I got an email today, exhorting me to make sure that my hard-won dollars that I shell out for sentimental gifts for family and friends don't end up in the Republican Party's coffers. The email had a list of companies with statistics purportedly showing how much they gave in political contribution and to which party. Problem is, some of the information is wrong.
With the holidays upon us, some of us might wish to be mindful of whom we
patronize relative to their 2004 Election Cycle political donations, as
reported by the Center for Responsive Politics.
Shopping
- Price Club/Costco donated $225K, of which 99% went to democrats;
- Rite Aid, $517K, 60% to democrats;
- Magla Products (Stanley tools, Mr. Clean), $22K, 100% to democrats;
- Warnaco ! (undergarments), $55K, 73% to democrats;
- Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, $153K, 99% to democrats;
- Estee Lauder, $448K, 95% to democrats;
- Guess ? Inc., $145K, 98% to democrats;
- Calvin Klein, $78K, 100% to democrats;
- Liz Claiborne, Inc., $34K, 97% to democrats;
- Levi Straus, $26K, 97% to democrats;
- Olan Mills, $175K, 99% to democrats.
WalMart, $467K, 97% to republicans;
K-Mart, $524K, 86% to republicans;
Home Depot, $298K, 89% to republicans;
Target, $226K, 70% to republicans;
Circuit City Stores, $261K, 95% to republicans;
3M Co., $281K, 87% to republicans;
Hallmark Cards, $319K, 92% to republicans;
Amway, $391K, 100% republican;
Kohler Co. (plumbing fixtures), $283K, 100% republicans;
B.F. Goodrich (tires), $215K, 97% to republicans;
Proctor &Gamble, $243K, 79% to republicans;
Spirits
- Gallo Winery, $337K, 95% to democrats;
- Southern Wine &Spirits, $213K, 73% to democrats;
- Joseph E. Seagrams &Sons (includes beverage business, plus considerable media interests), $2M+, 67% democratic;
Coors, $174K, 92% to republicans; (also Budweiser - sd) Brown-Forman Corp.
(Southern Comfort, Jack Daniels, Bushmills, Korbel wines - as well as
Lennox China, Dansk, Gorham Silver), $644K, 80% to republicans;
Restaurants/food companies
* Triarc Companies (Arby's, T.J. Cinnamon's, Pasta Connections), $112K,
96% democrats;
* Sonic Corporation, $83K, 98% democrat;
Pilgrim's Pride Corp. (chicken), $366K, 100% republican;
Outback Steakhouse, $641K, 95% republican;
Tricon Global Restaurants (KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell), $133K, 87%republican;
Brinker International (Maggiano's, Brinker Cafe, Chili's, On the Border,
Macaroni Grill, Crazymel's, Corner Baker, EatZis), $242K, 83% republican;
Waffle House, $279K, 100% republican;
McDonald's Corp., $197K, 86% republican;
Darden Restaurants (Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Smokey Bones, Bahama
Breeze), $121K, 89% republican;
Hotels
* Hyatt Corporation, $187K, 80% to democrats;
Mariott International, $323K, 81% to republicans;
Holiday Inns, $38K, 71% to republicans.
Choose Blue
Shop locally and shop BLUE
Use the US Post Office, not Fedex or UPS
Use the corner hardware store- Home Depot is a huge contributer to the GOP.
Please send to like minded friends and urge them to draw a line in the
sand. You can make a difference now!! 80% of annual retail business is
done in the next three weeks!
Eldon Frazer
efrazer@twmi.rr.com
Well, I did some checking, and the email is not THAT far off, but the correct political contribution information for any industry you care to check on can be found here at the Center's Site. For example, contributions made by retail sales giants like Costco and Walmart are found here Based on this information, I'm getting Barnes & Nobles gift cards for everyone and buying everything for the holiday feast at Costco!