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from:msnbc.comSays candidate's anti-gay marriage stance isn't retailer's corporate policy
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Way to go Target! This is one conservative that will continue to shop at Target!
Most of the stuff is from China. Way to support the USA.
Then you will be supporting discrimination, because they are going to take your money and give it to people who want to deny your fellow Americans their "inalienable" rights. But, being a conservative, I doubt you give a damn ...
Who you kidding? You've never shopped at Target. I can tell you're a Wally-Worldette by your poor sentence structure.
We should all be shopping on Main Street anyway. It's the only way Main Street is going to be helped.
Stick with your mom and pop stores every chance you get. Stick with your local banks.
Support each other - Support your local businesses - Support America.
If Target is going to start being political in a direction I don't like I will boycott.
I'm posting this in several places, hoping that my fellow 'Viners' will take action.
The Senate blocked a Disclose Act yesterday. If we don't act in great numbers, this will quickly get out of hand. Please write to Target, Best Buy, and all others funding candidates with positions that oppress minorities, GBLT, and living wages.
Here's the link for Target:
http://www.target.com/gp/help/display-contact-us-form.html?displayLink=tci
A sample letter to cut and paste for anyone who doesn't want to take the time to compose one. It takes just a minute:
To Target,
I'm writing to express my great displeasure on learning today that you have contibuted to Minnesota Forward, and it's Tea Party affiliates. The candidates supported by this group promote discrimination and low wages for workers.
My years of being a loyal customer have ended. I will advise my family and friends to stop supporting you as well.
Here's the one for Best Buy, which so far has flown under the radar:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=cat12104&type=page
A sample letter for Best Buy:
To Best Buy,
I'm writing to express my great displeasure on learning today that you have contibuted to Minnesota Forward, and it's Tea Party affiliates. The candidates supported by this group promote discrimination and low wages for workers.
My years of being a loyal customer have ended. I will advise my family and friends to stop supporting you as well.
I just fired off emails to both companies, thanks for the links.
lib50,
Thank YOU!
Considering that Target has a HUGE gay following.....you'd think they would be smart on who they support. In any case they have a right to support who ever they want. This is an example of why it's not good business sense for a public company to support ANY political race....be it Rep, Dem, Conservative or Liberal......
That following is getting smaller as you speak...this was a really stupid move on their part. The fact is that Republicans are only good for business in that they support deregulation and do not support workers rights. So, anti-gay or not, the fact is that this group seeks to protect corporate interests, not American citizens.
Give me a break...Just because someone or an entity supports a candidate doesn't mean they support everything the candidate stands for. The candidate, in the views of the corporation, is the best of what's available.
You liberals don't really expect us to believe you love everything your candidates do or stand for do you?
Yes, Brent when you support a candidate you support EVERYTHING that candidate stands for. So you better do your homework before you give him money. It would be nice if you "conservatives" did a bit more homework, before you blindly supported individuals who aren't working in your best interest, but distracting you with trivial details so they can do whatever they want with impunity.
This is an example of what’s to come. Big business does not care about people, only profits. They will support Republicans because they want to keeps their tax cuts so they can expand in foreign countries where they can pay workers $1 a day. When you support big business like Target you are supporting China and India and helping to destroy America. Big business has 3 Trillion dollars in unspent cash but do not want to invest in America – that’s why we have no jobs, all have been shipped away. The only reason big business keep stores in America are to sell you their cheap inferior goods they bring back into this country. Obama is trying to stop this so they are going to use their money to make sure he fails – of course, Republicans will do anything for money – even sell out their country. The present Supreme Court is a disgrace to liberty; hopefully Obama will change it before he leaves office.
Do not support these companies – go to this website and see all the companies that are only using you as a consumer:
http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/lou.dobbs.tonight/popups/exporting.america/content.html
Sorry, fellow liberals, but I have to side with Brent on this one. Just because you donate to, vote for, or vocally show support to a candidate does not mean you stand behind 100% of their positions. There have been more than a few Democratic candidates who I have done all 3 things for that are against capital punishment, yet I am firmly in favor of it.
Rarely will anyone find another person, political candidate or otherwise, who believes completely in the same things you do. Instead, you find the one that agrees with either the greatest number of your opinions or the issue that is of most importance to you.
I also found the following in-story line a little humorous:
So, she wants to keep politics out of her shopping, yet will stop shopping somewhere that conflicts with her political beliefs. Um.....huh??
