Law Camping World closes location amid controversy over huge American flag

[HomeCheese]

Why won't the RV guy comply with the code? I don't get it? Don't the rules apply to his business too?

 

[oldshadow]

The city has a right to enforce their laws on this. That doesn't make them free from the results of that. The business owner said fuck it I'm closing down and taking my money and business elsewhere. In fact others that support him and the flag can bring pressure on other business and the city financially.

 

[Andy Capp]

You're bringing up shit that literally no one is talking about.

He's the kind of troll I like--totally obvious, and easily ignored.

 

[Scerpi]

There was a point in time when you could survey the world population and you would get a lot of people to agree with you on the assertion that the USA is the greatest country in the world.

That is no longer the case. Your country is descending into a level of authoritarianism and inhumanity that the world looks at in disgust. American exceptionalism no longer exists, or perhaps it never did, and the continued arrogance on display from your world leaders is an affront to all levels of decency.

The US gives everyone else the ick

lol... Meh

Don't give a fuck

And that's rich considering all the authoritarian shit that's been happening in the UK and the EU.

lol.. get the fuck out of there

 

[Scerpi]

I too have a car dealership in my town that has a gigantic American flag. The thing is awesome. It has not once cause an accident of obstructed anyone’s view of the sky.

I feel like there is a couple city council members that are drunk on power. That being said, a city is free to say what their zoning ordinances are, even if I think they’re stupid.

Two things can be true

 

[Damien Karras]

lol... Meh

Don't give a fuck

And that's rich considering all the authoritarian shit that's been happening in the UK and the EU.

lol.. get the fuck out of there

Get the fuck out of here. None of what I said was rich by any standard compared to what is happening in the US. No one else is suspending people's rights to deport them to foreign prisons and make no effort to bring them back when the courts rule they need to do it. European governments are not actively engaging in muzzling scientists, journalists and law firms. No other government is sending in rich donors and oligarchs to systematically wipe out entire government programs and funding by circumventing rule of law.

Your flag is no longer synonymous with freedom. It takes a special kind of person to refuse to see that

 

[koquerelle]

from 2020:

Fact check: Camping World CEO is misquoted in viral meme​

The claim: Camping World CEO told Trump supporters they are not welcome at the company's stores​

A meme first posted to Facebook in January shows a photo of Camping World CEO Marcus Lemonis and the company logo. Written on the photograph is a statement attributed to him: "To President Donald Trump Supporters — Frankly, don't shop at my business."

To date, the post has been shared over 156,000 times. USA TODAY has reached out to the Facebook user for comment.

It started with an interview​

The genesis of the meme is an August 2017 interview of Lemonis on the cable business news network CNBC.

Lemonis was asked about the economic boom the country's businesses were experiencing, and he replied it was not correct to give President Donald Trump and his economic team total credit for the good fortunes.

"This notion that the economy is being driven solely by Trump is somewhat laughable," Lemonis said. "There's good fundamentals happening with these companies."

The interview took place in the aftermath of a white supremacist and neo-Nazi rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Amid images of torch-bearing demonstrators chanting anti-Jewish slogans as they marched, a confrontation between those at the "United the Right" rally and counter-protesters resulted in a fatality. In addition, two law enforcement agents died when the helicopter they were using to help keep the peace crashed.

After Trump refused to condemn the racist and anti-Semitic marchers, saying there had been "fine people" on both sides, a number of CEOs on the president's White House advisory business councils resigned.

Lemonis was not a member of those councils. But he was asked about the situation in the CNBC interview.

"Now I, of course, along with the other CEOs, are horrified by what we're hearing and seeing from this administration," he said. "But as the CEO of Camping World, it's important to recognize, or the CEO of any company, that we speak for ourselves as individuals on public policy. We speak for our companies as it relates to policy that affects our business. Obviously this one does. But we just need to be very careful. I'm just concerned about certain CEOs dancing on the fence fearing retaliation or fearing something. It's scary right now."

Then he added: "There’s no doubt that there is probably not many consumers in this country today that are in favor of what has been said in the last couple days and if they are, quite frankly, don’t shop at my business. And I think that the reality of it is that there is a fear, a fear of association."

Lemonis then said he supported the president and his administration on key economic and financial initiatives.

"There's no doubt that Trump's ideas around reform and taxes, I think everybody is in favor of, deregulating and things of that nature," he said. "But when you start to get into attacking people personally, or questioning the humanity, or questioning what this country stands for, I think that discussion has to change."

Lemonis apologizes​

Days later, Lemonis issued an apology, saying: “The mistake I made in the last week was not being clear. As the CEO of a business, I am responsible to take care of the people that work there.”

The company also posted on its blog to clarify Lemonis' comments, and perhaps address similar memes. An undated post states: "Marcus is very aware that many of our shoppers support President Trump, and he was aware of that last August when he asked that Camping World not be supported by those who believe skin color or political beliefs make any one person inferior to another. This belief is clearly not something that supporters of the President, nor most Americans, hold, which is why Marcus’s comments were never to discourage members of any one political party from shopping with us."

It added: "There are images with false quotes, but Marcus never stated that those who support the President aren’t welcome at Camping World."

