As I'm sure you can imagine, corporations - and the people who run them - don't always support progressive politicians. Of course, there are lots of exceptions to the rule, but it shouldn't come as a huge surprise that many corporations love tax cutting, regulation opposing Republicans. But Target is getting a lot of attention right now. In fact, there just might be a boycott on the horizon.

Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel gave $150,000 to MNForward, a "pro-business" group backing Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer. Emmer is the only candidate running for governor in Minnesota to oppose gay marriage. His website touts the standard hyper-conservative Republican fare, even though Minnesota is generally quite moderate. Steinhafel has also been linked to a $10,000 to Michelle Bachmann and Sarah Palin.

In all fairness, Gregg Steinhafel has said he does not support most of Emmer's social stances, but rather his fiscal policy. This is reinforced by Target's 100% Corporate Equality Index rating from the Human Rights Campaign.

As a shopper, I've always viewed Target as the progressive, classier alternative to Wal-Mart. As the CEO of the company, Gregg Steinhafel is one man who surely doesn't speak for the people of Target. With that said, let the boycott begin. The politicians he has supported are anti-gay, anti-American, anti-democratic and anti-everything-else-a-decent-society-should-protect. For God's sake, Michelle Bachmann called for the investigations of liberal members of Congress for being "anti-American."

I am disgusted by seemingly intelligent people who supposedly don't agree with Republicans on a number of oppressive social platforms, but universally support the conservative candidate based on fiscal policies. We can debate the success of economic policies for Republican and Democratic administrations til the cows come home, but I have no respect for a human being who puts money above stem cell research, responsible foreign policy, a reduction of nuclear weapons, unions rights and equal rights (for gays, women, minorities, immigrants, the middle class, the lower class, etc).

In case you want to contact CEO Steinhafel, here's the info:

Email: Gregg.Steinhafel@target.com
Phone: 612.696-6234
FAX: 612.696-6325

Source:
The Consumerist

Corporate Headquarters Contact

Target
1000 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403

Phone: 612.304-6073
FAX: 612.370-5502