Target gave money to a politcal candidate

[LisaR]

And no, this isn't political. I guess I never realized that a retailer like Target gave to political candidates/groups. Obviously, I must be living under a rock. I see the signs up in Target all the time about how they give back to the community. They give to our local schools and to national groups like Habitat for Humanity. I suppose, in a way, those donations could be viewed as a political statement depending on the group they are giving to. But I never knew they gave money to specific political candidates to help them get elected. Am I the only one that didn't realize this? Is this common for other retailers?

Leaving out who they supported, because it really is irrelevant, would you feel differently about shopping at a particular store if you knew they did or did not support your views?

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Liberal-groups-push-to-apf-2321043209.html?x=0

 

[Acklander]

They didn't used to be allowed to donate like this, but new laws were passed so now they can. I don't think it's a good idea. The country is pretty evenly split, so they're going to antagonize half their customers no matter what they do.

 

[woodkins]

Nearly every corporation and business makes political donations, probably more so than the charitable ones. It just so happens that Target's choices are in the news right now. If you do some minor investigating you can find out what companies donate to who...it is all a matter of public record.

 

[golfgal]

Companies have been donating money to political campaigns for years, why should Target be any different? Look up the donations to any political candidate and you will find a lot of corporate donations on their lists.

 

[Liberty Belle]

There's a book that tells you which charities and organizations major corporations donate money to, but I can't think of the name right now.

Some of my friends are boycotting Target because of this.

 

[Acklander]

Companies have been donating money to political campaigns for years, why should Target be any different? Look up the donations to any political candidate and you will find a lot of corporate donations on their lists.

Yes, but there were major changes to the law earlier this year, and Target is one of the first to jump in the water so to speak. That's why it's getting so much coverage.

 

[golfgal]

Well, they better boycott these companies too:

http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/list.php

Note, Walt Disney Co is #70 on the list, Target doesn't even make the top 100.

 

[MIGrandma]

I just can't see boycotting a certain store because of who they donate money to. Their money, their choice. I do my choosing in the voting booth. I'm not going to stop shopping somewhere I like just because of something like that.

 

[bored]

I just can't see boycotting a certain store because of who they donate money to. Their money, their choice. I do my choosing in the voting booth. I'm not going to stop shopping somewhere I like just because of something like that.

You speak common sense, that problem is too many people in this county don't!

 

[LisaR]

Well, they better boycott these companies too:

http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/list.php

Note, Walt Disney Co is #70 on the list, Target doesn't even make the top 100.

Many on that list make perfect sense. Of course the UAW is making political donations. I am also not overly surprised that certain companies give to specific political parties.

Two things I didn't know:
I never realized that retailers had jumped into the political arena.
I never noticed a major retailer supporting a specific candidate.

Again, maybe I am just living under a rock!

 

[ilovesugar]

I could'nt care less, honestly. I would not boycott a store because they gave to something I don't believe in. Just like I would not stop being friends with someone because they had a different opinion than I do. If you live life like that, you might as well become a hermit because there are always going to be people who don't agree with you. It is life, get over it. I know there was some organized (tried to be anyway) boycott of Target last week on a weekday in the middle of the day.

 

[FireDancer]

Every large company makes political contributions of one sort or another and almost always to both of the major parties, though usually not equally. They have to make sure the people in charge are looking out for their interests to. It doesn't matter if it is a retail industry, manufacturing, or anything else.

I don't allow political leanings to dictate who my friends are and I am sure as heck not going to allow it to dictate the companies I do business with.

 

[Pigeon]

I just can't see boycotting a certain store because of who they donate money to. Their money, their choice. I do my choosing in the voting booth. I'm not going to stop shopping somewhere I like just because of something like that.

How I choose to spend my money is my choice, and a company's political donations and business practices absolutely are factors in what companies I patronize. They may have the right to make political contributions, but they also have to recognize that there may be repercussions with some of their customers. That's just reality.

 

[jrmasm]

Well, they better boycott these companies too:

http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/list.php

Note, Walt Disney Co is #70 on the list, Target doesn't even make the top 100.

They aren't boycotting those companies because no one posted about them on Facebook yet.

 

[LuvOrlando]

It used to be that companies would donate according to how favorably a particular candidate would treat their particular industries. That's old school though, I think those days of people acting in the best interests of the business are long gone. I have the distinct impression that this is no longer the case. From a Social Science standpoint and considering this societies atheistic slant it now appears to me that certain poly slants have become the new religion for their adherents. Frankly, I think laws that prevent tax relief for donations to faith based charities need to be altered to include these new poly based cults too. Personally, I don't think companies are putting money where the businesses self interests are any longer. It now appears as though the individual men and women who are in charge of making donation decisions are doing so according to their own personal beliefs. How else do you justify business after business, industry after industry failing??? Because of this I do think who I do business with is very important. Because of this I do think that my money in profits is, in fact, a vote for one side or another. I'm sick of the whole mess and since neither side actually speaks for ME any more I'd rather put my money somewhere that doesn't play this game at all, since Mom & Pop are less likely to be able to swing the vote I think that's where I should be. Call me disenfranchised, I guess I am. I'm at a point where I'm pretty much all for boycotting anyone who is a participant in these games that rule me without my consent.

Some on the list are surprising, I guess I've got some changes to make.

Gotta love the internet though, if it wasn't for the instant info available on the internet we'd all still be in the dark like my poor grandparents who never dreamed anyone would ever try to undermine their way of life.

 

[Acklander]

How I choose to spend my money is my choice, and a company's political donations and business practices absolutely are factors in what companies I patronize. They may have the right to make political contributions, but they also have to recognize that there may be repercussions with some of their customers. That's just reality.

Oh yeah, for the most part I feel the same way. Just like I'll go to a movie because I like the movie, I don't really care which party the actor is speaking out for. But like everyone I have some causes that are near and dear to my heart that I would take a stand on. There's one business in town that the owners are strongly against the war and they will have signs in their business that reflect that. I can understand why some veterans might choose not to shop there. That target donates to a candidate that is said to stand along side a group that condones violence to gay people - well, I can understand why some people will choose not to shop there. It's not like there aren't other places to shop, so if it goes against something that is important to me, I'll spend my money elsewhere.

 

[BellvilleDad]

I just can't see boycotting a certain store because of who they donate money to. Their money, their choice. I do my choosing in the voting booth. I'm not going to stop shopping somewhere I like just because of something like that.

Agreed.

 

[BellvilleDad]

Oh yeah, for the most part I feel the same way. Just like I'll go to a movie because I like the movie, I don't really care which party the actor is speaking out for. But like everyone I have some causes that are near and dear to my heart that I would take a stand on. There's one business in town that the owners are strongly against the war and they will have signs in their business that reflect that. I can understand why some veterans might choose not to shop there. That target donates to a candidate that is said to stand along side a group that condones violence to gay people - well, I can understand why some people will choose not to shop there. It's not like there aren't other places to shop, so if it goes against something that is important to me, I'll spend my money elsewhere.

I missed that part. What violent group is he said to stand beside?

 

[luvmy3]

I just can't see boycotting a certain store because of who they donate money to. Their money, their choice. I do my choosing in the voting booth. I'm not going to stop shopping somewhere I like just because of something like that.

 

[holycow]

I haven't read all of the replies just replying to the OP.

I did realize corporations could donate money but I didn't realize that school unions could! It upset me that CA schools have a shortfall in the budget and yet they could donate money to the cause of their choice (the union head)
by the MILLIONS.


Such a waste. Teachers being laid off and yet they can support their own political agenda.