Head of Cartoon Network resigns following marketing stunt

You have to be kidding me. Head of Cartoon Network resigns following marketing stunt that brought out Boston bomb squad.

Boston’s Mayor Thomas Menino said, “The resignation of their top Cartoon Network executive should serve as a message to all that these types of marketing tactics will not and should not be tolerated.”

I have a feeling that Boston tolerates plenty of marketing tactics. These just happened to have the unanticipated effect of making Mayor Menino’s people look silly.

The Mayor of Boston issuing a public statement containing the phrase “these types of marketing tactics will not and should not be tolerated…” is both laughable and a little depressing. I’m a little surprised that Jim Samples actually stepped down over this, but it would seem someone had to be the sacrificial lamb. It also turned out to be a convenient way to shift focus away from what turned out to be in pretty expensive overreaction by the city of Boston. That indignant tone is some good politics.