We know D.C. Get our free newsletter to stay in the know.
So, the news broke yesterday in Minnesota and then the D.C. political sphere that both Target and Best Buy, taking advantage of our newly liquid corporate campaign finance rules, have dropped $150,000 and $100,000 respectively into a the state’s gubernatorial race on the side of Tom Emmer, via a business group that has been running T.V. ads on his behalf.
Tom Emmer is sort of your run-of-the-mill Republican—wants lower taxes, less spending, fewer illegal immigrants, etc. But he also embraces some of the harder-right positions that tend to really make Washingtonians wince: He would nullify federal health care legislation, cut the wages of workers who also earn tips, support a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, and once proposed chemical castration for sex offenders.
GLBT groups, among others, are pretty miffed at both retailers’ support for Emmer. Target defended itself, saying it made the decision based on the Republican’s pro-business stances, and that its “support of the GLBT community is unwavering.” But that hasn’t stopped groups from springing up to boycott Target especially.
Just, you know, something to consider next time you need a crappy side table.