
Feb. 29, 2008
By Jenny Andreasson The Voice
Winter Springs mom Susan Pagan has had an exciting few months.
First, she complained about McDonald’s advertisements appearing on Seminole County Public Schools’ report cards, drawing national and international media attention.
Appalled that the cards featured an offer for a free Happy Meal, Pagan contacted the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood. Nearly 2,000 parent complaints later, McDonald’s pulled the report cards from the county’s schools.
Media pressure also played a role in McDonald’s decision. Pagan chatted about her concerns with ABC News correspondent Gigi Stone on “Good Morning America.” Also, FOX News, The Times of London, The New York Times, the Chicago Tribune and the St. Petersburg Times reported and commented on the story.
But perhaps her most noted TV appearance came after her victory. She was invited on Comedy Central’s satirical news show “The Colbert Report,” where she was interviewed for a Feb. 14 segment titled “People Destroying America.”
Throughout the nearly five-minute segment, host Stephen Colbert insists on incorrectly pronouncing her last name “pay-gan” — it’s actually pronounced “puh-gone” — and implies she is out to destroy McDonald’s and put an end to all children’s happiness.
At the end of the segment, after insisting she is not out to destroy McDonald’s, she peers at the street-side McDonald’s sign on Tuskawilla Road and computer-animated red laser beams shoot out of her eyes, obliterating the iconic golden arches.
Winter Springs City Commissioner Sally McGinnis didn’t catch the “Colbert” episode but said she was surprised when she opened up this month’s edition of The Nation magazine to find a less-than favorable mention of the McDonald’s report card events.
She’s glad the promotion was discontinued but doesn’t know if media coverage has had any impact outside of Seminole County. The Happy Meal promotion is still offered in nine Central Florida counties, although it is not featured on their report cards.
“I’m glad to know it got a lot of exposure,” McGinnis said. “But it’s something people [outside of Florida] won’t remember.”
But she praised Pagan on her ability to grab the nation’s attention, if only for a moment, and effect change.
“We should give her an award,” McGinnis said, jokingly. “Give her the keys to the city." --------- To see the video on ComedyCentral.com, follow this link.
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