Target Apologizes for Controversial Political Donation

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Campaign 2010 ,; Social Issues

(Credit: AP)

Target Corp. is apologizing for a controversial financial donation it made to a political group.

The company has come under fire in recent weeks for donating $150,000 to the group MN Forward, which is running ads for a Republican candidate who opposes same-sex marriage. A call to boycott Target gained steam among consumers who wanted to protest its indirect support of anti-gay policies.

Chairman and Chief Executive Gregg Steinhafel on Thursday wrote to employees that the company was "genuinely sorry" the donation upset some, the Associated Press reports. Steinhafel said the company would set up a review process for future political donations.

Last month, Steinhafel told employees that Target's support of the gay community is "unwavering." He added that the company's political donation was intended to promote certain pro-business policies, not any position on social issues.

Other retailers have donated to MN Forward, but Target came under scrutiny because it has long been seen as an ally by the gay rights movement.

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by TXcardplayer October 14, 2010 5:46 PM EDT: OMG Free Speech has gone Over the Top. We are not only mad.we are so Mad we want to Boycott a store who treats ALL its employees well( and fairly) Donates Tons of money .. and we DO NOT WANT THEM TO HAVE ANY = Rights (as to there political contributions)! They had better Donate money to who we say to Donate too. Really ? Doesn't that make you a Hypocrite? Does that mean they can't sell Bibles either? Wow Are we in Russia now? Oh yeah -No - because they aren't Communist anymore. Well not exactly . . .but i do not recognize this country either when the more politically correct thing to do is Bash a Good Company (just like they did Whole Foods over Healthcare - and he was providing It to his employees !) Eh- Gads there is a Virus that might be killing Brains Cells . . .along with Moral Decency and the Rights of others to disagree. I know there are plenty of decent people that are Gay and of other lifestyle choices .. but being hateful and Vile is wrong in any form. Not being respectful of other people freedoms and Rights is Totally hypocritical and wrong. I worked with plenty of Gay men in the Rest. Industry..luckily most of them appreciated that were "different" and didn't push there "rights" around. The worked hard made decent money and were cordial to everyone. Do what you want in your "off" time. But Boycott Bashing and Distruptive Exchange is inappropiate when you are hurting some of the Very People who are trying to do the Right thing.; Reply to this comment


by TXcardplayer October 14, 2010 2:31 PM EDT: by mjensen=As an openly gay man and a long-term Target employee, I am really disheartened to see the open hostility this whole thing has caused.{ in reply} = i am glad to see some common sense by your comment.
the people calling for a boycott should be outraged that a Boycott is wrongful , & would actually accomlish little and hurt people who are treated well. People need to chill.; Reply to this comment


by mjensen612 August 6, 2010 1:19 PM EDT: As an openly gay man and a long-term Target employee, I am really disheartened to see the open hostility this whole thing has caused. I am part of an organization that donates more than $3,000,000 PER WEEK to various different social organizations that support family well-being, education, and health. To be this angry over a one-time donation that amounts to less than one-tenth of one percent of total donations anually. Yes, it had unintended effects but this has been blown out of proprotion.

My company supports me fully from written non-discrimination practices to domestic partnership benefits to creating a culture where I can openly share who I am and it is not only accepted, it is welcomed. In talking to many of my friends that work at other employers, I would bet that only a handful of companies support their employees the way mine does.

I can appreciate the public anger as it tells me how far we have come as a society. In this case, I have to say that the anger is misplaced.; Reply to this comment


by clint1245 August 6, 2010 12:40 PM EDT: Mountain out of a mole hill much. You know the heads of Target are sitting in their chairs thinking these activists should stop acting so gay j/k. I just wish I could vote for a socially liberal economically conservative candidate and it seems target wishes the same. I think Dems or republicans should wise up and jump on that bandwagon as I think many people of the younger generation feel much the same way. Oh and if anybody calls that an independent they are wrong, independent is not a party but someone who does not belong to a party.; Reply to this comment


by NorrisHall August 6, 2010 10:11 AM EDT: These businesses who donate to political candidates and causes need their head examined.