I have never been a big fan of Target, but I shopped there when I realized how awful Wal-Mart was. No more, Target! As an organization, Target's political contributions are supporting politicians and their associated movements whose philosophies foster intolerance and overt bigotry, regardless of what its corporate policies supposedly are. I have persistently endeavored to spend my hard-earned money with local small businesses that support my community, and Target's actions have just given me yet another reason to intensify my efforts in that regard.
But, if Target supported your liberal viewpoint, you'd be happy as punch.
A good friend of mine is gay and another is black, and another is Asian, and yet another is Indian....given that I am a conservative, you'd think that was impossible given your ignorant assumptions about conservatives.
Auntie - same here - no Walmart/Sam's (for years) now no Target, so I will be shopping in areas I haven't explored for years, since all the big stores built shopping mecca nearby. Meh .. good for America. I am downsizing more and more, just as well (for me, at least).
AuntieKawn:
You perfectly described our situation. Target is not all that good, Wal-Mart is worse. BUT - No more Target.
I generally hate polls, the results of elections are what count. However, here's one that is so stacked in one direction, it bears attention. Americans opposed the Supreme Court decision that allows these virtually unlimited corporate contributions almost 4 to 1.
Republicans are now opposing efforts to let Americans know which corporations are making those contributions. They don't want us to know about the Targets, which banks, which megacorporations REALLY run America.
However, you still have a vote that corporations and their Republican lackeys understand - The Dollar Vote. I'm voting against Target.
Be careful. You never know when you might pick up a gay box of Cherios. Idiot!
broker,
And they lost me. There is always Ikea, I guess. I will have to check them out.
Most American companies don't want liberal money, apparently.
No problem. I will just save even more money.
This is one heterosexual who fully supports my right to not shop at Target anymore! I never liked their employees anyway. This is a good reason to flee and never go back.
Leave liberals in charge and there probably won't be a Target to shop at anyways....either that or there will be even fewer choices for you to shop at besides Target because businesses are closing doors at a high rate. You lose either way.
Brent-496261
Wrong – we all lose; America looses, China and India wins. Do you think Target or WalMart care about you because you are Republican, Democrat, Gay or Straight? Hell no; they care about the politicians that will sell out the people and the country to give them less regulations (so they can do as they please with no restrictions). They want to pay workers pennies; not having to give health Insurance, not having to offer any benefits, not having to worry about working conditions – they cannot get away with this in America but they can in China and India. They will support Republicans and some Democrats who push for deregulation and tax breaks – talk about welfare, corporate welfare is the biggest draw on the budget. When the hell will you Americans with your head up your behind open your eyes and see that fighting amongst yourself is playing into their hands. America is being destroyed from within - while we fight stupidly, American greed is shipping our greatness overseas: our technology, our jobs, and our money. We need to get the hell out of Iraq and Afghanistan and Tax Big Business into oblivion if necessary, support local business and grow America. I support America not big Business lip service.
Don't forget Target also banned the Salvation Army kettle fundraising too a few years back. Refusing to help the poor and now all this. Charming, just the sort of people I want to support.
I will never shop at Target again. All the stuff is from China anyway.
....an absolutely incredible unexamined perspective. Impressive. Rejecting one bigotry for another.
The perspective that Target has committed some great evil is colossally shortsighted and intellectually/philosophically inconsistent. Our popular culture demands for itself individual freedom of thought, lifestyle etc.. -Yet when another person, group or corporation actually operates from that perspective, and makes a choice we subjectively don't like, we start saber rattling. -Ultimately to coerce our opponent into conformity with our views. We take from others the right we demand for ourselves. -Or put another way, we become a chilling example of what we hate the most.
My perspective is, let Target be. If you don't want to shop there anymore, fine. They are a company in business, not an elected institution whose first priority is appeasing the constituency.
Wow, this guy must have his money invested in China. Buy locally not from China its the best green way to go.
Eric:
Hey, let's talk about that perspective thing. Target is a paper creation. It does NOT have unalienable/inalienable rights.
Saber rattling? Target has declared war on a civil union. Perhaps you could enlighten the bigots to whom you refer about bigotry. Tell us why a paper creation - Target - should have any objection to another paper creation - a marriage contract.
Clearly, you misunderstand a successful business model. You'd better believe a business must keep its customer base appeased/satisfied/pleased. That's how they stay in business.
It's pretty clear from the tenor of this thread, Target has displeased its customer base/constituency. This is a very BAD and very STUPID decision. It's not about business, it's about bigotry.
Big surprise! Big business ALWAYS supports the republicans, they are bought and paid for. This country is owned by big business and their interests are protected throught the politicians they buy.
