Target/Best Buy Gay Rights Boycott Tests Citizens United Decision

Retailers Target and Best Buy are under fire from gay rights groups, who are organizing boycotts over both companies’ corporate donations to support Republican Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer, who they say is virulently anti-gay. The donations of $150,000 and $100,000, respectively, were made possible by the Supreme Court’s hotly debated Citizens United decision, which allows unlimited political donations by corporations. This confrontation will test the limiting effect of the free market on Citizens United.

While opponents of the decision fear it will open the floodgates to a political process already corrupted by moneyed interests, proponents of the decision argue on free speech grounds, and that other, market-based forces will naturally limit the effects of Citizens United.

In this case, both Target and Best Buy have made sizable donations to a Political Action Committee (PAC) that supports Republican Tom Emmer’s bid to replace Tim Pawlenty as Minnesota governor. While Emmer is opposed to gay marriage, it is his support for an anti-gay Christian rock band that really rankles:

You Can Run But You Cannot Hide is fronted by a man named Bradlee Dean. And Tom Emmer is a buddy-buddy with Dean and his band. “These are nice people,” Emmer said of the band, who have appeared at various Minnesota GOP functions, from statewide conventions to political candidate soirées.

But here’s what Bradlee Dean has said about LGBT people.

“Muslims are calling for the executions of homosexuals in America. 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,” Dean previously said.

Emmer’s campaign, which has previously donated money to Bradlee Dean’s ministry, released this statement on Monday:

“Tom’s position on social issues has been very clear and consistent. He is a supporter of traditional marriage, and he strongly opposes any kind of violence or unfair discrimination against any group.”

This could be a textbook example of the tension between corporate influence and corporate public image. While the ability to make such large donations certainly increases the potential influence that a company can exert, it also ties them more closely to potential political liabilities. The Republicans’ reputation for being “business friendly” must now be counterbalanced with some of their less-attractive social views. This is the flip side of the free speech argument, taking responsibility for what you say.

Target, for example, has developed a reputation as a good corporate citizen, the “good guys” in the world of Big Box retailers. By making such a large donation to Emmer, can they reasonably expect their customers to accept the surgical logic of this Target spokesperson?

A Target spokeswoman said the company supports causes and candidates “based strictly on issues that affect our retail and business objectives.” Spokeswoman Lena Michaud said Target has a history of giving in state and local races where allowed, but wouldn’t provide detail on those donations.

That’s an easier argument to make under the old rules, but a $150,000 donation is difficult to view as anything but full-throated. When I contacted Target with questions about Emmer, they responded with this letter to concerned employees, essentially an expanded version of their existing statement.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out, but I doubt that it will make or break Citizens United. I suspect that, rather than putting a chill on large corporate donations, it will have the effect of shunting the money to more generic, national PACs that aren’t tied to a particular candidate, or his most extreme views.

This cuts both ways, though. An intriguing possibility is that conflicts like this will cause Republican politicians to moderate their views on a range of issues, counterbalanced by Democratic politicians who become less labor-friendly in search of those big donations.

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9 comments

lonestar77 says:

July 29, 2010 at 7:05 pm

2  1

It’s nice to see media types suddenly interested in the friends of politicians.

Pablo says:

July 30, 2010 at 12:12 am

4  15

Rashid Khalidi, anyone? No, A RETHUGLICAN GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE KNOWS A GUY WHO DOESN’T LIKE TEH GAYS! EVERYBODY PANIC!

Don’t get me started on Bill Ayers. Or Tony Rezko. Or Frank Marshall Davis.

David Broadway says:

July 30, 2010 at 1:33 am

0  20

Why can’t the gays and the Tea Party-Republican-Rightists get along? Based on the news over the years, there is plenty of overlap between the groups’ membership.

This article here documents a gay man coming out as a Tea Partier.

Very FUNNY.

http://www.dailygoat.com/?p=2100

Arthur Clough says:

July 30, 2010 at 1:41 pm

11  48

My shopping will begin at Target this weekend.

