Commentary
Why this shopper can't go to Target again
by Randi Reitan(Editor's note: The author of this commentary is scheduled to deliver a petition from MoveOn to Target headquarters in Minneapolis today.)
My last shopping trip to Target has made the news.
It started out when I heard that Target gave $150,000 to Tom Emmer. I was shocked and upset. Tom Emmer as governor would be a nightmare for our family and for everyone in the gay community.
It didn't make sense that Target would support a candidate who had earned a reputation as one of the most anti-gay legislators. Target had earned a 100 percent rating from the Human Rights Campaign as a corporation that embraced its gay employees. I wanted to know how it could give Emmer that large sum while knowing that the lives of many wonderful employees would be profoundly affected if Emmer won in November.
I needed to talk to Target. I tried many times to call Target headquarters, but each time the person answering could only take a message to pass on. I then tried talking to different departments in the executive offices. The end result of those calls was a message on my phone asking me not to call anymore. I realized then the only way I could talk to Target was to visit a store and talk to the store manager.
I found an old Target receipt in my purse and looked at it. The money I had spent at the store that day was now supporting Tom Emmer for governor. I realized I could no longer be a Target customer. The love I have for my son and for all my dear friends in the gay community far outweighed anything I could buy there.
I not only needed to talk to the manager. I needed to show Target what our family spends at its store, so it would know it was losing a loyal and good customer. I planned one last shopping trip to Target. I wanted it to see what I spent each time, and I wanted it to see me cancel my Target credit card. And I wanted to share my last trip to Target with Gregg Steinhafel, Target's CEO. So I wanted it videotaped. I had written him a letter, but I knew my letter would be buried in the mail he was receiving.
Steinhafel supports Republican candidates. He recently gave to Michele Bachmann's reelection campaign, but that is his personal business. It crosses the line when Target does it as a corporation. It was the leadership at Target that decided to use Target's money to support Tom Emmer. I wanted it to hear from me that Target's actions were hurting a whole segment of its employees and customers.
After the Supreme Court's ruling in the Citizens United case, what Steinhafel and Target did was legal. That ruling puts a new burden on all of us. As consumers, we must make sure we are aware of the money that businesses lavish on candidates. Now we must not only vote at the polls on Election Day but with our wallets during the campaigns.
Target decided that Emmer would give it the best business deal. We must show Target that people matter more than any business deal, or any item we can purchase. It was our money, filtered through that store, that now helps fund Emmer's campaign. Target won't use my money to do that again.
----
Randi Reitan is a mom and gay rights activist.
Comments (13)
Randi, I support gay rights and use my dollars and ballot to support them, too. I also support Target. Target gives 3 million dollars EVERY WEEK to their communities. My local school gets a portion of my personal spending, and I like that when I buy shampoo, the local schools get money. Target also sponsors Minneapolis Pride, as well as many arts programs throughout the country. Without my dollars, Target couldn't do those things. I need to buy food, clothes, and toys somewhere, and I think Target uses their money wisely and ethically. Where else would you buy these things? Walmart?
I agree that Emmers isn't a great candidate for Minnesota or Minnesotans. I just think the small amount that Target has given, compared to all the wonderful things they do, does not warrent a boycott. I also think they learned their lesson in this new political era of corporate giving.
Lets give Target a pass on this one, and focus on educating and enlightening our political figures so that no political party puts discrimation at the top of their adgenda.
The problem comes not before the 2010 election but after the 2010 elections. Corporations can now spend so much money that they drown out the voice of every day people. After the election, when policy need to be determined the financial interest of the select few will outweigh the public good. Target was created at a time when Minnesota had a strong progressive business leadership. Families like the Daytons cared about the public good. Tax cuts for the super rich are bad for the economy, bad for the deficit, bad for the education. Supply side economics in a chain store economy has dramatically reduced the middle class. Let's rebuild our local economy. Buy food from farmers markets. Look for American-made products. What is the local competition to Target?
I understand Ms Reitan's frustration. But her proposed reaction doesn't stand up to rational scrutiny.
First, Target didn't give the money to Tom Emmer; they gave it to a pro-business PAC. The distinction is minor but important.
