Donations to governor (Schwarzenegger) earn Target a boycott

[Newsjock]

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/08/23/BAGDKEBPA71.DTL

John Wildermuth, Chronicle Political Writer
Tuesday, August 23, 2005

A California consumer group is telling seniors not to shop at Target stores because of the more than $300,000 the retailer has given to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

... "Target Corporation is one of Arnold Schwarzenegger's biggest special interest donors -- money he's using to promote his agenda against consumers and affordable health care,'' the announcer says.

... Since 2004, Target has given $100,000 to Citizens to Save California, which worked to qualify the governor's initiatives for the special election ballot, and $210,000 to the governor's California Recovery Team, which supports Schwarzenegger's political aims.

Target also spent $250,000 to back a referendum that erased a law that would have required many California businesses to provide health care for their workers, $100,000 to the California Business Properties Association, another of Schwarzenegger's backers, and tens of thousands of dollars to the state Republican and Democratic parties and legislators on both sides of the political aisle.

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[Ilsa]

1. Rats. Target is one of the few places I can shop in this

puny little city. WalMart drove almost everyone else out of business. I can't give up my Target, unless they start supporting Gov. Goodhair (Rick Perry) for president. Not that the US will be stupid enough to elect another texan for awhile.

[xxqqqzme]

3. I know - this was hard cuz I liked target.

Refuse 2 shop @ malwart, won't shop taget as long as steroid boy is busy destroying CA. That leaves K-Mart which R now few & far between since filing chapter 11.

[Fridays Child]

5. Do you have a HEB grocery store?

They're 54% blue in their political donations, according to

http://www.buyblue.org/detail.php?corpId=220

[pop goes the weasel]

12. I'm surprised that they make any donations

Itchy Butt generally stays out of politics. Hmmm, except for rolling back dry laws, that is. Funny, old Henry donated money to keep dry laws enforced, but the kids do what they can to overturn them. Oh well. My favorite grocery store, either way.

[Ilsa]

24. Yeah, but HEB does groceries, I go to Target for other

dry goods I can't get at HEB or if HEB's quality sucks on that item. But I like them mostly.

[davidinalameda]

2. oh well

I'll find some place else to buy my cheap plastic crap

[WhiteTara]

11. Try big lots. Family dollar is moving into a lot of

neighborhoods. I like Big Lots a lot.

[Sequoia]

13. Big Lots, yea! and any Dollar Store

for household cleaners and such anyway. School stuff, canned food, cheap candy, oven mitts, shoelaces, el al.

[RebelOne]

4. Sorry, but I am not going to stop shopping at Target.

Their grocery prices are the lowest anywhere in my area. Plus, the store is practically around the corner from house, which makes it super convenient.

[E-Z-B]

6. Target is a big republican donor

and scores only a 17% according to http://www.buyblue.org/alphalist.php

[Arugula Latte]

22. Oh Crap.

I'd hoped they'd be better. I like Target.

[Bridget Burke]

26. BuyBlue is working on a New Methodology....

"coming this summer covering topics such as the Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Employment Equality, Corporate & Social Responsibility & Industry Practices."

My current stage of life does NOT require consuming mass quantities. I won't totally cross Target off my list, but will send a friendly letter of suggestion.

Among the alternatives, Bed, Bath & Beyond got 97%. It's a good source for many items--but not all.

[shanti]

7. well then, now where to shop???

no walmart, now now target. there's really nowhere else that is comparable.

guess i'll just have to pick the lesser of two evils: target.:-(

[AlCzervik]

8. i know, it's getting really hard to stores that aren't gop donors

i have outlets near me and i need to check if they are donating money to either party, i hoping they're either blue or they don't donate at all.

[mom cat]

9. Is there a Costco around?

[shanti]

20. yes, i also shop costco and love it

but target and costco aren't even in the same ballpark as far as goods go.

[Spiffarino]

14. K-Mart

K-Mart's on the "Apolitical" list...50-50 donations to Dems and Reps.

No more shopping at Target. They don't deserve our business if they're fighting the needs of the very working men and women they expect to shop at their stores.

Stupid assholes.

[shanti]

21. ick

i have never liked kmart. besides, the last kmart we had closed a couple of months ago...

[GoddessOfGuinness]

27. Bed Bath & Beyond has a 97% blue rating

on BuyBlue.org:
http://www.buyblue.org/detail.php?corpId=7

[noonwitch]

10. Keep in mind that Target is not a totally conservative outfit like Walmart

When they were owned by the Dayton-Hudson Corporation, they were a major contributor to Planned Parenthood. I don't know if that's still the case, now that they are an independent company. Hudson's was boycotted by conservatives in the early 90s for supporting NARAL and Planned Parenthood.

[Massacure]

29. I used to have a friend who's dad was the manager of a Target.

He seemed to lean democratic. Too bad he moved before I was old enough to work. I could have used the job.

[stanwyck]

15. Wow. I hate to hear this.

But I'm so against the Republicans and their destruction of our country that I will end or severely cut back on Target shopping.
There are alternatives, as your posts indicate.
This is the only way to reach corporate America -- through their bottom line.
Target...you should be ashamed of yourself. You've really let us down.

[Betsy Ross]

16. We don't shop at Wal-Mart

We don't buy goods made in China (with the occassional exception of traditionally Chinese items such as bamboo products). We live with a lot less crap. I like to imagine what the poor Chinese factory workers think of all the butterflies, gnomes, Xmas decorations, etc., that they make for us. They must have a really strange idea of how we live. Well, we are doing our best not to meet their expectations.

Think of the stuff you can live without. Buy want you need and truly want. Or shop second-hand. You'll be surprised at how much you can live without.

Buy less, buy better quality, shop blue, shop American. No handiwipes, disposable toilet brushes, and other things which create more polution than the convenience they provide.

[coffeenap]

25. We are with you, Betsy R. Just can't find shoes...

[drduffy]

17. no more rationalizations for me....

I already don't shop Walmart. Now I've added Target. Screw them.

[Betsy Ross]

19. Amen. n/t

[genieroze]

18. Time to target, Target.

[donheld]

23. If we always bought blue

Some of us would have no where to shop. :grr:

[Bridget Burke]

28. We really should be above shopping!

Let's move to the country & live in yurts. Farm organically, of course. Raise sheep, spin, weave & sew our clothes--with only natural dyes. Light our nights with soy candles & amuse ourselves by playing the dulcimer. Positive thinking & herbs will ensure our health.

Sometimes, compromise is necessary. WalMart sucks. I limit my Target trips because I usually buy stuff I don't need. (Hey, "Time Bandits" for less than $10!)

The BuyBlue site has a form for sending complaints, so I'll encourage Target to get their act together.