Costco to conservatives: Get lost

http://www.michaelmbates.com ^ | 2/26/04 | Michael M. Bates

[CMAC51]

Best go bandage your foot.

[Dataman]

LOOKS LIKE THEY REALLY DON'T CARE, DOESN'T IT??

It looks like they've been getting a lot of responses. The writer seems to lean lib himself. Too bad for Costco. It doesn't change my mind.

[international american]

BUMP

[international american]

Translate please:)

[Toespi]

Well, I didn't expect such a personal attack but I can take it. What do you think the cumulative demoralization of our values will eventually do, not that it hasn't already happened. Let's just take the most recent assault on decency, gay marriages. I believe that if a company or person supports a liberal agenda which erodes the fiber of this country, I will be damned if I give them one red cent which will enable it to happen. Stoop to what level? The level owned and operated by media and corporate elites hell bent on socialism? Sometimes sacrifices have to be made for what is right.

[Alberta's Child]

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is named after the original Robert Wood Johnson, and from what I understand the involvement of RWJ #4 is pretty minimal -- it's mainly comprised of medical doctors. Robert Wood Johnson IV is the president and CEO of The Johnson Company, an investment/securities firm that I believe only has one "client" -- the Johnson & Johnson family fortune.

He also serves as the chairman of the Alliance for Lupus Research. I seem to remember reading somewhere that there is some kind of genetic predisposition for lupus among women in the Johnson family, so this issue has been an important one for him.

He can't be all that bad, considering the fact that he's now considered a "two-time Pioneer" for George W. Bush . . .

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[Rutles4Ever]

The only problem will come when Costco decides to boycott you and me because we're a Republicans. The slippery slope goes both ways, so we have to be consistent.

Get my drift?

We're being hypocrites if we endorse boycotts of corporations based on the 1st Ammendment rights of those within.

[PureSolace]

I'm gonna continue to go to Costco because they offer the best prices where I live. The Salmon is usually a low price. I can pick up enough paper goods to last me 6 months and lots cheaper compared to other places. They kick ass when it comes to offering the consumer a good deal and they're an active member in our capitalistic society. So they spend their OWN money that THEY made on the DEMwits... Big deal, one day when I own my own multi million dollar corperation, I'll donate to whatever right wing candidate that I see fit. It won't matter what my customers think (unless my business is politics). Business is Business. I don't care what they do in their bed room, just as much as i don't care what they do with their money. As far as I'm concerned, they just supply a product or srvice and I pay for it. What they do with their money is their business. Will i force myself to suffer and lose out on good deals? No way! Will I donate my OWN money to the DemocRATS? HELL NO! But will i support a competitive market and spend my money at the best places... You bet... THATS THE BEAUTY OF AMERICA! People can believe and do what they want, and everyone has a fair shot at creating their own multimillion dollar corperation so they too can donate money to anyone they want... the Repubs, The Dems... Indies?? Save the children? the U.N.(shudder) :) Do what you want and if you think you'll make a difference good luck. as for me and my circle of friends... Costco Hooooooo! :)

[PureSolace]

The difference is that these contributions were well publicized, not private actions, and the executives' names are strongly linked with their companies, and so they have (foolishly) used the prestige associated with the Costco name to further their political agenda with their "in your face" attitude and public posturing, and so it's perfectly reasonable to take action against Costco in response. I am planning to do likewise.

Dude... Hold on a second... We are not average americans... Us news / political junkies who are addicted to the truth and changing things for the better are a small number compared to the common american out there. Average americans don't even know this suff goes on, let alone care. Try it... Go outside right now, and just start talking to random people on the street. you might be surprised. As long as they get their paycheck, their beer and tv, they are happy. And what little they know abotu whats going on in the world is just regurgitated from 30 minutes of nightly news, or something they overhear a coworker talk about at the office or the job site. Other than that, most people are dumb!

[King Black Robe]

Interesting that he used the "we are to patriotic" argument the Democrats always reduce themselves to.

