Nice Fat Contract, Sirius

We incline toward a rather Augustinian view of human nature. We're also somewhat pessimistic about the state of American culture. But then we hear something like this and we think, "Maybe things aren't that bad after all. Maybe most people are decent but just don't vocalize their good opinions." Link. Excerpts:

Hyundai recently surveyed 300 to 400 customers as it was deciding whether to choose XM (down $0.10 to $28.14, Research) or Sirius Satellite Radio in as an option for its vehicles. Hyundai ultimately decided to go with XM.

Why? Because Sirius has Howard Stern.

John Krafcik, Hyundai vice president of product development and strategic planning, told Inside Line that executives were stunned by the number of "unprompted write-ins" on the survey that said customers were "not comfortable with programming from Stern."

It was Stern, no, that said the Columbine killers should have raped a few of the better-looking girls before shooting them? It was Stern, no, who professed his undying allegiance to his wife in his movie, and then divorced her?

Stern is funny; Stern is witty; Stern is rich; Stern is famous. But Stern is, to cull words from Mrs. Scheske's bag of euphemistic phrases for children, "not a nice person." Yet Sirius gave him, what, $50 million to jump over to cable radio and be ultra-obnoxious and obscene?

Good for you, Hyundai customers.