“We were very surprised and disappointed by the statements made by Lady Gaga’s organization related to her partnership with Target,” says the company in a statement after Lady Gaga dropped the retailer like it’s hot. “Target remains committed to the LGBT community as demonstrated by our contributions to various LGBT organizations, our recently established Policy Committee to review our political giving and our respectful, inclusive workplace environment.” Lies, of course. But if Gaga really wants to make good on her momentary lapse in judgment, maybe she can lend some publicity to Canvass For A Cause, which (at least temporarily) scored the right to collect signatures outside San Diego Target stores, even if the retailer wants them removed from the premises.
flacking
Target ‘Surprised + Disappointed’ Lady Gaga Reneged On Deal To Gay-Wash The Company
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Kev C
Dear Target, thank you for dropping Lady Gaga. In the future, please support real gay artists.
Cam
Corporations were celebrating when the Supreme Court decided that they could be treated like individuals as far as politicial donations go. They thought they had free rein to buy elections.
Problem is, just like individuals, they can be held responsible for their giving, and with a country as divided as ours is right now, ANY major public giving has the chance of pissing off half of their customer base.
Sorry Target, your CEO has the freedom to donate to hate groups, but your customers have the freedom to buy all the products you sell online at Amazon or through other stores too.
justiceontherocks
@Cam: Yeah, that would be a great idea. Amazon’s PAC gave to, among others, Mitch McConnell, Jon Kyl,Jeff Sessions, Joe Manchin, John McCain (gasp), and Orrin Hatch. Strong supporters of the gay community every one of them.
Try understanding the way corporations and PACs work a little bit before you make silly claims.
Cam
@justiceontherocks:
Actually I DO understand the way corporations and PAC’s work which is why Targets way of doing it appeared so wrong. Having a CEO being able to decide where the money go is incredibly unusual…which is why the major mutual funds demanded that Target change their way of making donations. They demanded the same of Best Buy and Best Buy agreed.
As for your comment about who Amazon’s PAC donated to…funny, you left out a few things.
The top five donations from them in 2010 were to Democrats, They also donated to Boxer, Lehey etc… TARGET on the other hand, had their money end up with a politician belonging to a group that advocates killing gays, when confronted by it, they at first basically told people to F-off, and only when their sales went down, they agreed to stop doing that….
Then they broke their promise. That is a whole different ball game.
So before pretending that nobody on here knows how things work, try not to be so quick to excuse people for wanting you dead.
Spike
Fortunately when GLBT boycotts are established, the occur on the long term, rather then the assumption by these corporations that that we are nothing more then a light switch when it comes to such things. Just ask Coors.
Proudtobedad
Why is Queerty not reporting on this new move by Target, to block pro-marriage equality canvassers in San Diego from petitioning in front of Target??? This move by Target, SUING gay marriage proponents, is yet another bad move by Target. Queerty should be all over this:
http://sdgln.com/news/2011/03/08/breaking-news-target-sues-grass-roots-canvass-cause-stop-petition-signing
divkid
queerty:
“But if Gaga really wants to make good on her momentary lapse in judgment…”
spellcheck malfunction?
did you mean to say:
But if Gaga really wants to make good on her MONETARY lapse in judgment…
i know. it *was* cheap.
but thats what i’m bringing these days.
all i had. tank is empty.