Target Continues To Make The Political Donations They Had Previously Apologized For Making

This past fall, mega-retailer Target caught a heap of bad publicity when it was revealed that they had made campaign donations in support of then-Minnesota gubernatorial hopeful Tom Emmer, whose hostility to the LGBT community began "with opposition to same-sex marriage and runs through to wholesale denial of equal rights and alliances with organizations whose takes on the gay community neatly align with those Ugandan madmen." Target CEO Greg Steinhafel was forced to make an apology, and promised to begin a "review process for future political donations."

Over at The Awl, Abram Sauer, who covered this story thoroughly during the election season, has made a review of this review process. You'll never guess what he found out!

According to documents filed with the FEC in October 2010, Target continued donating to a bevy of anti-gay politicians even after Steinhafel apologized and committed to reforming the review process for future political donations. These donations even included some of the same anti-gay politicians the company had already been criticized for supporting.

Here's a taste of the specifics:

After Steinhafel's August 5 letter, Target's Political Action Committee, helmed by the former right hand of Senator Thune, Matt Zabel, recorded $41,200 in federal election activity. Of that total, $31,200 went to anti-gay rights politicians or PACs supporting those candidates.

Supporters of gay equality did get some money. In September, Target PAC gave $1,000 to Chuck Schumer. It also sent a whole $500 to Keith Ellison, the Minnesota Congressman that anti-gay leader Bradley Dean accuses of supporting LGBT rights as a way to bring Sharia law to America.

But donations such as $1,000 to Kelly Ayotte (reported on September 22), who resigned her state post in protest of the legalization of gay marriage and same sex adoption, are far more the norm.

That same day, there is a record of a donation by Target PAC to Spencer Bachus, who voted to ban same-sex adoption. Michigan's David Camp, who, in addition to supporting a Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage, voted against protecting gays from job discrimination based on sexual orientation, also reported money. Through October, Target PAC thousands of dollars in donations were recorded to Michael Crapo and Dave Reichert, both supporters of anti-gay Constitutional amendments, and Rob Portman, a supporter of banning gays from adopting. Portman's position on other gay rights won't surprise. On October 4, a donation was reported: $2,000 to David Dreier, whose position on gay rights is quite a bit of theatre.

Sauer also digs up this magical puff piece by Bill George at the Star Tribune, attesting to Steinhafel's general wonderfulness as a CEO. Amid the assertion that Steinhafel is "always classy" and the insistence that it "isn't easy being CEO of a public company," (I mean, you try living off this pittance in America) there's glancing mention of that minor dust-up over these anti-gay political donations:

Suggestions that Target was somehow "anti-gay" cut deeply. The worst one could say about this incident is that Steinhafel may have been naive. But he admitted his mistake and reaffirmed the company's long-standing support for gay rights. As he told me, "Target has the most gay-friendly policies in this state."

I don't think the worst you could say about Steinhafel is that he is naive! More like, "is a liar." But, as Sauer points out, this Strib handjob was written by a former member of Target's board and the author of a book titled 7 Lessons for Leading in Crisis that "just happens to count Gregg Steinhafel as one of its profiled 'leaders.'" So, you know: hard-hitting.

GO READ THE WHOLE THING:
The Anti-Gay Donations That Target Apologized For? They Never Stopped [The Awl]

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Comments

[TallThinMan]

11:41 PM on 01/28/2011

Once we start trying to control which company gives political donations to which group or politician then REAL democracy (not the democracy some liberals out there scream out in the name of being "fair") will be over.
Plenty of corporations give many different contributions to plenty of different political circles that don't necessarily have the public good in mind but that doesnt mean we should attempt to control or demean them for it...doing so makes us un-American.
That goes for Liberals AND Conservatives

[DCMetroGuy]

04:54 PM on 02/03/2011

Actually if you ever take the time to read it ....the very first words of our Constitution are "We the People".

You would also notice that there is no reference anywhere in it to any rights or priveleges, that are given to corporations, nor are they given any voting rights or priveleges in the election process in the Constitution.... only the people are.

Corporations have no rights whatsoever in elections.....per the constitution. If the people who work there want to contribute thier own money to a candidate, they have the right to do so. but Corporations themselves should not be allowed to spend to buy an election for a candidate that otherwise "We the People" would have never elected.

...and that goes for both Liberal and Conservative Coprorations.

[bottel01]

12:16 AM on 01/20/2011

I shop at Target every chance I get, I must have spent hundred of thousand of dollars their Target is a great place to shop:)

[WheelsOnFire]

12:59 AM on 12/29/2010

The anti-gay bigot that Target backed for governor of Minnesota lost.

So, they wasted their time and money supporting him.

All they got in return was a black eye and some reputational damage -- which in this case may be minimal in the long run, unfortunately.

However, some of us stopped shopping at Target or significantly reduced our purchasing there.

My partner and I did so immediately. We still avoid Target now, as do many of our friends.

[CaliforniaFree]

08:49 PM on 12/23/2010

U.S. Intergovernment Debt $4.5 Trillion

U.S Debt $16 Trillion

U.S Entitlement Debt $60 Trillion

Unemployment rate 14.6% and getting Higher

Russian and China already signed a Bi-Lateral Agreement NOT to use U.S Dollars but in their Own Currencies

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said “[I]t would be desirable for the global community, over time, to devise [a new] international monetary system,” in Frankfurt, GERMANY in December 19,2010

and he said “As currently constituted, the international monetary system has a structural flaw,” said America’s chief banker. The dollar system is broken. “It lacks a mechanism, market based or otherwise, to induce needed adjustments by surplus countries, which can result in persistent imbalances”

Yet, You are asking us to Boycott Target for the sake of promoting your sexual-preferences....You Force us to give you more "Special Rights" when in fact, you choose your own sexual lifestyle....

