Fla. Pastor Wins a New Car for Canceling Koran Burning
- Posted on October 15, 2010 at 3:45pm by
Meredith Jessup
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SOUTH BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Car dealer Brad Benson made the pitch to Florida pastor Terry Jones in one of his quirky radio ads: If you don’t burn a Quran, I’ll give you a new car.
He was surprised, though, when a representative for Jones called to collect the 2011 Hyundai Accent, retailing for $14,200.
“They said unless I was doing false advertising, they would like to arrange to pick up the car,” Benson recalled. At first he thought it was a hoax, so Benson asked Jones to send in a copy of his driver’s license. He did.
Jones, of Gainesville, Fla., told The Associated Press that the free car wasn’t the reason he called off the burning — and that he didn’t even hear about the offer until a few weeks after Sept. 11, when he had threatened to set the Muslim holy book on fire.
He said he plans to donate the car to an organization that helps abused Muslim women.
The pastor will have to pick up the car at Brad Benson Mitsubishi Hyundai in South Brunswick — known locally for Benson’s radio ads focusing more on current events than cars — so he can fill out paperwork. No date has been set for the handover.
Jones had threatened to burn the Quran over plans to build an Islamic center and mosque near where terrorists brought down the World Trade Center nine years ago. Muslims revere the book as the word of God and view its destruction as sacrilege.
His plans drew opposition across the world. President Barack Obama appealed to him on television, and Defense Secretary Robert Gates called him personally. Gen. David Petraeus, head of the U.S. mission in Afghanistan, said carrying out the plan would have endangered American troops.
Benson, a former New York Giants center, said he originally offered Jones use of a car for a year if he refused to burn a Quran ever.
“I just didn’t think that was a good thing for our country right now,” Benson said.
He‘s now giving Jones the car outright because he doesn’t want to be connected to whatever the Florida pastor does with it.
“I don’t want to be involved in the politics of that,” Benson said.
Before he made his decision, Benson asked listeners to weigh in on whether he should honor his promise.
More than 2,600 people responded by phone and e-mail, and the vast majority, Benson said, urged him to keep his word.
One caller suggested painting sayings from various religious books — the Quran, the Talmud, the King James Bible — on the car.
“What you didn’t say was what the car was going to look like when you gave it to him,” the caller said.
Another caller told Benson to “be a man” and keep his promise. And some encouraged Benson to pick his own charity to get a car.
In 2003, Benson offered another newsmaker — Saddam Hussein — a new car if he fled Iraq. That commercial wasn’t as successful, and Benson pulled the ad after two days, replacing it with one apologizing for any offense that was taken.
The Quran commercial was part of a regular “idiot award” segment Benson has singled out others for, including Lindsey Lohan, Mel Gibson and Roger Clemens.
“We don’t have your typical car commercial,” Benson said.
But they are memorable — and effective. Three years ago, he was selling 60 cars a month, he said. Today, that number is between 500 and 600 — making him one of the state’s most successful dealers.
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Comments (58)
Alydia
Posted on October 16, 2010 at 12:23amSell out! Not that I thought he was a REAL Christian because he waffled so much…don’t give him anymore exposure….let him go quietly into the night!
Report Post »charles48
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 11:29pmAlmost start a world conflict WIN A HYUNDAI why the hell not rewarding bad behavior again not a good path to continue down
Report Post »KL
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 11:07pmDisturbing.
Report Post »mcFirst
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 10:15pmthis guy is getting 10times the pr then anything he could do on the radio.
Report Post »N37BU6
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 10:02pmI was really bothered by this until I got to
“He said he plans to donate the car to an organization that helps abused Muslim women.”
While the dealer did say it, it still kind of smacks of extortion… but if it will help someone, I’m alright with it.
Report Post »DRAIN_THE_CESSPOOL
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 10:02pmMaybe these muslims that stone young innocent women to death can be offered Hyundais to hold back from murder?
