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