Observe, Greece where there National Debt went beyond control, and whatever happens Financially in Europe eventually ROLLS over to America.

How can you ask us Americans to Destroy Target and other Stores because they choose to Donate whomever they want to just like you choose donate your causes to whomever you want to?

Furthermore, It's purely evident that your big lies and deceptions cannot support your way of living because it shows that you care more about forcing us to grant you special rights instead of CREATING JOBS for ALL AMERICANS......

[eve mahar]

12:00 AM on 12/24/2010

1) we don't choose our sexuality anymore than you do
2) we aren't forcing anyone to do anything
3) we aren't asking for special rights
4) we have every right to boycott a company who contributes to discrimination and homophobia, much like yourself.

[David Bartlett]

08:06 PM on 01/20/2011

amen. very well said.

[JumpDownTurnAround]

12:34 PM on 12/25/2010

Tell me something. Would you have a problem with Target donations eventually ending up going toward a Christian Punk Rock Ministry that advocated the killing of heterosexuals since you seem to have no problem with them advocating the killing of gays and lesbians!
At what point would you finally wake up and say; "This is wrong!"....?

If you're confused, then research MN Forward's donation from Target going to Tom Emmer (who lost by the way! There's a $150,000.00 of hard earned money DOWN THE DRAIN!) and then look up Tom Emmer's donation to "You Can Run But You Can't Hide" or Bradley Dean! Then maybe you'll see why the GLBT and those against MURDER of any human being are calling for the BOYCOTT OF TARGET!

[rolfruben]

03:41 PM on 12/23/2010

It's been easy to find alternatives to Target. (And that surely doesn't mean Walmart.) Many of the internet retailers have perfected fast shipping and expedient return policies and good consumer rating systems. Costco - World Market is a more progressive retailer.

[cheryl tobin]

12:49 PM on 12/23/2010

Thanks for a great article. I consider this a good reason to never shop at Target again.

[Minnehaha]

03:19 AM on 12/23/2010

I don't shop at target period, dot.

[Michael-n-Tom]

09:00 PM on 12/22/2010

One way to make a non violent protest is to get several friends, go to Target and fill your shopping cart, top and bottom, with high-priced merchandise, hopefully with price tags missing, then head to the check out at the same time. The cashier will have to get price checks on the items that don't have tags. Then, when it is time to pay, ask to speak to the Manager, and say that you have decided not to purchase these items because of Target's homophobic policies, and that you will shop elsewhere. You will have tied up the check out for awhile and you would make a statement when you decide to spend your $400 somewhere else.

[Titanshanks]

10:26 PM on 12/22/2010

That sounds pretty good; I might do that. Thanks!

[MrFabulocity]

11:30 PM on 12/23/2010

The only problem is that you were never going to buy all that stuff anyway and they will see right through it. A total waste of time and a bit sophomoric. Go do a good deed rather than think up these master plans.

[beau taylor]

06:25 PM on 12/22/2010

Think out of the box! I don't shop Wally World of Tarchez.

[Lifencompass]

06:01 PM on 12/22/2010

bad target. BOO!

But I haven't shopped there since...

"According to documents filed with the FEC in October 2010, Target continued donating to a bevy of anti-gay politicians even after Steinhafel apologized and committed to reforming the review process for future political donations. These donations even included some of the same anti-gay politicians the company had already been criticized for supporting."

[GlassMask]

03:43 PM on 12/22/2010

This isn't just a gay issue. I try my best to not deal with stores that hate friends of mine. I'm straight, but I'm in show biz so I've got tons of gay friends. Politicians (and companies that support them) who attack my buddies won't be getting my $$$ anytime soon. "Targeting" any minority is just plain wrong.

[leyvadaniel]

03:27 PM on 12/22/2010

the real question is: Who buys anything there? I don't think I have ever been inside a Target, but by what other people say, I got the idea that these are glorified dollar stores.

[Saboruto]

05:08 PM on 12/22/2010

Target is basically a significantly more upscale Walmart. Same concept (one stop shop to buy everything from clothes to groceries to electronics), but their stores tend to be a lot trendier and cater to a "hipper" crowd. Whereas Walmart goes after low/middle income families and tries to present itself as ultra-cheap, Target usually goes for college students, soccer moms, that sort of thing. Prices at Target are about the same as Walmart, and basically they're the same thing repackaged.

[talkstocoyotes]

12:59 PM on 12/25/2010

"Prices at Target are about the same as Walmart, and basically they're the same thing repackaged­."

Except in the food department, where prices are often much higher than at Wal-Mart or at supermarkets.

[Mark Fey]

03:22 PM on 12/22/2010

These people (Target's management) are pathetic.

[Franc Neary]

03:19 PM on 12/22/2010

"There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again."

[101flyboy]

03:17 PM on 12/22/2010

Good to know, very good to know. Boycott has been on and that will continue. Interesting that reports have them losing quite a lot of money due to this, yet they continue to do the same things that are causing that. Bigotry never changes their stripes.