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www.ambiente.us AUGUST |AGOSTO 2010
Target, HRC Refuse to Budge Over Campaign Contributions
Funding Anti-Gay MN Gubernatorial Candidate Tom Emmer
Over the weekend, Towerload.com posted about Target's $150,000 donation to the
Minnesota Forward PAC, which bought ads for anti-gay gubernatorial candidate Tom
Emmer. Target's motivation and ability to give this money is a direct result of the
Supreme Court's decision in January to allow corporations to donate freely to political
campaigns.
Best Buy has also donated $100,000 to the MN forward PAC, the Star Tribune revealed
today. We were warned after that SCOTUS decision that corporations would now be in
charge of American politics and it now seems to be manifesting itself in Minnesota.
In these situations, fiscal issues trump social ones, at least in
Target's, and now Best Buy's, case.
A Towleroad reader forwarded the letter he received in response to his complaint to the
company, which is similar to an internal letter sent to employees by CEO Gregg
Steinhafel in which Steinhafel defended the company's political donations. As The Awl
notes, Steinhafel has a personal history of contributions to far right politicians like
Michelle Bachmann.
Target, HRC Refuse to Budge Over Campaign Contributions
Funding Anti-Gay MN Gubernatorial Candidate Tom Emmer
Over the weekend, Towerload.com posted about Target's $150,000 donation to the
Minnesota Forward PAC, which bought ads for anti-gay gubernatorial candidate Tom
Emmer. Target's motivation and ability to give this money is a direct result of the
Supreme Court's decision in January to allow corporations to donate freely to political
campaigns.
Best Buy has also donated $100,000 to the MN forward PAC, the Star Tribune revealed
today. We were warned after that SCOTUS decision that corporations would now be in
charge of American politics and it now seems to be manifesting itself in Minnesota.
In these situations, fiscal issues trump social ones, at least in
Target's, and now Best Buy's, case.
A Towleroad reader forwarded the letter he received in response to his complaint to the
company, which is similar to an internal letter sent to employees by CEO Gregg
Steinhafel in which Steinhafel defended the company's political donations. As The Awl
notes, Steinhafel has a personal history of contributions to far right politicians like
Michelle Bachmann.
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So far national gay rights groups are holding off on any action against
Target. Target's donation to Emmer will not affect the company's
100% rating on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality
Index, which it has received for some time, according to
Minnesota's The Colu.mn:
The HRC’s Deputy Press Secretary, Paul Guequierre explained it
this way in an email to TheColu.mn: “While political contributions
to support candidates are not a factor in HRC Foundation’s
Corporate Equality Index, HRC finds it puzzling that Target would take
great steps to support LGBT inclusiveness while simultaneously
helping a candidate who shamelessly rejects equality for LGBT
Minnesotans.”
Until this year’s landmark Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission Supreme Court
decision, Minnesota and 24 other states had laws banning corporate donations to political
campaigns. The court decision, according to Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public
Disclosure Board Executive Director Gary Goldsmith, was what allowed Target to overtly donate
to Emmer’s campaign.
So far, Guequierre said, the HRC has no plans right now to modify CEI criteria to account for
these new possibilities for corporation’s anti-LGBT activities, but he left the door open for
changes in the future.
“Now in its ninth year, the CEI’s criteria has evolved,” Guequierre told TheColu.mn in an email.
“In 2011, for example, there will be nearly a half-dozen new criteria that will be added for
evaluation. Criteria will continue to evolve as we come into new information.”
Target. Target's donation to Emmer will not affect the company's
100% rating on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality
Index, which it has received for some time, according to
Minnesota's The Colu.mn:
The HRC’s Deputy Press Secretary, Paul Guequierre explained it
this way in an email to TheColu.mn: “While political contributions
to support candidates are not a factor in HRC Foundation’s
Corporate Equality Index, HRC finds it puzzling that Target would take
great steps to support LGBT inclusiveness while simultaneously
helping a candidate who shamelessly rejects equality for LGBT
Minnesotans.”
Until this year’s landmark Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission Supreme Court
decision, Minnesota and 24 other states had laws banning corporate donations to political
campaigns. The court decision, according to Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public
Disclosure Board Executive Director Gary Goldsmith, was what allowed Target to overtly donate
to Emmer’s campaign.
So far, Guequierre said, the HRC has no plans right now to modify CEI criteria to account for
these new possibilities for corporation’s anti-LGBT activities, but he left the door open for
changes in the future.