Read between the lines. Where did Target get the money? They got it from "EMPLOYEES AND SHAREHOLDERS." My wife worked for Target for 22 1/2 years until they decided to DOWNSIZE and forced her to take an early retirement without a golden parachute. Her choices were take an early retirement or get fired. Early retirement meant less Social Security Retirement funds as the government raised the retirement (full pay) or get fired and collect two years of unemplyment at reduced wages. Those whe did not retire were fired. Most of these people were within a short time to full retirement.
Now she said 'I HVE NEVER SEEN ANY DEDUCTIONS TO SUPPORT ANYTHING LIKE THAT". She was also a shareholder and never saw anything like that there. The big question is How much of her earned monies were illegally removed from her pay. Even at $1.00 a week that is still over $1,000.00 that was stolen from her. And if it was 1 % of her salery that is even more money. I knew there was something wrong all those years. Even at the company picnics the best prozes as a rule went to the higher ups.
22.5 years and you never noticed any illegally removed from her pay?
They should be boycotted for supporting the dummies in GOP, who have squandered the surplus, lied us into Iraq, let Pakistan play us for suckers (W/Cheney gave them 10billion for that) and destroyed the economy. I could care less about gay marriage.
I suppose that instead we should cast our lots with the folks who are taking all of those issues, and making them even worse.
Heard any solutions to their mess from the GOP or their subsidiary the Tea Party? it is such a disasterous state theyleft us in we are doing better than it looked likely when Obama took over. The GOP has obstructed everything and no answers--they had 8yrs and look what we got.Let them take over again and finish ruining us is your answer?things would be a lot worse if McCain and that dimwit from Alaska had won.
LOL, only if you knew that the Tea Party is not a subsidiary of any party. I could just read MS-LSD instead of read your bullet points they pass out on tv & radio.
I live in the corrupt world of WalMart (aka Missouri). Now Target is disgusting me as well. I plan to continue buying somewhere so I can do my part to help the economy...small businesses, here we come!
Hilarious. When's the last time you saw an article about a company defending its donations to the other side of the political fence? Easy answer. Never. Could it be because by the media itself donates far more heavily the other way?
Big industry donates to BOTH sides of the political aisle. Some more to the right, some more to the left. Don't believe for a moment that your side (whichever that may be) is free of their hooks.
I agree with you that corporations own both political parties. However, as a liberal, it is my choice not to fund those corporations that donate to conservative causes. Liberal politicians, from what I can tell, don't bend over for the corporations the way conservatives do. Conservatives are apologizing to BP, wanting the government to pay for BP's spill, etc. Conservatives also oppose Wall Street reform, etc.
Liberals like Schumer, who is heavily funded by Wall Street, don't oppose Wall Street reform. That is the difference between liberals and conservatives.
Christina well said I would of given you more plus votes but I am only allowed one. You hit the nail in the head. GOP=Greed Old People Bush=Busted US Hard.....
Agree, well said Christina. I have to admit that Target is one of my favorites shopping stops, but if they are using the money I pay for goods to support a candidate that I am morally opposed to I will have to move on. Big problem...where can I actually go. LOL I can't do Wal-Mart for its business practices, looks like I'm going to be spending a little more on goods, but I accept that situation. I can't in any good conscience financially support a company that contributes money to a narrow-minded, bigot.
Christina,
if you belong to a union, do you get to say what the union spends their millions on? just a thought. and I don't have a 'choice' to belong to my union.
I think this is the one mitigating circumstance to the Supreme Court ruling. If companies have to disclose who they fund politically, consumers can choose whether to shop there. I don't shop much at Target, and I don't intend to shop there at all now.
My guess that one impetus behind the conservative donations are the anti-union biases of the conservatives. Better wages, benefits for the workers would probably cost more than 600k, so Target got their money's worth. Why not just divvy up the 600k to your workers? That's right, that would benefit someone else rather than the corporation and the fat CEO pay.
No more Target for me.
I have emailed all 600 plus on my contact list, the article, asking them not to
shop at Target anymore and to pass it on, from their contact lists. It's gays now,
but what group next!!!!!!!!!!!! Those people surely have other problems to worry about,
then worrying about someones sexuality, but that is repub's for you. Do you remember the
wide stance, lmao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Since President Obama has said he's against gay marriage and believes marriage should only be between a man and a woman, why isn't the GLBT community demanding that he be impeached?
Oh, that's right, he's a Democrat and the GLBT folks are hypocrites.
It's like the wars in Iraq and Afganistan. When Bush was president people went to the streets demanding an end to the madness. Now that Obama's in charge it's really not a big deal that people continue to die in increasing numbers since Obama escalated the war in Afgantistan.
