Googled banned me for saying "Bush = Liar"

[Atman]

That was almost a month ago. Sales have all but stopped since they refused my ad money because my site features a bumper sticker saying Bush = Liar. Well, now that the 9/11 Commission Report has come out, I wonder if they'd listen to an appeal? I mean hell, now the US Government backs up my assertion, how can it be labeled as "offensive" anymore? BUSH is offensive, for christs sake!

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. "Bu$h is offensive" Ain't that the truth?!

[mmonk]

2. Welcome to the new America

You're either with us or you're with the terrorists.

[Syncronaut Seven]

4. Fuck You!

& hand me that nice American made RPG please. I'll only use it to fight the evil red menace, HONEST!!!!

We're so screwed.

[wtmusic]

3. That's pretty unbelievable

Did they offer an explanation? Any chance there was another factor at work?

If that's the case they need to review their policy, big time (possible lawsuit here).

[Eric J in MN]

7. Google has a policy about its ads that

Google has a policy about its ads that they won't advertise any websites which advocate against a person or organization.

This doesn't apply to their regular search listings.

I'm not a lawyer, but in general one can choose who to advertise.

[Eric J in MN]

5. Just drop that one sticker from your main website.

Just drop that one sticker from your main website.

Put it on a webpage you advertise by posting here.

Or if you can't bear to do that, switch to Overture.

It's 10 cents a click instead of 5 cents a click, but whatever.

[Atman]

8. They specifically pointed to the BUSH = LIAR sticker

out of hundreds of designs. I have some I would think most people would find far more offensive, but they specifically stated, in writing, that if I removed the BUSH = LIAR sticker, they would reconsider my store. No other products were mentioned, and the ad copy itself was completely non-offensive...just stated that I sold "Liberal shirts, hats, bumpers stickers and more."

I can't argue with their policy...it is a clearly stated policy, but it seems absurd to apply it to election year political advertising. Only sell nice things? WTF? So the only choice is to give in to them (I had bid considerably higher than 5¢ for some of my keywords -- its a competitive field!) or find other venues. I've been too busy to do much else, so everything just flounders now. It really, really sucks, and has cost me a bunch of money, as I had no back-up ad plan in place.

[Cleita]

6. You can get banned from Google for using words they don't

like as part of their search feature? That's a new one on me. Maybe we should send them copies of the First Ammendment.

[donhakman]

9. What about

Mothers Against Drunk Drivers.

Or a church advocating the elimination of devil worshipers.

Or any ad that the Bush campaign is running?