Secondly, how far do you track your dollars? If you spend money at gay-owned business, how do you know where that money ends up? Your dollar ends up in the pocket of the shop owner, who spends it on any number of things, such as utilities for the business. The money you so carefully chose to spend in support of the gay community is now in the hands of Excel Energy. They would probably support Emmer as well, since he is less likely to require them to make higher investments in renewable energy sources, thereby saving them money in the short term.
Money is fungible, and that makes this sort of thing very difficult. Yes, it's frustrating that Emmer is anti-gay-rights, but you can't hold Target accountable for that any more than you can be held accountable for every belief and opinion of everyone who benefits from your spending.
Hate to say it, but you are grossly misinformed. First, Target didn't contribute money to Emmer, they contributed to non-profit that happened to endorse Emmer. Second, the money contributed by Target was from a a fund of contributions employees made for political donations (learned that right from an article on MPR). Third, Target probably doesn't give a crap if you stop shopping there. I am an strong advocate for gay rights, but guess what, this isn't a gay rights issue at all!! I also think Emmer is a crazy nut job, but again, he had nothing to do with this! Target contributed to a non-profit that supports businesses. I don't know how much more clear it can be made that they made the contribution for that reason only. Its a non-issue situation!
Target will care that we've stopped shopping there . I dont have $150,000 to give to the organizations I support, but I do have grocery, appliance, clothing etc funds to spend where I want to.
s
I was injured in a Target Store in Largo, Maryland. I fell on lotion in the floor. I was out of work for 10 months, had over $100,000 worth of medical and loss wages. Target didn't give me a dime. The judge in the Target case said, "Maryland Courts have long recognized that Retailers are not the insurer of consumer safety while visiting their stores." Therefore, Target did not have to be responsible for any of my costs, even though it happened in their store, they admitted it happened. Apparently Target cares more about the GOP than they care about the consumers, the ones who actually shopped and spent their money with them, helped them to accumulate this money to give to the GOP. However, incidents like the one that happened to me, the news media doesn't feel it is news worthy. I have the judge's order and documents stating these facts. Why is it that the media don't want to let the consumers know about incidents such as these. Consumers do not know that when they are entering this store, they are entering at their own risk.
I've done a little more research into MN Forward, labeled as "anti-gay" by some.
An entry on their blog (http://www.mnforward.com/blog/2010/08/05/mn-forward-announces-support-for-bipartisan-group-of-state-legislative-candidates/) shows that they support both DFL and GOP candidates. Not only that, but if you go one step further, you can see that at least one of those candidates supports gay rights, and voted in favor of domestic partner death rights (http://www.votesmart.org/summary.php?can_id=3911).
That's right, Target gave money to a PAC that endorses a candidate who voted to give gay and lesbian couples the same rights married heterosexuals enjoy.
Now what do I do?
Wow! What a way to solve a problem! Bankrupt Target by shifting your measly $30, $40, $50, etc away from Target and too whom? Walmart ? Yes, they have an excellent record of employee rights! (hint, sarcasm). All this does for me is to make me want to shop at Target and not Walmart where I've been shopping because of tougher economic times. I am straight but support gay rights. However by "Black Mailing" companies and others by forcing your beliefs on others rather than attempting to open up the lines of communication and trying to work things out (e.g. some of the very people you think you are protecting may actually work at Target), our Democracy turns into a Dictatorship.
Sigh, our forefathers are shaking their heads is disbelief
My problem with the whole boycott strategy - I have politics. I've been in business for myself and had clients/customers. Would I want every one of my clients to examine every one of my political beliefs? Do I even want to know the political beliefs of my clients?
It should also be noted that Emmer has verbally and financially supported a "Christian" ministry group that has come out in support of extremists executing gays gays because it is "god's will" and the "moral" thing to do. Emmer not only gave them money, but also came out suppoting them and saying that they are "nice people". I am straight but I am a big advocate of gays rights. And I was a huge fan of shopping Target, making a minimum of 1-2 trips there a week. But my shopping there ended the second I found out that they gave money to an organization who supports such a immoral, hateful candidate. I have spent tens of thousands of dollars at Target over the last 10 years and perhaps my future spending doesn't make a difference considering how much money a corporation like that earns, but my stance and decision to boycott Target makes ME feel better, and that is what matters. This is not about forcing beliefs on anyone, as the ignorant will proclaim, but rather about standing up for your beliefs.