[Rutles4Ever]

I apologize -- I didn't mean to make it a personal attack. I just find that a boycott like that has little effect. What happens when this guy leaves Costco and goes to... oh, I dunno, Exxon Mobile? Will you boycott the gas station when you're on empty and survive at the side of the road on a jumbo bucket of dry roasted peanuts you just bought at the Costco, now that they don't have to be boycotted?

If you want to win the war on society, it's not going to happen through the pocket book, it's going to happen through continually promoting our ideals -- by supporting political candidates, talking to your neighbors, turning off the television that DIRECTLY indoctrinates our children (and adults) into moral decay. Boycotting is a tool of the left, not the right. If Costco wants to sell me something on the cheap, great. I'll take the money I saved and give it to the political candidate who will help shape our society the way I think it should be through the election process.

[Alberta's Child]

I guess that's one of the problems with a large, publicly-traded corporation like this. If I were in business, I would see to it that these two morons wouldn't even darken the door of my office -- and I certainly wouldn't have them serving as directors of my company.

[Mike Bates]

Your tag line says you love freedom and I'm sure you do. But that being the case, why would you voluntarily give money to people who then use it to advance an anti-freedom agenda?

I think the time is long past due for us to reward our friends and punish our enemies.

[PureSolace]

As much as I hate to say it, I think it's wrong to boycott Costco on this issue. We have this thing called the First Ammendment, which is at the heart of the fight over campaign finance reform, which tells people (and businesses) they can only dedicate a certain amount of money to political campaigns.

EXACTLY! I might not agree with what some people think or say, but I'll fight to the end so they can say it... That's the type of attitude people should have... Freedom is a responsibility! We have to manage and take care of it... don't get me started. :) good point!

[Alberta's Child]

Boycotting is a tool of the left, not the right.

I agree with most things you've posted here, but not this. Much of the turmoil that you now see at the Disney Corporation is a direct result of a massive boycott of Disney theme parks and movies by Baptists throughout the southern U.S. These folks are simply venting their outrage at the company for the disgraceful "Gay Day" debacles at Disney World over the last few years.

[PureSolace]

Cause people have the freedom to want to push anti-freedom... When it comes down to it, Freedom always wins out. That's what makes this nation awesome!!! People are free to be stupid morons and propose things that would drive them to ruin... as long as I'm allowed to propose peace and prosperity and enjoy my own freedoms at the same time... :) so yes, I do love freedom! :)

[Dataman]

We're being hypocrites if we endorse boycotts of corporations based on the 1st Ammendment rights of those within.

Boycotts aren't about 1st ammendment rights. They're about public pressure. Next time an executive considers contributing a hundred grand to a lefty and then rubbing everyone's face in it, he'll think (if possible) twice.

[PureSolace]

I agree with most things you've posted here, but not this. Much of the turmoil that you now see at the Disney Corporation is a direct result of a massive boycott of Disney theme parks and movies by Baptists throughout the southern U.S. These folks are simply venting their outrage at the company for the disgraceful "Gay Day" debacles at Disney World over the last few years.

I don'y think it's just southern baptists... I'd say it's pretty much any intelligent person with some sense of morals or honor... The Majority of people I've talked to anyway yearn for a Disney of the past, or the dismantle of disney all together... What do people say around your neck of the woods?

[Mike Bates]

People are free to be stupid morons and propose things that would drive them to ruin..

But what about the rest of us who will be driven to ruin with them?

[Sweet Hour of Prayer]

"As much as I dislike the fact that Costco's chief gives a lot of money to Democrats, to turn around and financially "punish" him is a little too "Jesse Jackson" for my taste. It hurts the economy and it hurts the right of people to freely do what they want with their money."

No, it doesn't hurt the economy for me to spend my money at Sam's Club instead of Costco. If wealthy executives, singers, actors, etc. choose to use their position/celebrity to forward a liberal agenda, then they've already crossed the "polite company" line and shouldn't whine when their conservative customers/fans choose to shop elsewhere. Freedom of speech works both ways.