There is a bit of disconnect between a few things Target does and says, it has been seen as generally pretty supportive of GLBT issues, but CEO/President Gregg Steinhafel is a serious backer of numerous anti-GLBT political candidates, including Emmer and Bachmann. The PR statement Steinhafel gave today says "We support GLBT issues, but we will always support politicians we think are good for our bottom line." So, in essence, perceive profits trump anything else. Which, of course, is their right, even if it is morally ambiguous at best, there is a looong line of corporations pulling this behavior, and even worse. If you think it is wrong stop shopping there and let them know. Which incidentally is what I plan to do.

I have no reason to doubt Target's belief in GLBT equality. Clearly, however, electing candidates who think low-wage workers get paid too much is a higher priority for them.  No suprise -- Target's entire business model is built on low-wage labor.  Then again, name me a national retailer whose business model isn't built on low-wage labor.  Just one more reason to take corporate claims of "social responsibility" with a grain of salt.

Would the author of this post be as offended if Target and Best Buy had donated those sums to Entenza, Keliher, or Dayton?  Probably not. Also, leave it to ignorant DFLers to forget the thousands of well-paying corporate jobs these companies provide here in Minnesota and focus only on the "low wage labor" (which by the way, are jobs usually held by students and part-timers).  Not every job is meant to support a family of four!  Seriously people, do you really think you can just wave a wand and have every single job pay $60,000? The DFL is just so clueless.

Ok, Nick, this is the kind of political commentary that I hate on both sides.  Just because a political party has a different ideal than you do does not make them clueless or ignorant.  Do you actually think that all people in the DFL have no concept of the economics of the situation?  They do and so do the Republicans.  They just have different solutions to problems.  It's this kind of thinking that will keeps any true progress from ever happening.  God, I really hate the two-party system.  Either you're right or you're wrong, there is no middle ground.

Sherman, read the post by Bad Cat and then ask yourself if that is the attitude of most self-identified DFLers.  Based on my observations, this is indeed the case.  Employers are viewed as inherently evil and the DFL does nothing to support private job creators.  Instead, their sole motivation is to take as much money from employers as they can and redistribute it to those who deserve it the least.

Demicans and Republicrats. What's the diff Sam?

Sherman, I'll concede your point that not all DFLers are anti-business quasi-communists.  I know that each party is a "big tent," containing varieties of opinions and interests, and there are some in my own party with whom I disagree with (the religious right, for example).  However, economics is the most important issue in politics, period.  That is an absolute.  Because how we make money is how we feed ourselves and our families and without this need properly looked after, gay rights, abortion, campaign finance reform, etc., mean nothing.  And I'm sure you're right about there being DFL rank-and-file who understand the need for business to make profits and reward the risk-takers, but I'm sorry, you cannot point to a single proposal by any DFL candidate that supports business, corporate or independent.  They just don't get it, and this dust up over Target and the DFL's reaction just proves the point.

Nick, you're using my good name; at least get your own avatar.

Superior?

Like this will stop ANY woman from shopping at Target. I hate any place that makes me spend more money than I need too.

Michelle Bauchmann and Tom Emmer will create growth ?????? hahahah how? This is a big fail by Best Buy... even their lame excuse is BS.  This donation was made just so that the rich executives can keep their Bush taxcuts for the super rich.

Notice how Best Buy is not saying how Emmers policies will create growth? It's BS!!!

Wow, this issue has really blown up fast.  A Facebook page advocating a boycott of Target and BestBuy just went up and has 5000 friends. http://bit.ly/9zyw7L

There is also a new Youtube video of a grandmother (and mother of a gay man who is an uncle to her grandchildren), returning $200 of merchandise to Target and cutting up her Target Visa card in front of the manager.  Check her out.  She is mad as heck and isn't going to take it anymore!

How exactly is Emmer's plan to roll back wage increases for waitstaff and tip earning service workers and cutting back "socialist" minimum wage going to "stimulate" the economy?

I find it interesting that nearly all of the heat has been on Target, very little on Best Buy, and almost none on the other companies; all of which gave money indirectly to Emmer.  That doesn't mean it's inconsistent or unfair though.  It must have to do with our expectations.  Wal-Mart could give millions to the freakin John Birch Society and not lose a dime in sales because it wouldn't surprise anyone, plus those who try to vote with their dollars (thanks for showing how ridiculously hard that is Tony D) already don't shop at Wal-Mart.  I've bought one item ever at Wal-Mart, for which I paid my penance, so for me joining a Wal-Mart boycott would be like a vegan boycotting Tyson chicken.

But as Minnesotans, we must have developed different expectations of Target.  Aren't they kind of the alternative to the hard-right brutal business practices and odd evangelical moralizing of Wal-Mart? They instilled the idea companies are responsible to their communities, and give away 5% of their profits to community causes.  Maybe it's their commitment to hiring GBLT, or the fact the founding family are like MN Kennedys, or they just gave $5M to the Orchestra Hall remodel, or how they've almost singlehandedly kept Downtown Mpls alive through the gut-our-downtowns-era, frequently  renewing their commitment to keep their headquarters employing 10,000+ people with good-paying jobs, supporting the fine arts institutions, sports facilities, events, and taking a huge risk building a positively exceptional urban store, renewing and adding relevance to the heart of downtown.

Perhaps this is a warning to the many corporations greenwashing their brands (Beyond Petroleum comes to mind).  Your improved image may backfire if you set expectations of corporate responsibility to attract the conscientious shopper and then you loudly get outed for being just like the rest.