"The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which." George Orwell, 1945
Oh, good!! It only took 15 comments to blame this on President Obama! Way to go!! {sarcasm intended}
The difference, Mr. Campbell, is Pres. Obama did not make the issue of gay marriage a platform or position issue. He did not, has not, will not use his office or position to try and enforce a ban, he understands it isn't up to the government to legislate sexuality, reproduction, religious practices, etc. Nice, feeble try.
in the current especially heated and divisive political environment it might be best if corporate execs started to use those brain cells they've been sitting on for all these years. no matter who you give to today you will absolutely alienate a portion of your demographic so rather than lose shoppers/business just stop, yes just say no to campaign contributions or support of any kind. the risks far outweigh the gains. i worked for target while getting my undergraduate degree. that short lived stint was 20 years ago and they are just as cold blooded and heartless today as they were then, the higher ups that is. the biggest difference between now and then is not only the political climate but thanks to the internet access to information and the ever tightening american wallet. also don't blame the employees you see in the stores, they are treated like dirt day in and day out. if you want to flex your political muscle slam those wallets shut and shop elsewhere. yes it may not be convenient but talk is cheap so if you want to make a difference shop elsewhere and most of all talk your family, friends and co-workers into doing the same. quarterly sales matter at corp headquarters and stock holders don't look kindly on execs hurting their returns by making foolish decisions. consequently just as other business executives have found of late when the bottom line sags stockholders will demand an about face and history shows it works, aka the brit from bp exiled to russia. i can't wait until we get our first ikea store in a few months making it even easier to shop elsewhere and stick it to good old target. again nothing is more powerful than how and where we spend our dollars and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. we have the power we just don't use it effectively or often enough. JUST SAY NO,...TO TARGET!!
Boycott Target, WalMart, and Sam's Club. They are right-wing establishments. Much of what they sell is manufactured by factories owned by the Chinese military. Check it out.
I quit shoping at Target years ago when I learned they did NOT support Vetran's groups. They turned down a request from the American Legion.
I consider myself a conservative and I would not support emmer. he thought waitresses in mn earned over 100k ..now, target donations. what next, lower the minimum wage and create a few slave towns. the conservatives that get through these nominating process are tough to support.
BAD, BAD MOVE! TARGET! I don't have to shop at Target! I used to try to avoid Walmart, now I guess I have to avoid Target too. Target should have used a survey company, to find out how their customers would feel about this....The experts said that big business was going to change American politics to what they want....I guess this is the 1st step!
It's obvious what political aims and policies Target's CEO, Gregg Steinhafel, supports. He may not have known that the hefty donation would be made public. It appears that he is backtracking now to pacify Target's employees. I will avoid shopping at Target because of this large contribution. Helping to elect Tom Emmer as Governor is a misguided use of business funds. Let's shop elsewhere until Target changes its tune and supports more main stream candidates ~ not radical ones. Like Tony Hayward at BP Oil, Gregg Steinhafel has blown his good will with his customers.
If the CEO supports this guy, that's fine! He just shouldn't use Target's money to do it! That's where he went wrong! And yup, his goodwill is done!
Americans don't like hearing about big money influence, smells fishy.
Since Target decided to be a one issue 'voter' I will decide to be a one issue shopper.
Target will never see me in their store after I return all my purchases this week. Shame on you Target for not being all inclusive in your political contribution decision.
I find it interesting how narrow minded liberals are. Lots of corporations (including Target) support the United Way, which in turn sends a lot of those dollars to organizations directly supporting some of the most liberal causes in the nation. We're talking about millions and millions of corporate dollars in that case, but a $150k donation to someone they believe will directly lead to a more pro-capitalism environment in their own state and it's such a big deal to the libs. Ultimately I think the issue is that liberals in this country don't actually want to have a discussion ... it's just an emotional reaction in almost every case.
Are you nuts?!?!?!
It was YOU people who boycotted Heinz ketchup, refused to order French fries, and swore to never eat French toast when Kerry was running against Bush.
I guess I answered my own question. Yes, you are NUTS.
Lets put Target out of business and put this nut case out on the street as well. He must work for Target.
i would vote to delete boycott from the english langauge as it used more on the left then the right.
and since you brought up ketchup kerry, did he park his boat in RI to avoid +$400k tax bill?
That's nice. Thank you Target - I will never shop at your stores again if I can help it. Wal Mart may be just as bad, but Target is highly priced cheaply made junk from China and they never have what you need in stock. I can find usless cheap trinkets at Target but have problems finding dish washing detergent hidden amongst the junk. At least I can save a buck of my own at Wal Mart or KMart. Bad move Target.