Report Post »A Hoosier Says
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 9:34pmPlease stop reporting on this idiot, that’s what he wants.
Report Post »TexBork
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 8:21pmFigures. I think he’s a knucklehead.
Report Post »MrButcher
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 6:07pma Hyundai Accent? yuck.
he should have burned the book.
Report Post »PurrrpleMtnMajesty
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 5:12pmWhat’s wrong with you people…no one forced this dealer to offer a car.
Report Post »Obviously he wanted to cash in on the publicity and it is a small price to pay.
Say what you will about the pastor; he didn’t NOT burn the Koran because of THIS offer
and why shouldn’t he take the care and contribute it to charity. That’s much more
charitable than the dealer who was annnouncing on NJ radios that he was going to renig
on the delivery of the car.
M31Sailor
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 6:20pmIf I get naked and streak very fast past OBummer , throw a book at him, knock the seal off his podium ,get a fly to land on his face, do I get a car and one million dollars?
Report Post »Proud AF Oathkeeper
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 4:57pmGeez, I gave up on killing muslim terrorist when they retired me! Do I get a car too??
Report Post »zagfan
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 4:48pmThis just proves..Almost.Every one can be bought…shame on him!
Report Post »LastChance
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 4:28pmWhat next? Insanity. I hope this car dealer isn’t a parent. You know, “Sweetie pie, if you you don’t set the house on fire daddy will give you a new car.”
Report Post »M31Sailor
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 4:23pmI just cancelled my Koran burning
Were do I pick up my new car?
Report Post »Zoe
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 4:22pmWow, someone here is using a moral compass they got from disneY.
The one sparroW used. ……….
(it only pointed North)
Report Post »Jezreel
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 4:19pmTerry Jones is not a man of God in the first place. He does it for the money and is a hireling. People who follow him instead of following the Lord deserve what they get. No wonder the world looks at Christians like they are a bunch of idiots. It is disgusting. It would be good if that man would hear from God. I wonder if he is hungry to hear from God?
Report Post »NoName22
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 7:32pmAll he did was say something. Granted it was some crazy talk that generated a great amount of attention for his church, but he didn’t perform any actions, he simply spoke.
If he follows up and gives this car away, especially to the organization that was mentioned in this article, all the people in other countries who ACTUALLY BURNED flags and whatever else they burned to express their tolerance……he’s clean for the most part.
Report Post »Jezreel
Posted on October 16, 2010 at 12:09pmWhat I am wondering that if he is supposed to be a man of God and God told him to do that then he should have went through with it. He never made it clear because he wanted to be on safe ground. I am sure God never spoke to him about doing something like that, but, if God did tell him and he didn’t he is going to pay a big price. You don’t disobey a direct order from God. Burning a book accomplishes nothing just as burning bibles does not stop the word of God from fulfillling what it says it will.
Report Post »I am sorry if I am too judgemental towards him if he is truly a child of God. It is just that today, we have so many hirelings in the pulpits that are twisting the word of God about tithing that was for the Levitical priesthood and the majority of these denominational leaders lie to the congregations to make sure that they get their paycheck. If more people would read the word and seek God, they would realize that false sheperds and hirelings do not have the power of God upon them. The true church needs to continue to come to repentance and these men who preach for a living need to step down and be honest for once in their life. Usually, if the church is small, that can be a good thing.
Contrarianthinker
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 4:13pmCalled positive reinforcement. Works in many situtaions. Creative approach to a delicate issue. Great response from Rev Jones. I wonder how widely the MSM will report this? Any bets?
Report Post »Firelight
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 4:47pmI’m laughin now The MSM is the joke.
Report Post »A1955Rosie
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 4:13pmThis is about TREATMENT OF WOMEN UNDER sharia…and an act to SPEAK OUT AGAINST IT. I would not wish to see the pastor benifit nor did he say he wanted to. He’s GIVING to the women who are oppressed under this law. Keep you eyes on this sharia ball. The intent will always be to make America sharia complliant (smoking ban in central park and other open forums under the guise of pollution?) and it’s becomming successfull under different guises. DON’T LOOSE YOUR FOCUS MEN.
