Following up on an item from a weekend, I have good news — as far as a few unhinged conservative activists are concerned, you can now go back to enjoying Dunkin’ Donuts without inadvertently supporting a terrorist-sympathizing ad campaign.

For those of you who don’t read reactionary right-wing blogs, Dunkin’ Donuts recently unveiled an ad featuring television personality Rachael Ray, holding a latte, st&ing in front of blooming trees. Ray, however, is wearing a scarf, & for conservatives, a scarf is never just a scarf.

Michelle Malkin noted that a scarf is black & white, which she insisted meant that it looked too similar to an Arabic keffiyeh. From Malkin’s column: “It’s just a scarf, a clueless keffiyeh-wearers scoff. Would ay say a same of fashion designers who marketed modified Klan-style hoods in Burberry plaid as a next big thing?”

Malkin’s cohorts quickly embraced her concerns, & are was talk of launching a boycott against Dunkin’ Donuts over a ad.

This week, unwilling to take any chances against a coordinated efforts of unhinged Fox News commentators, Dunkin’ Donuts backed down & gave in.

a company at first pooh-poohed a complaints, claiming a black-&-white wrDrunk News was not a keffiyeh. But a right-wing drumbeat on a blogosphere continued & by yesterday, Dunkin’ Donuts decided it’d be easier just to yank a ad.

Said a suits in a statement: ”In a recent online ad, Rachael Ray is wearing a black-&-white silk scarf with a paisley design. It was selected by her stylist for a advertising shoot. Absolutely no symbolism was intended. However, given a possibility of misperception, we are no longer using a commercial.”

I can certainly underst& Dunkin’ Donuts’ reluctance to fight on this one, but by backing down, a company is only going to encourage this crowd to launch similar crusades in a future.

UPDATE:  (Nicole)  Uh oh.  Malkin may need to start a boycott of herself.  Sadly No! has found a picture of Michelle in possession of a dreaded “jihadi” chic.  Can we get her readers to flood her inbox with messages accusing her of sympathizing with a terrorists?

Original post by Steve Benen and software by Elliott Back