Photo by Jensen LarsonNot so fast. Here are some of the comments and tweets that the video and our tweet produced. (Things got cynical swiftly).
On Geoff Shackelford's blog:
Scott: "I think her pr staff or agent came up with this idea. (At) least she did not ask the commissioner of the LPGA to escort her."
Brian S: "I think its terrible. Its her Prom, not a PR / Marketing opportunity. This just emphasizes what a non-normal childhood she has had. Not good."
Ky Laffoon's Ghost: "Lexi is a breath of fresh air, probably mature beyond her years, but who in his right mind lets his 17-year-old daughter go out with a soldier, sailor, airman, or Marine? Just askin'."On Twitter, amid some polite acceptance, and even a few kudos, media debate ensued. Selects:
Stina Sternberg: If you want to take a soldier to prom, why not find someone at your local base? Shouldn't be a premeditated PR move.
Steve Elling: @ShoshEAK Re Lexi deal: You take girl who had an atypical childhood and then put her prom date up for bid? Nothing creepy there!
Ryan Ballengee: The Lexi prom thing is a tad weird, no? But guess who I took to my senior prom? A girl I dumped the month before, to keep my word. #dumb.
Alan Shipnuck: Pretty cool. Slightly creepy. RT @RandallMellGC Want to be Lexi's prom date? If you're a military serviceman apply here on.fb.me/IdINLU
Kevin Price: Mostly creepy. @AlanShipnuck: Pretty cool. Slightly creepy. MT @RandallMellGC Want to be Lexi's prom date? Military serviceman apply here...
Matt Ginella: Only reason why @Lexi prom date promo is weird is if you assume it's more than just a night at a prom. And if you assume that, you're weird.
Stephanie Wei: I just watched the Lexi Prom video. It's even more creepy and cringe-worthy than I imagine. How did that corporate stunt get approved??
There are many more. Here's what we think. Lexi Thompson is 17. Seventeen-year-olds, even 17-year-old professional golfers with professional handlers, do sweet, naive things. They aren't nearly as clever or calculating as we give them credit for -- or as we are. That her parents or her agent didn't anticipate the backlash here is unfortunate, but it offers us all a lesson.Patriotism is in season right now. On the campaign trail. On TV. On tour. It is so in-season, in fact, that corporations are "cause marketing" the military. What brand can seem most grateful for our soldiers -- and in the process collect a bit of gratitude for itself. Maybe Lexi reminds us that patriotism isn't that easy. Read the Pulitzer-Prize winning Huffington Post series by David Wood on wounded vets---read it all, as a patriotic act--and you'll see what we mean. Good for Lexi to try to draw attention to their sacrifices. And if you think her video is too calculating, make a contribution to the American Lake Veterans GC and don't tell anyone about it.-- Bob Carney
