_001.jpg)
- 0% INTRIGUED
- 0% FURIOUS
- 0% BORED
- 0% THRILLED
- 0% SAD
Known for radio ads that focus heavily on current events, car dealer Brad Benson made a pitch to Pastor Terry Jones urging him to drop plans to host the Qur'an burning event this summer. Benson suggested that if Jones canceled the event, he would give him a $14,200 2011 Hyundai Accent.
Just a week ago, Benson was surprised to take a call from one of Jones’ representatives asking to arrange for the pick-up of the free vehicle.
After sending in his driver’s license to assure Benson of his identity, Jones announced his plans to donate the car to a shelter for battered Muslim women.
Claiming that he did not hear about the ad until after he had called off the Qur'an burning event, the Pastor said, “We are not trying to profit from this. We are not keeping the car for ourselves.”
In 2003, Benson offered Saddam Hussein a free car if he left Iraq in a different radio advertisement; the late President never took him up on the offer however.
Since the announcement of 'International Burn a Koran Day, Jones says that he has received hundreds of death threats, none of which came to fruition. He also said, “Obviously, when the president speaks out, and you get a call from the Secretary of Defense and other military leaders asking you to reconsider, yeah, then we felt it would be pretty arrogant on our part not to reconsider.
He also added that ultimately, “God told us not to do it.”
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
