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TCF Bank gives big money to MN Forward, Taxpayers League

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By Andy Birkey | 10.19.10 | 10:19 am

By avoiding disclosure required of direct donations, TCF has largely shielded itself from the kind of scrutiny Target and Best Buy have received for their political contributions.

Photo: Ferret111, Flickr

Target, Best Buy and 3M get downgraded in HRC equality rating

By Patrick Caldwell | 10.05.10 | 12:35 pm

In the new 2011 Corporate Equality Index released by the Human Rights Campaign, three Minnesota corporations’ ratings were decreased due to political activity: Target, Best Buy and 3M.

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Uncowed by Target backlash, 3M jumps into political donation game

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By Patrick Caldwell | 09.27.10 | 6:00 am

Target’s gift of $150,000 to MN Forward, a Republican-run independent expenditure group that backs Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer, has sparked outrage among progressives. The resulting boycotts, protests and bad press Target has endured may have prevented some companies from making such political contributions. But one Minnesota corporation is uncowed in giving to the group. According to new campaign disclosures, 3M has given $100,000 to MN Forward, significant public backlash has yet to materialize.

HRC: Target, Best Buy will be removed from LGBT buying guide

By Andy Birkey | 08.23.10 | 8:17 am

The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBT lobby, said on Friday that it will be dropping Target and Best Buy from its LGBT buying guide because of political contributions to MN Forward. Both corporations donated to the independent expenditure committee which has endorsed Republican Tom Emmer for governor and bought ads in support of the candidate. LGBT activists have targeted Target and less so Best Buy over contributions to MN Forward and by extension Emmer, who has been a staunch opponent of gay rights.

With 2nd quarter profits up, Target gets boost from LA Times

By Paul Schmelzer | 08.19.10 | 11:40 am

Target announced Wednesday that its second-quarter profits of $679 million represent a 14 percent increase compared to the same period last year. The report suggests to some that the chain hasn’t yet been dinged too badly

More businesses join Target in funding Republican PAC

By Patrick Caldwell | 07.27.10 | 12:00 pm

MN Forward, a Republican-leaning political action committee (PAC), gained financial backing from a number of Minnesota-based businesses during the last campaign reporting period, The Star Tribune reports:

Best Buy, the Regis Corporation beauty salon business, and Securian

Minneapolis corporations top LGBT buying guide

By Andy Birkey | 11.25.09 | 9:05 am

Picture 25Just in time for Black Friday, the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBT advocacy group, has released a shopping guide that ranks hundreds of businesses on whether their policies support LGBT employees. Many of Minnesota’s top companies —…

Best Buy stands by ‘Happy Eid’ ad, will include ‘Christmas’ in new ads

By Paul Schmelzer | 11.25.09 | 8:50 am

Best BuyTwin Cities–based Best Buy has responded to criticisms over an ad circular that wishes Muslims a happy Eid Al-Adhaby standing firm. “Best Buy’s customers and employees around the world represent a variety of…

War on Christmas comes to Minnesota

By Andy Birkey | 11.19.09 | 10:45 am

The religious right’s annual “War on Christmas” is ramping up early this year, and at least one Minnesota-based company is on its hit list. Targeting retail stores that use the word “holiday” instead of “Christmas,” a trend it says the Nazis began, the American Family Association includes SUPERVALU, Eden Prairie–based owner of Cub Foods, among its targets for using the h-word in its ads.

March madness: Target, Best Buy in ‘Worst Company in America’ tourney

By Paul Schmelzer | 03.26.09 | 2:43 pm

wciabracketCome March, madness isn’t reserved for just college hoops. The Consumerist, a Consumers Union blog, is seeing which corporations will earn Worst Company in America honors, based on reader voting. Local companies Target and Best Buy are…