Off-Target

Seems that retail giant Target has stepped in a big pile of PR shit, which has hit the fan in a big way. Speaking of fans, as I write this there are 54,386 fans on the Boycott Target Facebook page. A demonstration at the downtown Target today has been organized by SEIU.

A week ago, Target CEO made a "sort of" apology for the $150,000 that Target contributed to the Tom-Emmer-loving MN Forward. As reported in the Strib, the "what were we thinking" apology wasn't really an apology for their action as much as an apology for offending people with their action.  "I realize our decision affected many of you in a way I did not anticipate, and for that I am genuinely sorry." Reeks of sincerity, no? In other words, CEO Greg Steinhafel said, in effect, that their real regret is that the donation may cost them business.

Mistake?

Target may not have been surprised at all, though. They may have simply been testing the political waters after the horrendous Citizens United Supreme Court case that allows unlimited corporate political contributions. $150,000 is a drop in the proverbial bucket, as is the $100,000 that electronics Big Box chain Best Buy contributed to MN Forward. Much, much more support for conservatives is likely to come from a slew of corporations. Welcome to the world of corporate free speech.

With Target planning to open its first two stores in San Francisco, testing the public reaction to its contributions to right-wing organizations may have been a calculated move. After all, Target is nothing if not PR conscious.

Bad Ties

According to an article in the Bay Area Reporter, "Target states that three executives are responsible for evaluating political donations: Vice President of Government Affairs Matt Zabel, Executive Vice President and General Counsel Timothy Baer, and Steinhafel. All three men have financial ties to anti-gay politicians.

According to donation-tracker http://www.opensecrets.org, Zabel is the former chief of staff for Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota), while Baer has donated thousands to the campaigns of former Senator Norm Coleman (R-Minnesota) and Representative John Kline (R-Minnesota). Steinhafel has donated thousands to the campaigns of Representatives Eric Cantor (R-Virginia) and Michele Bachmann (R-Minnesota). Like Emmer, each of those politicians support a constitutional ban on marriage equality."

MN Forward, which is the love child of the MN Chamber of Commerce and the MN Business Partnership, is directed by former top Pawlenty aide Brian McClung. Target also gave $5,000 this year to the Freedom First PAC, which was founded by our own Tim Pawlenty.

This isn't the first or last we'll hear of bad behavior from Target. They are rabidly anti-union, pay non-living wages, and use "sweatshop style foreign suppliers." Walmart is the business model for Target. That says a mouthful.

Cafe Press has Target boycott items for sale, in case you have a consumer itch (just in case you need more stuff).