JetBlue Gives Alec Baldwin a Way Out

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By: Shawn Paul Wood

Politics and Hollywood. Nary the two should ever meet. As the sage poster states: No one gives a crap what people in Hollywood think about politics. They get paid to do a job — albeit, much more than any of us — but they think because they have a megaphone, the rest of us minions would just love to hear their proven, educated thoughts on the presidential election.

No one has been a bigger hack than probably Alec Baldwin, whose words in 2004 were noted, "If Bush wins the election, I'm leaving the country."

As the story goes, Dubya wins the election and Alec Baldwin went on...to make movies and "30 Rock." I wonder if he could have done that from Denmark. No, he's full of it, but yet, it was in every news cycle for months. Too bad JetBlue wasn't around then?

Yes, JetBlue Airlines. The on-again, off-again beleaguered airline concocted a way to stay relevant in lieu of the presidential ballyhoo going on, and still do America a favor with a genius PR campaign, "Election Protection 2012."

Customers enter, via their no-frills website, to win a trip out of the country after the election. Choose your favorite political party and bucket list vacation destination. Voting is important and JetBlue notes that, but they also poke fun at the Baldwins, Barbras, and Bocephuses (Hank Williams, Jr., just in case) of the world who never fail to find a camera and ponitificate about their post-election travel plans that never seem to materialize.

I'm not planning to hop a plane with no peanuts (or comfortable seats, woof!) anytime soon, but I dig this campaign. And it is making the rounds virally too. It's also not bad timing that American Airlines is about to crumble and implode. So there's that.

Here's to hoping Alec makes a promise in less than 30 days because this campaign could be all the rage. Sillier things have happened; after all, it is an election year.

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About the Author

Shawn Paul Wood has been a committed flack for more than a decade and is currently an Account Director at HCK2 Partners in Dallas, Texas. Prior to his diverse experience in public relations, copywriting and speech writing, Shawn worked as an on-air talent, producer and copywriter. Ping him here or follow him at @ShawnPaulWood.

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