Okay, Target screwed up and TomP documented it here a few days ago.
Tom P's diary, After reading Tom's diary I wrote my love note to Target asking them (politely) how they could be so stupid. Their response was pure boiler plate, blah blah blah. So, who is this Tom Emmer guy that Target has elected to support, "for business reasons."
After a little research, could I possibly say anything good about Emmer?
Nope, he's tea party to the max. He's no "typical Republican", he's right of the right. If you like Bachmann, you're gonna love Tom Emmer. He was educated in Alaaaaaaaaaaska (think shrill voice) and just wait to see what he named one of his kids! No wonder Palin endorsed him.
http://www.startribune.com/...
Thomas Earl Emmer Jr.
Age 49
Address Delano
Family wife, Jacquie; seven children: Tripp, Jack, Bobby, Katie, Joey, Billy and Johnny.
Education Bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks; law degree from William Mitchell College of Law.
Occupation Lawyer
Political experience Elected to the state House in 2004; previously served on the city councils in Delano and Independence.
Something you don't know about him He regularly rides the bus to the Capitol during the legislative session.
NOTE: hmmmm, names of three sons are Jack, Joe and Bobby.
http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/...
#1 fact that shows how whacky Tom Emmer is:
Minnesota GOP picks really wacky guy for governor -- no federal laws?
By Laura Conaway - Mon May 3, 2010 2:36 PM EDT
Holy smokes -- the Minnesota Republican Party has picked a tenther candidate for governor, State Rep. Tom Emmer.
Emmer was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2004. He is a co-author of a proposed state constitutional amendment that would, to borrow the words of Nigel Tufnel, turn the Tenth Amendment all the way up to 11, with Minnesota preemptively nullifying all federal laws unless a state supermajority consents to them. Here is the key quote from the amendment's text: "A federal law does not apply in Minnesota unless that law is approved by a two-thirds vote of the members of each house of the legislature and is signed by the governor. Before voting to approve a federal law, each legislator must individually affirm that the legislator has read the federal law and understands it."
#2 reason why Emmer is Tea Party on steroids:
Last September, Emmer proposed another state constitutional amendment that would prohibit any individual or employer mandate to carry health insurance in the state of Minnesota, if one were to eventually pass at the federal or state level (as it did eventually pass at the federal level).
#3 Reason to doubt Emmer's ability to take care of Minnesotans or us with regards to the environment
In another amusing Emmer moment, a year ago he tore into a Democratic state representative for wanting to copy elements of environmental science and regulations from California and Europe, which the Dem in question felt were superior to the status quo in Washington or Minnesota. To Emmer, this was an example of liberals hating America:
http://www.startribune.com/...
#4 Reason to bang head on wall when it comes to Emmer
Emmer has pledged to restore prosperity to the state, insisting he will resolve the state's multibillion-dollar deficit without tax increases or accounting gimmicks. But Emmer's positions on social issues have raised eyebrows: He previously proposed to chemically castrate sex offenders and redirect state money away from an AIDS prevention program.
labor-affiliated Alliance for a Better Minnesota just released this ad...
The Alliance is spending more than $500,000 to air this spot.
#5 reason to simply detest this guy called Emmer:
"Our son John was the light of our life and to receive a call at 3 in the morning that he'd been killed by a drunk driver is the worst nightmare a parent can experience," says Everson. "So when I heard that Tom Emmer sponsored a law to reduce penalties for drunk drivers -- I was outraged. And then I read that Tom Emmer has been arrested twice himself for drunk driving. And his man wants to be Governor?"
#6 reason to throw hands in the air and scream at Emmer
http://www.startribune.com/...
Emmer told a crowd of about two dozen veterans in Elk River Thursday that he supports the creation of a Minnesota GI bill, which would give money to the families of fallen soldiers for higher education expenses.
"I don’t know if you remember, a few years ago the governor had proposed [a Minnesota GI bill]," said Emmer, a state representative. "And I think that’s something we should certainly be looking at and it’s unfortunate we haven’t done something like that already."
There’s just one problem: The proposal became law in 2007. It was included in a broader higher education appropriations bill, which Emmer voted against.
And of course you all heard about his run in with the waiters and waitresses:
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/...
#7 Reason to fight to make sure Tim Emmer doesn't become a Governor:
It looks like the pro-Nullification presumptive Republican nominee for Governor in Minnesota is going into damage control mode. But not for saying that Minnesota shouldn't have to obey any federal laws. He's back tracking because his plan for getting the state's economy back on track was to cut the wages of waiters and waitresses by about 2/3 -- a move he said would "level playing field [between waiters and employers] so the employers can continue to exist, survive and thrive."
#8 Reason...
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/...
Target donated $150,000 to a group called MN Forward, a pro-business group backed by the state Chamber of Commerce, and which is actively supporting the very conservative Emmer. As a result, they've come under fire from gay rights organizations, due to Emmer's support for a proposed state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, and his close associations with the religious right.
#9 Reason...have I mentioned that Emmer is anti-union?http://www.mnprogressiveproject.com/diary/6636/tom-emmer-and-the-walmartization-of-our-economy
Minnesota Republican Gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer and his fellow Republicans have one real goal with our economy. Reduce salaries so that corporations can make larger profits. I call this the Wal-Martization of our economy.
So it's no surprise that Tom Emmer wants to slash server salaries so that owners can make more money. It's been the Republicans economic plan since Reagan. Bust unions and force workers to take low/no benefit jobs with crap salaries. They still believe in the trickle-down economics.
#10 Reason...a must read article...the whole thing is hilarious..
http://www.theawl.com/...
Also, Emmer supports legislation that would allow pharmacists to decline contraception to whomever they deem unfit, an anti-family-planning position Emmer doesn't just endorse, he lives: he has seven children.
For many locals, in appearance and personality, Emmer embodies every water-sports asshole who ever fast-waked them at the lake.
And Target wonders why we are upset about their support for Emmer?
Many of you have written to Target to express your disapproval of their support for Emmer, here's
Balachan's letter to Target. Should you wish to share your thoughts with Target, here's the link.
The Uptake (ah, sweet memories of the MN Senate recount) is conducting a survey Uptake survey which could prove very interesting.
All in all, I'd say Target screwed up big time. Citizen's United may not be quite as usefull as the corporations thought.