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 3:55pmSo will he offer a car to Rauf if he backs off his plan to top the graves of 9-11 victims with a mosque ?
Report Post »wingedwolf
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 3:59pmI say we offer him a one way ticket for a ride on the new space shuttle being offered to the public!
Report Post »NoName22
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 3:55pmMy favorite thing about the Quran burning is all Jerry Jones did was say he was going to………Then everyone else started burning flags and who knows what else, having riots, people getting hurt.
Condemned for what you say in a country protecting free speech.
I do love WHO the car is going to be donated to. How many abused Muslim women are abused at the hands of their fellow believers?
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2010/10/shariasanctioned_marital_rape.html
Report Post »PurrrpleMtnMajesty
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 5:16pmAbsolutely!!
Report Post »I don’t believe the pastor had any intentions other than to show how LITTLE it would take to
cause muslim threats of death and violance…and how crazy this country is in defending it.
theninthplanet
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 3:54pmStep 1 – Threaten to burn Quran.
Report Post »Step 2 – Outrage all of Islam
…
Step 4- Profit???
john seven eighteen
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 3:57pmNo, Prophet!
Report Post »NoName22
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 3:59pmHahahahaha……Not alot of people will know where this comes from, but I can dig it.
Report Post »walkwithme1966
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 6:50pmDon’t seem quite right does it!! I wonder if he will really donate it to a charity for Muslim women? Oh, on a lighter note – 1 more payment and my car is paid off!!! Yeah me!!
http://wp.me/pYLB7-eD
Report Post »john seven eighteen
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 3:54pmIdiot award or not, a free car is a free car. I hope he really does donate it to charity, though.
Report Post »RobertCA
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 4:11pmI hope that will happen “ donate the car ” that’s a great idea .
Report Post »kuhl
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 5:11pmI’m sure he will donate the car…to HIS church.
Report Post »wingedwolf
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 3:54pmHey, I didn’t burn a quoran! What do I get?
Report Post »workerant
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 7:39pmI was sitting in the bathroom today, suddenly I realized that I was out of toilet paper! There was only a bible sitting there that I read while doing my business, I thought I could rip a few pages from it and get a good wipe, but I used my hand instead…. So I should get a car too.
Report Post »wesaidso
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 10:23pmSend all your quorans to me I need to keep warm this winter………
Report Post »HKS
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 3:53pmLooks like publicity stunts do pay off.
Report Post »LadyLiberty
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 4:05pmYes, they do. We all got to see just hot ‘tolerant’ the ‘Religion of Peace’ really is with all those death threats, Jihad warnings and rioting. Worth more than a Hyundai I think.
Report Post »freeus
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 5:52pmYah, what will he come up with next? Perhaps next time he will get a vacation condo.
Report Post »Slevdog1
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 3:52pmSo if I call Obama a racist, and later retract, that means I get a vacation hacineda in Hawaii!
Report Post »2
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 4:22pmWhy didn’t He get to pick the car?
Report Post »A Hummer, not a piece of Crap .
It’s not even American you Terd.
*************************
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 4:34pm“He said he plans to donate the car to an organization that helps abused Muslim women.”
Yes, terrorists even terrorize their own families — an ideology of hate.
cowboy LYLE: “How ’bout some more beans, Mr. Taggart?”
Report Post »boss TAGGART [sniffing the air & fanning with his hat]: ‘I’d say you’ve had enough.”
-Blazing Saddles
Robert W
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 9:18pmIf you burn a hyundia do you get a koran?
Report Post »Contrarian51
Posted on October 15, 2010 at 9:32pmNo, you have to threaten to call him a racist and then find someone stupid enough to offer you something if you don’t follow through with it.
Report Post »