to Wal-Mart ending its working relationship with our company."
North America Canada United States Politics and conflicts Economy and business Wal-Mart Republican Party (United States)