“Now in its ninth year, the CEI’s criteria has evolved,” Guequierre told TheColu.mn in an email.
“In 2011, for example, there will be nearly a half-dozen new criteria that will be added for
evaluation. Criteria will continue to evolve as we come into new information.”
Dear xxxxxxx,
Target has long believed that engaging in civic activities is an important and
necessary element of operating a national retail business. What's more important than any one
candidate's stance on a particular issue is how we nurture thoughtful, long-term growth in the state
of Minnesota.
Our support of causes and candidates is based strictly on issues that affect our retail and business
interests. To continue to grow and create jobs and opportunity in our home state, we believe it is
imperative to be engaged in public policy and the political process. That is why we are members
of organizations like the Minnesota Business Partnership, the Chamber of Commerce and many
others. And that is why we decided to contribute to MN Forward.
MN Forward's objective is to elect candidates from both parties who will make job creation and
economic growth a top priority. We operate best when working collaboratively with legislators on
both sides of the aisle. In fact, if you look at our Federal PAC contributions year to date, you will
see that they are very balanced between Republicans and Democrats. For more information please
visit www.target.com/company, and view the Civic Activity page.
Target has a large stake in Minnesota's future, which is why it is so important to be able to
provide jobs, serve guests, support communities and deliver on our commitment to shareholders.
As an international business that is proud to call Minnesota home, it is critical that we have a
business environment that allows us to be competitive. Our guests, team members, communities
and shareholders depend on Target to remain competitive.
Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback.
Sincerely,
Julie B.
Target Executive Offices
Target has long believed that engaging in civic activities is an important and
necessary element of operating a national retail business. What's more important than any one
candidate's stance on a particular issue is how we nurture thoughtful, long-term growth in the state
of Minnesota.
Our support of causes and candidates is based strictly on issues that affect our retail and business
interests. To continue to grow and create jobs and opportunity in our home state, we believe it is
imperative to be engaged in public policy and the political process. That is why we are members
of organizations like the Minnesota Business Partnership, the Chamber of Commerce and many
others. And that is why we decided to contribute to MN Forward.
MN Forward's objective is to elect candidates from both parties who will make job creation and
economic growth a top priority. We operate best when working collaboratively with legislators on
both sides of the aisle. In fact, if you look at our Federal PAC contributions year to date, you will
see that they are very balanced between Republicans and Democrats. For more information please
visit www.target.com/company, and view the Civic Activity page.
Target has a large stake in Minnesota's future, which is why it is so important to be able to
provide jobs, serve guests, support communities and deliver on our commitment to shareholders.
As an international business that is proud to call Minnesota home, it is critical that we have a
business environment that allows us to be competitive. Our guests, team members, communities
and shareholders depend on Target to remain competitive.
Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback.
Sincerely,
Julie B.
Target Executive Offices
LGBT rights group Outfront Minnesota has
called on Target to balance in some way its
support for Emmer:
"Target should recognize that its support of
Representative Emmer's campaign
supports his toxic social agenda,
significant parts of which involve targeting
GLBT people, immigrants, and low-income
workers for discrimination and
marginalization. Target should be aware of
the damage to the lives of GLBT
Minnesotans that its spending in support of
Representative Emmer will have. Because
of this, OutFront Minnesota calls on Target
to do the right thing and make amends for
the damage it has done by taking back its
donation to Minnesota Forward, or by
donating an equal amount to a political
committee or cause of its choice that works
to combat the attacks, dehumanization and
marginalization of GLBT people,
immigrants, and low-income workers
represented by Emmer and Minnesota
Forward."
Copyright © Towerload.com & AMBIENTE
MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this
source
called on Target to balance in some way its
support for Emmer:
"Target should recognize that its support of
Representative Emmer's campaign
supports his toxic social agenda,
significant parts of which involve targeting
GLBT people, immigrants, and low-income
workers for discrimination and
marginalization. Target should be aware of
the damage to the lives of GLBT
Minnesotans that its spending in support of
Representative Emmer will have. Because
of this, OutFront Minnesota calls on Target
to do the right thing and make amends for
the damage it has done by taking back its
donation to Minnesota Forward, or by
donating an equal amount to a political
committee or cause of its choice that works
to combat the attacks, dehumanization and
marginalization of GLBT people,
immigrants, and low-income workers
represented by Emmer and Minnesota
Forward."
Copyright © Towerload.com & AMBIENTE
MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this
source
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