October 19, 2009

Mary Dillon,

Executive Vice President and Global Chief Marketing Officer

McDonald’s Corporation

2111 McDonald's Dr
Oak Brook, IL 60523

Re: Sponsorship of "Football Night in America",

Ms. Dillon,

In the past several days, former NFL Commissioner, Roger S. Goodell - and current acting co-commissioners, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson; have determined that the NFL should not allow a minority investor to become part of the St. Louis Rams because he might be considered "divisive"  due to his statements and positions in political matters.

Specifically former chairman Goodell stated, "I think divisive comments are not what the NFL is all about."

Additionally the esteemed owner Jim Irsay, (who moved his team from predominantly black Baltimore,  to  predominantly white Indianapolis under cover of darkness) backed up former commissioner Goodell by stating, "Our words do damage, and it’s something that we don’t need. We need to get to a higher level of humanity, and we have."

Further, US Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, chairman of the new "House Committee on NFL Owners", explained on the floor of the House of Representatives that the NFL cannot have an owner that is "divisive" . . ."regardless of what he wants to pretend to say on his radio station."  (We have not received clarification from Rep. Lee on how one can pretend to say something on the radio.)

While it has become clear that the divisive comments which elicited the above policy positions were never stated by the the individual to whom they were attributed; as a fan of NFL football I recognize that the NFL has a right to make such policy, and that wish to support the policy of  "anti- divisiveness" in the NFL.  In support of this policy I urge McDonalds to withdraw its sponsorship of "Football Night in America" which features the highly divisive studio host Kieth Olbermann.  Mr. Olbermann has a history of making such divisive statements as:

 Describing Michele Malkin as a

"mashed-up bag of meat with lipstick on it."

In referring to either a sitting U.S. President or the U.S. Military,

"Mr. Bush, at long last, has it not dawned on you that the America you have now created, includes cold-blooded killers who will kill people to achieve their political objectives?”

Described american citizens gathering to protest excesses of the current administration as

"just looking for a reason to yell at the black president,"

Unlike quotations attributed to the prospective minority investor in the St. Louis Rams, the above statements were actually made by Mr. Olbermann, and clearly violate the NFL policy on "anti-divisivness."  While I firmly support Mr. Olbermanns right to make such statements, no matter how ignorant and uninformed his opinions might be, his presence on  "Football Night in America" is unacceptable.  Accordingly, I wish to urge McDonalds to withdraw its sponsorship from "Football Night in America" until such time that Mr. Olbermann is removed.  Additionally, although I often enjoy a coffee and breakfast sandwich in the morning, will refrain from making any purchases of McDonalds products until either McDonalds withdraws its sponsorship or Mr. Olbermann is removed from "Football Night in America".

Sincerely,