Our ruling: Partly false​

We rate this claim as PARTLY FALSE, as it presents a mix of true and false information. The meme wrongly claims Lemonis was speaking directly and specifically about Trump supporters in his comments. Listening to the entire audio clip, it is very clear that Lemonis was referring to anyone who was in support of the neo-Nazis, white nationalists and white supremacists who marched in Virginia that weekend.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...ng-world-ceo-misquoted-viral-meme/5660368002/

The man is shifting the blame to the flag controversy and trying to revive his image. I don't totally blame him.

 

[curryjunkie]

You're not American and have zero comprehension of living in the greatest country in the history of the world.

 

[KaNesDeath]

What is the real reason?

Stubbornness and some misdirection by the owner.

He was asked to take it down and refused. Was fined and refused to pay the fines. Forcing the Town Council to take legal action which he responded by closing down one of two locations in the area.

Chances are he needed to downsize an used this as the excuse. For you can see from Google Earth this was a recent flagpole upgrade installation: https://maps.app.goo.gl/c9ABCwGE8W6iE9Wz9

Right across the street is a residential neighborhood. Try living there with a flagpole of this size clanging in the night and 24/7.

 

[KaNesDeath]

Can't believe I had to hear about a major news story like this in the war room. Why isn't this front page news all over the world?

Last time a similar story hit national news. Was when FOX News used such a story to not talk about how badly Iraq was going under Bush.

 

[cincymma79]

Why won't the RV guy comply with the code? I don't get it? Don't the rules apply to his business too?

Because it’s mine and if I don’t want to I don’t have to. Feel free to open a business there. There’s a building for rent

 

[MMA IAN]

GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN/Gray News) – An ongoing battle between nationwide RV dealer Camping World and city officials in Greenville, North Carolina has taken another turn.

In an interview Tuesday on local radio station WTIB, Camping World CEO Marcus Lemonis said he closed one of his two Greenville locations on Friday.

The controversy stems from giant American flags at the businesses that are larger than what the city code allows. But Lemonis has been adamant about not taking them down, despite thousands of dollars in fines from the city.

Lemonis has said that even if he were to be taken to jail over the flags, he still wouldn’t take them down.

However, he acknowledged that the controversy has made an impact on his business. He shuttered the Forest River RV location on Greenville Boulevard on Friday, telling employees it was closing due to the controversy created by the city council.

“We think the ordinance is wrong,” Lemonis said. “I think it’s also wrong council members have been working very actively to disparage my business, and on Friday I had to consolidate modification of two dealerships in town … our business which has been unfortunately impacted uniquely in Greenville NC.”

The Greenville City Council voted 4-2 in March to hire outside legal counsel to sue Lemonis and Camping World.

Lemonis told WITN shortly after the vote that he still would not take down the flag.

“Not when they sue, not when I lose, not if they take me to jail, the flag is not coming down,” he said.

Read More....

==========================================================================================

Each Camping World has a revenue of about $29 million a year. As the flags comes down so do the tax revenues, jobs, and ancillary businesses. It should be a $2 million + annual hit in tax revenue for the city / state. The state didn't give a crap, but apparently there are 4 members on the city council that are not fans of the American flag. Camping world prior to all of this blowing up requested that the city council amend the city ordinance to accommodate the flag. They denied it. Camping World tried.

View attachment 1092323

The city council's has two reasons...

• The flag obstructs views... lol - What view? That flag improves the view if anything.
• The flag is a distraction for drivers ... lol

We have a giant American Flag on Beach Blvd. at a car dealership and have for decades. We've not had a single accident near it or because of it... ever. Beach Blvd. is 8 lanes and far more busy.

It may be interesting to see how the next City Council elections go?

Clearly the world has bigger issues. Are these small people with power looking to exercise it? Anti-American? What is the real reason?

I guessed 3 out of 4 anti flag voters before I noticed how they voted was on top left.

 

[PRIDEWASBETTER]

This whole thing is dumb. Went to East Carolina in Greenville and the flag was NEVER an issue until very recently. There's giant American flags all over the area. Pure silliness.

 

[Osculater]

Stubbornness and some misdirection by the owner.

He was asked to take it down and refused. Was fined and refused to pay the fines. Forcing the Town Council to take legal action which he responded by closing down one of two locations in the area.

Chances are he needed to downsize an used this as the excuse. For you can see from Google Earth this was a recent flagpole upgrade installation: https://maps.app.goo.gl/c9ABCwGE8W6iE9Wz9

Right across the street is a residential neighborhood. Try living there with a flagpole of this size clanging in the night and 24/7.

Obviously, the neighborhood hates freedom

 

[My Spot]

Stubbornness and some misdirection by the owner.

He was asked to take it down and refused. Was fined and refused to pay the fines. Forcing the Town Council to take legal action which he responded by closing down one of two locations in the area.

Chances are he needed to downsize an used this as the excuse. For you can see from Google Earth this was a recent flagpole upgrade installation: https://maps.app.goo.gl/c9ABCwGE8W6iE9Wz9

Right across the street is a residential neighborhood. Try living there with a flagpole of this size clanging in the night and 24/7.

