Target Loses Buzz Because of Anti-Gay Political Donation
More fallout from a donation retail giant Target gave to an anti-gay politician -- it is losing its buzz. A web site called Brandweek devotes itself to gauging the buzz of brand names. Well, over the past month target has lost a third of its brand buzz index.
It all stems from a $150,000 donation Target gave to Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer, who is outspoken against gay rights and trying to pass legislation that would ban gay marriage and gay parenting. He also has ties to a religious group that advocates violence towards gays.
Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel apologized for the donation days later, saying Target has good corporate policies towards gays. But that didn't stop protests and calls for a boycott, as well as, apparently, losing buzz.
Brandweek says the apology didn't help much:
"Although Target’s score recovered modestly from Aug. 12 through Aug. 24, it sunk again due to a rash of major newspaper op-eds, blog posts and publicity surrounding televised boycott ads from MoveOn PAC."
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What exactly does "Target loses buzz" mean? Does it correlate into specific sales figures? Because quite frankly, I'd have to guess that Target's execs are a lot more interested in the bottom line than "buzz" as defined by some website...
If you are confused by what I mean, read the article again.
That the millions of people that go to Target and have no freaking idea what buzz is, will still go there. Just like the "Merry Christmas debacle" of a few years ago, it will have no lasting effect, if any effect at all. Maybe this donation will bring back all those that stopped shopping there after that one and fill the sales gap.
I don't follow anyone, because those that appear to be on the same path usually end up just getting in my way.
I love their new commercials.
People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid. - Soren Aabye Kierkegaard (1813-1855)
I sincerely doubt Target gives a rip about gay issues . It makes money selling stuff and gay money is just as good as anyone else's. Corporate whores generally aren't very picky about their clientel.
If Target gave $150K to some scumbag politician, it's because that scumbag politican can be bought, producing legislation favorable to Target over that favorable to the people.
Personally, I'd like to see an end to all corporate/special interest donations and lobbying - right, left or center. The Constitution guarantees us a "republican" form of government, which in theory means the people, by a majority vote, pick someone to represent THEIR interests in government, not the interests of the rich and powerful few.
Why should Target, or any other special interest, be able to wield that kind of influence in how we the people are to be governed?
I wish people would wake up an realize there is no right or left, lib or con, in government. Across the board our government has become a corporate tyranny, with throw away hot button issues as a public front to distract the gullible.
We still have the right to pick someone by majority vote to represent our interests, but too many people now just vote for the one who will send the most pork their direction.
These days, I suspect if you asked the average voter what is meant by "pork", most of them wouldn't even know what you're talking about.
Target to give their money to whomever they please. However, I have the right to shop somewhere else if I dont like where they spend it. That is the freedom we enjoy. I have made it a point not to shop at Target since that donation was made.
Will it matter to them? Probably not, but it does to me. So go ahead and give all you want to who you want.
Your post is exactly right. If you like Target's policies and want to give them your business, do it. If not, go to Kohl's or wherever else you want. If enough people vote with their wallets one way or the other, changes can come. But all the whining about who gives money to whom...doesn't help.