Pretty soon America is going to end up with "Red" stores and "Blue" stores.
People will start demanding to see a list of which companies gave to which party or candidate.
Stores will get rated by how "Blue" or "Red" they are.

Then shoppers will decide where to shop , not based on service , price and selection....but on how they score on the "Red" and "Blue" scale.

I don't want to know where the CEO of a company stands on social or political issues.

But if they start donating to political or social causes I don't agree with, that will certainly affect my buying decision.; Reply to this comment

by RobAla August 5, 2010 7:14 PM EDT

I had stopped shopping at Target when they tossed out the Christmas bell ringers of the Salvation Army. I was offended at that move. The Salvation Army gives away a lot at Christmas to the poor through their dedicated ringers. I was considering returning to the store, since they seemed to be making rational donations. With the apology - I think I will stay away a little while longer.

Reply to this comment


by democracy5 August 5, 2010 8:47 PM EDT: That's your choice and you are free to exercise it.

by motorchick--2008 August 5, 2010 6:23 PM EDT

As a Missouri, tree-hugging, iced soy chai-sipping, voting every time, liberal, I agree with,

"I have a great idea, why don't corporations just stick to providing the best products and services at low prices we can afford, send any profits to their investors, and stop donating to anyone...period."

In fact, every time I write or call congress, and every person I talk to, gets to hear me say WE NEED PUBLIC CAMPAIGN FINANCING so that there are NO CORPORATIONS involved in our democratic process of electing candidates who will represent US, not the corporations and their special interests. Without big money, maybe we could buy more of our wonderful American products and maybe our congress wouldn't spend so much time trying to fund their own selfish campaign interests! It would be a Win-Win-Win for America, just not the big corporations.

Corporations are not people.
Corporations can not vote in our elections.
Corporations should not be able to contribute money to campaigns and advertising that supports or puts-down any candidate or any issue.

Support Public Campaign Financing.

Reply to this comment


by bobzaguy October 26, 2010 10:49 AM EDT: Well, motorchick, the Supremes don't like your idea at all. And they said so in Citizens United. Corporations Rule! is their battle cry.
Much to our dismay.


by cicibaby09 August 5, 2010 6:21 PM EDT: I agree with Wizard. The apology is accepted when the money is returned. Until then, I shop elsewhere.; Reply to this comment

by nuttyworld August 5, 2010 6:06 PM EDT

Last time I checked this is still a democracy and we are free to donate to whomever we choose. Why the fuss? Because they donated to a CONSERVATIVE. HIDE THE CHILDREN. OH, NO. Naturally if a liberal gets dissed there has to be a boycott, an appeal, haul in the ACLU, etc. etc. No freedom of choice. I have a sudden urge to shop at Target.

Reply to this comment


by democracy5 August 5, 2010 8:45 PM EDT: And you are free to do so, just as other people are free to choose to shop elsewhere. There is definitely freedom of choice--don't be silly. No one has called in the ACLU--another silly accusation.

A free society's a great thing, isn't it? What you seem to be opposed to is other people's right to make their own free choices as well as you.


by democracy5 August 5, 2010 8:53 PM EDT: And you are free to do so, just as other people are free to choose to shop elsewhere. There is definitely freedom of choice--don't be silly. No one has called in the ACLU--another silly accusation.

A free society's a great thing, isn't it? What you seem to be opposed to is other people's right to make their own free choices as well as you.

by L33Tmonger August 5, 2010 5:24 PM EDT

So as a conservative, if Target decides to donate to the LGBT movement, or Greenpeace, or anyone else in direct opposition to my personal world view, should I cry foul and boycott them? I have a great idea, why don't corporations just stick to providing the best products and services at low prices we can afford, send any profits to their investors, and stop donating to anyone...period.

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