MSNBC Rejects MoveOn's Target Boycott Ad

[Myra Bronstein]

Those slimy corporations (aka the US government) sure stick together.
And the only thing that seems to scare them is the prospect of a boycott.

The rejected MoveOn ad can be seen at this URL:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/19...87700.html

Posted: 08-19-10 12:33 PM

MSNBC has rejected an ad created by the progressive group MoveOn.org that calls for a boycott of Target over the company's contributions to anti-gay political candidates.

In a statement, MoveOn said that MSNBC had notified them that the ad--which mimics Target's red and white motif and tells people to boycott the company because "our democracy is not for sale"--violated NBC's "Controversial Issue Advertising policy," because it was an explicit attack on an individual company.

MoveOn's executive director, Justin Ruben, blasted MSNBC and its parent company, General Electric, in the statement.

"According to MSNBC and GE it is alright for corporations, like Target, to attack candidates and buy elections, but it is not OK for citizen organizations, like MoveOn, to fight back. This is the height of hypocrisy," he said.

Target has come under heavy criticism after it was discovered that it donated $150,000 to a business group that supported the gubernatorial campaign of Minnesota Republican Tom Emmer. The money was reportedly used to make political ads highlighting Emmer's small-government views.

But it is Emmer's opposition to gay marriage that has caused a major backlash from progressive groups and sparked the boycott. So far, MoveOn said it has gathered 260,000 signatures for a petition pledging a boycott of Target until the company stops donating money to campaigns. Target has apologized, but has not withdrawn the donation.

As the Washington Post reported Thursday, the Target controversy is one of the first examples of the new political terrain for major corporations in the wake of the Citizens United decision, which allowed corporations to make direct contributions to political campaigns. With that new freedom comes increased scrutiny about the political slant of those donations, and of the people making the decision about which candidates to give to.

[Myra Bronstein]

And while we're on the subject...

http://pol.moveon.org/state/target/

[Myra Bronstein]

http://www.deeppoliticsforum.com/forums/...=1&p=24758

Target Political Giving 'A Debacle' Says Target Institutional Investor

By MARTIGA LOHN | 08/20/10 05:11 AM | AP

MINNEAPOLIS -- A few Target Corp. and Best Buy Co. institutional shareholders weighed in Thursday on the flap over the companies' political donations in Minnesota, urging the boards of both retailers to increase their oversight of campaign contributions.

Walden Asset Management and Trillium Asset Management Corp., both of Boston, and Bethesda, Md.-based Calvert Asset Management Co. filed shareholder resolutions with both companies. Together, the three firms control less than 1 percent of each company's outstanding shares -- 1.1 million Target shares worth $57.5 million and 344,000 Best Buy shares worth $11.3 million -- but they are moving the debate over the political giving to a new arena.

Target gave $150,000 and Best Buy $100,000 to a business-focused political fund helping a conservative Republican gubernatorial candidate in Minnesota, triggering a national backlash from gay rights groups and liberals. The companies made the donations after a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling freed them to spend corporate funds on elections. The candidate, state legislator Tom Emmer, opposes gay marriage and other rights for same-sex couples.

"A good corporate political contribution policy should prevent the kind of debacle Target and Best Buy walked into," said Trillium vice president Shelley Alpern. "We expect companies to evaluate candidates based upon the range of their positions – not simply one area – and assess whether they are in alignment with their core values. But these companies' policies are clearly lacking that."

The shareholders said the donations don't mesh with corporate values that include workplace protections for gay employees and risk harming the companies' brands. Walden senior vice president Tim Smith said such giving can have "a major negative impact on company reputations and business."

The Target resolution urges the board to review the effect of future political contributions on the company's public image, sales and profitability and to consider the cost of backing a candidate whose politics conflict with the company's public stances.

Spokeswoman Amy Reilly said Minneapolis-based Target had nothing to add to previous statements on the matter, including an apology from Chief Executive Officer Gregg Steinhafel.

A spokeswoman for Richfield, Minn.-based Best Buy didn't immediately respond to a message.

The three investment companies together submitted the resolution to Target, while Calvert and Trillium filed the Best Buy shareholder proposal. One of Trillium's clients, the Portland, Ore.-based Equity Foundation, divested a small Target holding of 170 shares on Wednesday.