Posted on 10/27/2010 8:49:11 PM PDT by freespirited
RALEIGH, N.C. - The North Carolina Democratic Party asked voters Wednesday to avoid shopping at dozens of discount retail stores whose parent company, owned by a conservative activist's family, injected hundreds of thousands of dollars into the fall elections to target Democrats.
Party leaders set their sights on Variety Wholesalers Inc. executive Art Pope at a news conference, calling him a "right-wing extremist" who sent money to at least three conservative political organizations that have created mailers and ads critical of Democratic incumbents.
The party's boycott of the company's North Carolina stores, mostly under the names of Roses, Maxway and Super 10, began in the final days of a high-stakes campaign for control of the Legislature. Republicans are trying to wrest control of the House and Senate together for the first time in more than a century.
"Hardworking North Carolinians would not patronize Variety Stores if they knew that the money they were spending there was going to attack the very candidates who support programs that help their families," party executive director Andrew Whalen said at a news conference. "We're trying to send a message here that Art Pope cannot buy our state's government."
Pope said he's doing no such thing and accused of Democrats of being hypocritical for accepting campaign money from corporate interests and industries to promote their causes. They're threatening the jobs of people who work at his stores, Pope said.
"They're willing to put hardworking people out of work because I support conservatives and Republicans," Pope said in an interview. "I will not be silenced from attacking the one-party rule in North Carolina."
Variety Stores Inc., a subsidiary of Henderson-based Variety Wholesalers owned by the Pope family, has given at least $390,000 to Real Jobs NC and Civitas Action, which have targeted more than 20 legislative districts altogether.
The groups have criticized the voting records of incumbents on tax increases and spending. Pope said the groups are participating in issue advocacy and aren't calling directly for the support or defeat of a candidates. But Whalen said their intent is to oust Democrats.
A Pope family foundation also awarded $500,000 last year to the national Americans for Prosperity Foundation, of which Pope is vice chairman, according to documents. The state chapter of Americans for Prosperity also has targeted some Democrats and held rallies opposing Democratic incumbents in Congress.
Combined with other outside donations, the three groups have spent $2.1 million this election cycle, Whalen said. The money has helped narrow the Democrats' small fundraising gap over the state Republican Party.
Privately held Variety Wholesalers operates more than 425 stores in 15 states. The Democratic Party said it's targeting 78 stores in North Carolina and sending out 50,000 e-mails alerting recipients to the boycott. The party's Web site is also pointing out which candidates have benefited from political committees linked to Pope.
Whalen said the boycott will continue as long as Pope continues to spend his money to influence state government. He doesn't know whether it will hurt the company's bottom line but wanted to highlight the issue in the campaign's closing days.
The John William Pope Foundation, of which Art Pope is chairman, also gives millions of dollars annually to the John Locke Foundation and the Civitas Institute, two conservative-leaning think tanks that focus on state policy issues.
Pope said the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation in Winston-Salem gives more money to liberal-leaning organizations than he does to conservative groups.
Sounds like the Nazi fascists are a little upset. Oh well, a little boycott will make them feel better.
Make one of these stores a stop on shopping outtings.
Keep the stinking rats out. Shoplifting will decrease.
“I will not be silenced from attacking the one-party rule in North Carolina.”
Anything the libtards boycott, I buy stuff from.
There’s a Roses store not too far from where I live. Never been in one but I think I may go there and buy something tomorrow. Thanks for the advice DIMS!!!
There ya go. Exactly.
Have boycotts ever been effective, including the one against Captain Charles Boycott?
“Variety Wholesalers Inc”
Do they take food stamps or welfare debit cards?
If not, I doubt this boycott will hurt them.
Democrats: Putting hardworking blacks out of jobs, since Nov. 4, 2008.
Obama and Democrats: “Yes We Can” and “Yes We Did” and “Yes We Are Going to Continue to Do So”.
Nothing like the Demos keeping the “uppity” free-thinking blacks from leaving the Democrat Welfare Plantation and Unemployment Service
NC real people need to respond with a buycott.
Variety Wholesalers Inc. headquarters e-mail address:
I just sent them an e-mail thanking them.
Thank you for the post.
Snooze. The NAACP has had a boycott on SC for a number of years ‘cause we won’t take down a Confederate flag at the statehouse. Another snooze.
“Keep the stinking rats out. Shoplifting will decrease.”
I was thinking that too. Shrinkage might drop enough to make up for lost sales.
I’ve been to a Roses. I was pleasantly surprised.
.
I kept my residence property wooded like a well-kept park or woodland - I had no time for mowing grass or keeping a garden
With good skills and brains you can make mucho bucks in WNC and your family or like conservatives in your church that have time, or have small stores can sell you veggies - and apples (WNS is great apple country) and other fruit -
Great area for corn, squash, etc. - but one cannot pass up the demand of locals and tourists for you services and products - top quality and products sell well in the Smokies
The local livestock auctions have lots of great cattle for feeding out and ending up in your freezer -
I was a busy teenage cowboy in South Florida and raised Brahmas while in HS - while also working in a large grocery store downtown - and had ornamental plants, trees - esp. coconut trees - behind my house -
Start as a businessman early in life
Tell all of the govts to stuff their regs and taxes
“We are here to TAX your pumpkin sale kids!”
“No lemonade sales without a license kids!”
.
.
Often in country areas brothers will stock pastures with cattle and horses and raise dogs as a sideline -
.
Send 0pansy back to Phaak-E-Stan to visit his college roommate for 30 years
Actually, boycotts are the truest form of free speech.
I agree they are hypocritical, but they have every right under 1A to boycott (as do we). I support the expression of speech by boycotting even if I don’t support the cause.
Long live free speech!
This year it’s boycotts. Later, concentration camps.
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