In Target's defense, though, it's the PAC that they gave money to that ultimately decided who gets their funds.

They also gave money to Ventura's campaign.

"Based on my observations, this is indeed the case"
@Nick 
The plural of anecdote is not data.  That being said, making a generalization based on anecdotal evidence is little more than exposing your own prejudice.

I haven't shopped at Walmart or target in a long time.  I do not enjoy paying too much money for poorly made slave-labor goods.

jim- can Tom Emmer expect your vote, then? I guess someone will actually vote for the guy- just didn't think I'd run across one north of St. Cloud!

B-boy- You are so right. Name calling (3rd grade arguing skills) and generalizing (libs are civilized) is useless when coming out of your fur-encrusted mouth. I do, however, have to compliment you on your wonderful impersonation of Victor Buono as King Tut. Priceless!

Bowel-man,
- I'm just pointing out the obvious about your beard. No harm intended, and I didn't post the picture. Besides, Victor Buono was awesome!

Emmer is worthy of support because:
- He's in support of parental notification in the event your underage duaghter goes out of state to kill her un-born baby
- He's the only candidate that has pledged to grow small business without taxing the shit out of them. Something libs know NOTHING about.
- He is in favor of having government serve, rather than rule. (something else libs no NOTHING about)
- He's in support of secure borders and deporting anyone who comes here illegaly.
- He's in support of keeping the legal definition of marriage as between a man and a woman.
- He's not a union lacquey
- He's not a socialist
- He's a good family man

As far as a rapid fire discussion over a beer, I'd have to say no. To be honest, I'd rather stick my hand in a blender. I didn't think libs carried guns?!

Sorry Sam- I don't agree at all. Dayton, for example, has publicly made statements that for all intense purposes, he agrees with the socialist label of "wealth dispersion". As most of us know- they say that it is aimed at the "rich", but it always ends up in the laps of the middle class. Myself, being a small business owner, know their ways all too well. Taxes are a trough that the Libs love to feed from. The problem is that lately, certain reps have been cozying up to the same trough. That will stop. The people are on to it, and you will be seeing major changes in the upcoming elections. Even the brain-dead libs are figuring out that a 25 year policy of offering below market interest rates without a credit check and a unproven income record is a recipe for a major crisis. That's one small example. Another is the costs associated with the illegals. It's monsterous compared to the dollars associated with the war machine. This is a society problem that is born from an attitude of enitilement and Government fanny-powdering. It's sick, and it will end. It's just unfortunate it took so long to figure out.

if you need regulations that requires notification if your daughter decides to cross state lines to kill your unborn grandchild, the problem is in your own home, and not with the doctor...nevertheless, that requires government intervention.

constitutional amendment to define marriage = big government.

not exactly on the path to a "serving" government with those two issues, are we?

as to the DUI issue: Repubes wasted no time bringing up Ted Kennedy's record every time they needed a character assassination issue to 
discredit him.

natch.

Boner-man, son-of-a-lib? That's low! Maybe we should be calling you Mel. Are you gonna break out your "Your momma is so fat" snaps next? In "you urge to spew" (Hmmm- yes even your fat little Jimmy Dean's miss key strokes!) you reveal your true colors. Based on your needing three jobs, I don't think your problem is getting rid of bad luck (or obviously too much good luck). I think maybe you should be looking at a career change, maybe something a little less stressful that doesn't involve scraping the gum off of the theatre floor. The problem is that it's tough for people like you to find a decent job. The second you open your mouth people instantly recognize you as the pathetic person you are. I truly do pity you, and your family. Life will continue to be tough for you, until you shake some of that anger and low self esteem. In the mean time, don't apply at my shop. I'm afraid you aren't qualified to scrape the crap off my shoe, let alone get paid for it. Keep the beard, though. The resemblance to a Mullah (and my armpit hair) is amazing. Whoa- that wasn't sensitive. I'm sorry. Feel free to have the last word. Your rants are funnier than my favorite Lockhorn panels. I can't take you seriously- so no, you haven't done me any harm.

Tom Emmer's story gets weirder and weirder the more I read about him.  It has been reported that Emmer knows and supports Bradley Dean of "You Can Run But You Can't Hide" Christian Ministries.  Emmer donated money in 2009 to Bradlee Dean (see http://bit.ly/9xzg9u ).  Dean said some pretty violent anti-gay things on Dean's radio show "Sons of Liberty."  

Here's what Dean said on his May 15 radio show:

"Muslims are calling for the executions of homosexuals in America," Dean said. "This just shows you they themselves are upholding the laws that are even in the Bible of the Judeo-Christian God, but they seem to be more moral than even the American Christians do, because these people are livid about enforcing their laws. They know homosexuality is an abomination."

"If America won't enforce the laws, God will raise up a foreign enemy to do just that,"  Dean said later. "That is what you are seeing in America."

"The bottom line is this... they [homosexuals] play the victim when they are, in fact, the predator. On average, they molest 117 people before they're found out. How many kids have been destroyed, how many adults have been destroyed because of crimes against nature?"

You can listen to this episode of Dean's radio show at youtube... http://bit.ly/aYssyy

This does not make Emmer look good, donating to and covorting with the likes of the extremist homophobe Bradlee Dean!

As a result of the media attention and boycott, the CEO of Target officially apologized and promised never to make such political contributions again...



Target's Off-Target Campaign Contribution

Power to the people!