**Also, it should be mentioned that Best Buy gave the same organization $100,000. Needless to say, I will be avoiding shopping there as well.
It should also be noted that Emmer has verbally and financially supported a "Christian" ministry group that has come out in support of extremists executing gays gays because it is "god's will" and the "moral" thing to do. Emmer not only gave them money, but also came out suppoting them and saying that they are "nice people". I am straight but I am a big advocate of gays rights. And I was a huge fan of shopping Target, making a minimum of 1-2 trips there a week. But my shopping there ended the second I found out that they gave money to an organization who supports such a immoral, hateful candidate. I have spent tens of thousands of dollars at Target over the last 10 years and perhaps my future spending doesn't make a difference considering how much money a corporation like that earns, but my stance and decision to boycott Target makes ME feel better, and that is what matters. This is not about forcing beliefs on anyone, as the ignorant will proclaim, but rather about standing up for your beliefs.
**Also, it should be mentioned that Best Buy gave the same organization $100,000. Needless to say, I will be avoiding shopping there as well.
It should also be noted that Emmer has verbally and financially supported a "Christian" ministry group that has come out in support of extremists executing gays gays because it is "god's will" and the "moral" thing to do. Emmer not only gave them money, but also came out suppoting them and saying that they are "nice people". I am straight but I am a big advocate of gays rights. And I was a huge fan of shopping Target, making a minimum of 1-2 trips there a week. But my shopping there ended the second I found out that they gave money to an organization who supports such a immoral, hateful candidate. I have spent tens of thousands of dollars at Target over the last 10 years and perhaps my future spending doesn't make a difference considering how much money a corporation like that earns, but my stance and decision to boycott Target makes ME feel better, and that is what matters. This is not about forcing beliefs on anyone, as the ignorant will proclaim, but rather about standing up for your beliefs.
**Also, it should be mentioned that Best Buy gave the same organization $100,000. Needless to say, I will be avoiding shopping there as well.
It should also be noted that Emmer has verbally and financially supported a "Christian" ministry group that has come out in support of extremists executing gays gays because it is "god's will" and the "moral" thing to do. Emmer not only gave them money, but also came out suppoting them and saying that they are "nice people". I am straight but I am a big advocate of gays rights. And I was a huge fan of shopping Target, making a minimum of 1-2 trips there a week. But my shopping there ended the second I found out that they gave money to an organization who supports such a immoral, hateful candidate. I have spent tens of thousands of dollars at Target over the last 10 years and perhaps my future spending doesn't make a difference considering how much money a corporation like that earns, but my stance and decision to boycott Target makes ME feel better, and that is what matters. This is not about forcing beliefs on anyone, as the ignorant will proclaim, but rather about standing up for your beliefs.
**Also, it should be mentioned that Best Buy gave the same organization $100,000. Needless to say, I will be avoiding shopping there as well.
Post a comment
Please be civil, brief and relevant.
E-mail addresses are never displayed but they are required to confirm your comments. All comments are moderated. MPR reserves the right to edit any comments on this site and to read them on the air with attribution. Please read the Comment Guidelines before posting.
You must be 13 or over to submit information to Minnesota Public Radio. The information entered into this form will not be used to send unsolicited e-mail and will not be sold to a third party. For more information see Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.
Latest News & Features
News Cut
with Bob CollinsIn The Spotlight
-
Sound Learning
Looking for ways to ensure your students are doing quality research from credible sources? Sound Learning is a launching point to Minnesota Public Radio's content on the Web. -
The Current Music Blog
Your daily note for good music, news and pop culture. With attempted jokes.
- Become a Member
- Member Connect Accounts
- Leadership Circle
- Sustaining Members
- Member Discounts
- Become a Sponsor
- Tax Information
- Planned Giving
- Vehicle Donation
- Donate Stock