Maybe, MADD should be ‘mad’ about it’s *own* relationship with NASCAR. An entity actually born from Moonshiners running bootleg and evading the law by driving recklessly putting untold numbers of people in mortal danger, nevermind breaking the laws of the day.

So why is NASCAR okay for MADD? Is it because they are now organized and respectable as a sport with driver heroes? Has MADD forgiven them of their prior indiscretions because they’ve paid their debt to society (and donations to them) and now have responsible drivers who are role models to our children? And many drivers and maybe even the organization represents MADD’s message? Or may it be that NASCAR’s words and actions just don’t mesh. And dare I say, if MADD is looking to link the messenger to cause and effect it’s hard to beat the message NASCAR is sending by linking cars, alcohol and driving fast, much more so than any disembodied voice shilling cars ever could imo.

Seriously, how many race fans sit back with a few brews and fantasize of driving one of those fast, souped up cars, painted in all those bright, shiny and impression-making alcohol ads across the finish line under a checkered flag to the cheers of the crowd. A crowd in the stands made up of many also feeling no pain and living the same fantasy and just itching to get out on the road home after a fun day at the track. How many kids idolize the drivers and are awed by the cars. How many children can identify the alcohol brands of the graphics on those same cars? Is this what MADD considers sending the right message?

I mean, if Kiefer’s disembodied voice alone, and what power you’ve given him by the way, can connect cars, driving and drinking, what kind of message is NASCAR sending with those flashy, alcohol graphic laden cars ??

IMO, if MADD wants to judge who and what is ‘deserving’ they should consider a little internal soul searching and maybe clean their own house first before they issue a press release that attacks anyone else’s moral character and suitability to deliver a commercial message associated with cars.

Oh, but that won’t be so easy, see MADD receives money from those involved in NASCAR through fundraisers and other means.

And of course you can’t bite the hand that feeds *you*, that would be rude. So by all means MADD continue to look the other way, afterall what does integrity have to do with getting your message out. It’s a slippery slope.

And NO, I take no pleasure in making this post as I believe and dutifully follow MADD’s “Don’t Drink and Drive” message. I know that it has saved many lives over the years and I support that. But personally, I wish MADD would return to their original charter and continue their good work with educating people on the dangers of drinking and driving and getting the “Don’t drink and drive” message out.

Those are honorable missions worth supporting.

Personally I don’t think Kiefer doing voice overs for Ford, or NASCAR advertising Alcohol on their cars compel consumers to go out and drink and drive or believe that it is an acceptable practice.

Maybe, just maybe instead of looking for media and celebrity scapegoats for influencing all of societies ills and poor judgments, maybe our society should support and advocate a system where it’s citizens actually accept personal responsibility for their decisions and actions. Hmmmm… sort of like Kiefer accepting responsibilty for his.

Imo, MADD should leave the politics to others and moral judgments to GOD.

Kiefer probably wishes that he would have gotten the same sentence that “ordinary” people get, but his need to guarantee production of 24 would not be interrupted (which is a moot point with the writer’s strike) caused him to accept an unusually harsh plea. The sad part is, that without the plea bargain, he probably would have been released in a matter of hours due to overcrowding, just like Nichol and Lindsay and many “ordinary” people are every day.

I’m all for harsh sentences for drunk driving and I’m all for celebrities getting the same treatment as everyone else, but if you’re going to hold up an example of a celebrity who got a slap on the wrist, you’ve picked the wrong one!

As for his deal with Ford, it’s just a voice people! They’re not showing him driving around in a new SUV with a six pack between his legs! How many people even know or care that it’s the voice of Kiefer Sutherland? Of those who do know, how many are sitting around saying “Kiefer Sutherland is my hero! I want to be just like him. I think I’ll go buy a new Ford SUV and drive around drunk so I can go to jail just like Kiefer!”. Ridiculous, isn’t it?

MADD needs to just back off. They’re making themselves look STUPID fighting over a voice in a TV commercial when there are real issues involving drunk driving that could use their attention.

why should celebs be considered “role models”?

if people rely on celebs to be the role models for their kids, that’s also stupid. and that’s why i say MADD – and groups like them which are so ridiculously and intolerently PC are too sensitive and should just get over themselves.

You say, “Nor have you mentioned the other sentencing he received: 5 years probation, a 510.00 fine, six months of alcohol therapy, and participation for 18 months in an alcoholic education program. His license has already been taken for a year.”

Actually, I did point that out in an earlier story (http://www.p2pnet.net/story/14239), which is linked to in this post.

“he is there as an inmate worker assigned duties that involve the prison laundry and kitchen services to other inmates …” which IMHO is as it should be.

Meanwhile, the pic wasn’t mean to implicate that Ford should silence him. It was meant to show he speaks for Ford. But I do think they should silence him, and I fully agree with the poster above ^^^.

it’s not tasteless. groups like that are too sensitive. get a life. get over yourselves.

*****

MAE: who are you and why do you know so much about the case? are you kiefer’s lawyer? (just asking – not many people post with their real names unless they’re an authority on something.)

The sentence on the books for a second DUI in California in the US is 6 mos. to 18 mos, yes,, but reality is most people with a second DUI in the state of California serve approximately 10 days or 15 with bargaining due to early release. Mr. Sutherland has absolutely no option for early release and arranged to serve 48 days straight. They are not being blocked out. He did previously a sentencing arrangement to protect his show, but he made it by ADDING to his time that was formally sentenced. Please contrast his sentence to the ridiculous sentence of actress Lindsay Lohan, who served 84 minutes, yes, minutes for the same offense.

There are no facts to support your insertion and prejudicial assumption that anything special is being done for him.

He has moved the serving of that sentence as part of a program the City of Glendale has with Los Angeles County because of overcrowding and violence. It is not a pay-to-stay program; he is there as an inmate worker assigned duties that involve the prison laundry and kitchen services to other inmates, one of them an alleged quadruple attempted murder.

He was moved there at his request for reasons of his personal safety since that was not something that could be guaranteed without his being in lock-up for 23 hours a day. NOW… he will be housed with the general population.

Nor have you mentioned the other sentencing he received: 5 years probation, a 510.00 fine, six months of alcohol therapy, and participation for 18 months in an alcoholic education program. His license has already been taken for a year.

This was no celebrity being pampered. Your writer’s comments were inappropriate or perhaps she was unable to distinguish Mr. Sutherland’s 48 days from Lindsay Lohan’s 84 minutes for the same or conducting oneself with dignity and not as if your cell should be a suite in the … Hilton.

In any case, your headlines and graphic of Mr. Sutherland here with the implication that Ford should silence him is indicative that your publication has questionable standard regardless or some axe to grind about celebrities getting light sentences. In this case, you’ve mistaken Sutherland for the normal parade of bimbos. He is taking responsibility and actually voluntarily adding to his jail time to protect others. When the writer’s strike made it apparent there was no need to protect the production of “24″ he did NOT ask to negotiate a lighter sentence, but took the longer one he arranged to protect the show.

Plenty of other news sources including TMZ got it right. What a shame you can’t do better. Try referencing AP’s Daisy Nguyen for an accurate account.

Mae Sutton