These two people have little in common in terms of politics or stature. (There is only one person I can think of who has both a Nobel Peace Prize and the title of vice president of the United States on his resume.)...
Here was my recent letter on this topic to the Costco Connection Publisher...with copy to James Sinegal CEO. I received a personal call from Sinegal’s assistant acknowledging the significant controversy caused by the article...and indicating that “development” might be necessary with the CC leadership team!!
Ms. Ginnie Roeglin
Publisher
The Costco Connection
999 Lake Drive
Issaquah, Washington
98027
Dear Ms. Roeglin,
Enclosed is my copy of your recent edition of The Costco Connection which I am returning to you to express my displeasure with Costco for your selection of cover story. While I agree with your editor, David W. Fuller, that “the right to print articles or sell and promote books written by (Al Gore and Glenn Beck) is protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution”, I question the judgment that you and he have shown in putting a polarizing and derisive figure such as Al Gore on the cover of your promotional material to Costco customers.
Your magazine, I would surmise, is aimed at strengthening the relationship with all your Costco customers, stimulating interest in warehouse offerings, and further encouraging your customers to shop with Costco. I would venture to guess that your decision to highlight Al Gore this month only alienated, annoyed and angered a large portion of your loyal customer base…for no real good reason!
It is also clear, from Mr. Fuller’s “From the Editor’s Desk” column, that you both suspected in advance that this choice would not be well received by all Costco members, yet your “in-your-face” decision to proceed completely ignored the adverse impact that this might create with a portion of the Costco member base. You simply allowed your zeal for Al Gore, and his opinions, to cloud your business judgment.
Many, like me, find Al Gore hypocritical and contradictory in what he preaches and how he acts, lecturing others on their carbon footprint while himself acting hugely irresponsibly in his own personal energy use.
In addition, the opinions in his article continue to emphasize his significant lack of understanding of the solutions to the three crises he describes. If he truly wanted to make a huge dent in carbon emissions in the U.S., and around the world, he would not be “skeptical about the role that can be played by nuclear power” in replacing coal fired power plants in the electric grid as quickly as possible vs. suggesting that solar panels, windmills and other renewable sources of energy, and a “smart grid”, could provide any near-term resolution.
But, to the point, I respectfully suggest that, as the publisher of a marketing, promotional publication, targeted at building a strong, positive relationship with Costco’s broad base of diverse customers, you do a disservice to your company to use this venue to impose your (or Mr. Fuller’s) political beliefs. I, for one, am interested in Costco as a quality retailer, wholesaler and valued supplier…not as another left-wing voice.
Ms. Roeglin, please remove me from your mailing list for future issues of The Costco Connection.
With regrets at your bad business judgment,