Peter Wright says:

July 30, 2010 at 6:10 pm

26  3

I’m sorry, can someone help me out? Where exactly in the Bible does it condone murdering homosexuals? According to the quote: “Muslims are calling for the executions of homosexuals in America. 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.” I have read the Bible and I do not remember coming across a single verse that condones the murder of homosexuals. Uh oh… was I reading the Cliffs Notes version?

NeoKong says:

August 1, 2010 at 9:26 pm

3  11

Boycotting Target and Best Buy…?
AhahahahahHahHAHhaahhhhahHhaa…(wipes tear)
That’s like trying to boycott McDonalds.
I’m sure they are quaking in their shoes.
Citizens United will be on the ropes in no time.

Good luck with that.

Steve Lee says:

August 2, 2010 at 11:57 am

4  3

The Middle Easterners population is growing in the Midwest because the U.S. State Department is continuing to bring thousands more of them to be “resettled” there even as today the U.S. troops in Iraq standing down from their combat role.

As their social groups are becoming more politically active you are going to be hearing more about them trying to impose their cultural customs on US.

If even a small percentage have themhave the desire to inflict casualities on Americans they are a disaster waiting to happen, Click Link:

http://patriotsforamerica.ning.com/profiles/blogs/palestinians-have-missle

KMLake says:

August 14, 2010 at 4:05 am

10  0

I recently sent this email to all top executives at Target:

“I wanted to let you know how unsatisfactory Target’s corporate response has been to the outrage regarding your contribution to the religious ultra-right. No amount of awards for simply not persecuting your LGBT staff members can offset this irresponsible act. To assume that not one of the other three candidates would support business and economic growth is absurd and no rational person will accept this excuse. Spending profits gained from purchases by LGBT customers (and their friends and extended family members who love them, like myself) to attempt to deny these same people equal protection under the law for their families, is despicable. Either do better or stay out of the political arena… it’s the only ethical choice.

Since hearing about what you have done, I have stopped shopping at Target which in the past has been my favorite store. I have spent thousands over the last decade and contributed to your success. It sickens me that you have chosen to use my hard-earned money to hurt this persecuted and misunderstood community. I am, on my own, circulating a pledge to boycott Target until you make concrete amends to those you have harmed (saying “we’re so sorry” or “we’ll talk about it” is not enough). It’s the young (who in the vast majority accept gay people and have openly gay friends) and people with money to spend (gay people have more discretionary income than almost any other group) who buy from you. Most families have a gay family member and some even love them. I hope you can see what an ‘anti-business’ move it was (at least for you) to support those who hate gay people and want to oppress them.

In case it is of interest to you I am a devout Christian so don’t assume your only criticism comes from the gay community and/or people who are not deeply religious. Bigotry has no place in today’s world and I, for one, will not tolerate it in any form. We are either “one” or we are nothing. Support diversity and stop financially supporting those who don’t.

Please clarify your ethics statement if you continue to choose to support homophobic or other types of bigoted candidates so that your customers will know about it …Please add the following for clarification of your corporate identity…

“Target doesn’t allow discrimination in any form. However, Target will lend significant financial support to those who do, whether they are racists or some other type of bigot, simply because they call themselves ‘pro-business.’ Target will not take responsibility for our actions in any concrete manner and will use awards given to us for simply not persecuting or LBGT staff members as ‘proof’ that we really are good folks after all… (so please keep spending your money here so we can keep supporting America’s own special homegrown Taliban… the ultra-right religious fundamentalists.”

Kathleen M. Lake, M.A.

My$ -> Target$ -> Emmer$ -> “You Can Run”$ (organization that advocates the execution of homosexuals) Which means when I spent money at Target, they gave it to a guy who donates to a murderous/fascist homegrown American taliban. Take out the middle man and I am funding hate every time I shop at Target (or BestBuy and others). Emmer says that “it was just a dinner table…” Would any sane person buy a dinner table for a terrorist organization so that they can have a nice meal before they murder American citizens? It’s just that simple. Don’t fund hate.

Alan Equality Bounville says:

August 20, 2010 at 1:38 am

0  0

TARGET BIGOT SPECIAL IN MADISON, WI!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1inmoke76E

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