Should've just flown a smaller flag like this guy does next to the interstate in Tampa.

 

[Confucamus]

Yeah, this ranks right up there with Rosa Parks not sitting in the back.

 

[LeonardoBjj]

Are giant American flags a thing at RV dealerships?

We have a local RV dealership that also has an American flag, larger than the one in dispute here..

I don’t see the problem, flag isn’t even that big..

- The only problem i would see is if some strong wind snaps the flag always causing a acident. Theres this risk?

 

[syct23]

- The only problem i would see is if some strong wind snaps the flag always causing a acident. Theres this risk?

Nope,

Not the one over here, Its flying in the damn desert. Most it’s gonna do is fly into some cactus…

 

[Siver!]

There was a point in time when you could survey the world population and you would get a lot of people to agree with you on the assertion that the USA is the greatest country in the world.

That is no longer the case. Your country is descending into a level of authoritarianism and inhumanity that the world looks at in disgust. American exceptionalism no longer exists, or perhaps it never did, and the continued arrogance on display from your world leaders is an affront to all levels of decency.

The US gives everyone else the ick

This.

I don't know if it will be long term or short term, but the consensus seems to be that the world is tired of America, its posturing, and most of all its politics.

Time to get some serious candidates. Joe and Trump have been abysmal. Sort it out.

And get a better media leader than Rupert Murdoch and his family.

 

[jefferz]

from 2020:

Fact check: Camping World CEO is misquoted in viral meme​

The claim: Camping World CEO told Trump supporters they are not welcome at the company's stores​

A meme first posted to Facebook in January shows a photo of Camping World CEO Marcus Lemonis and the company logo. Written on the photograph is a statement attributed to him: "To President Donald Trump Supporters — Frankly, don't shop at my business."

To date, the post has been shared over 156,000 times. USA TODAY has reached out to the Facebook user for comment.

It started with an interview​

The genesis of the meme is an August 2017 interview of Lemonis on the cable business news network CNBC.

Lemonis was asked about the economic boom the country's businesses were experiencing, and he replied it was not correct to give President Donald Trump and his economic team total credit for the good fortunes.

"This notion that the economy is being driven solely by Trump is somewhat laughable," Lemonis said. "There's good fundamentals happening with these companies."

The interview took place in the aftermath of a white supremacist and neo-Nazi rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Amid images of torch-bearing demonstrators chanting anti-Jewish slogans as they marched, a confrontation between those at the "United the Right" rally and counter-protesters resulted in a fatality. In addition, two law enforcement agents died when the helicopter they were using to help keep the peace crashed.

After Trump refused to condemn the racist and anti-Semitic marchers, saying there had been "fine people" on both sides, a number of CEOs on the president's White House advisory business councils resigned.

Lemonis was not a member of those councils. But he was asked about the situation in the CNBC interview.

"Now I, of course, along with the other CEOs, are horrified by what we're hearing and seeing from this administration," he said. "But as the CEO of Camping World, it's important to recognize, or the CEO of any company, that we speak for ourselves as individuals on public policy. We speak for our companies as it relates to policy that affects our business. Obviously this one does. But we just need to be very careful. I'm just concerned about certain CEOs dancing on the fence fearing retaliation or fearing something. It's scary right now."

Then he added: "There’s no doubt that there is probably not many consumers in this country today that are in favor of what has been said in the last couple days and if they are, quite frankly, don’t shop at my business. And I think that the reality of it is that there is a fear, a fear of association."

Lemonis then said he supported the president and his administration on key economic and financial initiatives.

"There's no doubt that Trump's ideas around reform and taxes, I think everybody is in favor of, deregulating and things of that nature," he said. "But when you start to get into attacking people personally, or questioning the humanity, or questioning what this country stands for, I think that discussion has to change."

Lemonis apologizes​

Days later, Lemonis issued an apology, saying: “The mistake I made in the last week was not being clear. As the CEO of a business, I am responsible to take care of the people that work there.”

The company also posted on its blog to clarify Lemonis' comments, and perhaps address similar memes. An undated post states: "Marcus is very aware that many of our shoppers support President Trump, and he was aware of that last August when he asked that Camping World not be supported by those who believe skin color or political beliefs make any one person inferior to another. This belief is clearly not something that supporters of the President, nor most Americans, hold, which is why Marcus’s comments were never to discourage members of any one political party from shopping with us."

It added: "There are images with false quotes, but Marcus never stated that those who support the President aren’t welcome at Camping World."

Our ruling: Partly false​

We rate this claim as PARTLY FALSE, as it presents a mix of true and false information. The meme wrongly claims Lemonis was speaking directly and specifically about Trump supporters in his comments. Listening to the entire audio clip, it is very clear that Lemonis was referring to anyone who was in support of the neo-Nazis, white nationalists and white supremacists who marched in Virginia that weekend.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...ng-world-ceo-misquoted-viral-meme/5660368002/

The man is shifting the blame to the flag controversy and trying to revive his image. I don't totally blame him.

Jesus Christ, we've gotten to the point where the political leanings of Camper World make the news.
They sell campers. Who the fuck cares what political party they support.

This is all rage bait bullshit.