The most pro-Republican companies hate Christmas the most

[Ian David]

Outback Steak House, one of Rick Santorum's biggest supporters-- a restaurant chain that gave more to the GOP than all other restaurants combined-- hates Christmas.

Home Depot, which has Donald Rumsfeld on its board of directors-- hates Christmas.

The following is a list from The American Family Association, into which I have inserted information from the BuyBlue.org website:


These companies have banned "Christmas" from their retail ads, in-store promotions or television commercials.

Please take time to let them know you are offended by their anti-Christian and anti-Christmas bias. Their contact information is below.

We cannot stress to strongly how important it is for you to be firm, yet very kind in your correspondence with these companies. Please be respectful and choose your words wisely.

In addition, companies marked with an asterisk* have gone so far as to substitute the phrase "Holiday or Dream trees" instead of "Christmas trees" in their promotions.



UPDATE - AFA ENDS BOYCOTT

Click Here to read the AFA Press Release

In their official statement, Target said: “Over the course of the next few weeks, our advertising, marketing and merchandising will become more specific to the holiday that is approaching – referring directly to holidays like Christmas and Hanukkah. For example, you will see reference to Christmas in select television commercials, circulars and in-store signage."



Original Target Issue Concern:
Target refuses to use the word "Christmas" in any of their corporate advertising. Their latest 36-page ad insert did use the phrase "holiday" 31 times. In addition, Target has banned the Salvation Army bell ringers from their stores, but opted to sell items online for customers to donate to the Salvation Army. Ironically, Target doesn't give a single cent to them, but profits from your purchase. They also charge you to ship the item to the Salvation Army.

Target is 83% Reoublican and refuses emergency contraception to rape victims
http://www.buyblue.org/node/1963/view/summary


Nordstrom President Blake W. Nordstrom
On their "holiday shipping" section of the website, they only refer to "December 25." Their catalogs do not mention the word "Christmas." Mr. Nordstrom says he welcomes your comments.

Nordtsrom is 99% Republican http://www.buyblue.org/node/1597/view/summary


* Sears
Sears, owned by Kmart, is advertising "Holiday" trees on page seven of their circular. It also was noticeably absent of the word "Christmas." UPDATE: Sears has confirmed that it now displays a sign reading "Merry Christmas" at the entrance to its stores nationwide.

Sears is 66% Republican and contributing to Tom DeLay's legal defense:
http://www.buyblue.org/node/1806/view/summary


Lowe's

We are pleased to update you about Lowe’s sale of Christmas trees. Lowe’s informed the AFA that it is removing banners referring to “holiday trees” from its stores (the actual product signs inside Lowe’s stores did say Christmas trees, but the outside banner did not). Lowe’s says it has proudly sold Christmas trees in its stores for decades, and continues to do so this year in all of its stores nationwide. All 49 varieties of live and artificial trees at Lowe’s and on Lowes.com are labeled as Christmas trees.

Lowe’s assures AFA that the language on the banner was a mistake, and was not in any way an attempt to remove Christmas from the season.

Lowe's is 100% Republican ($5,975 to Republicans)http://www.buyblue.org/node/1369

See also:
Lowe's Sued For Race Discrimination
http://www.buyblue.org/node/4367


We applaud Lowe’s for listening to its customers and responding to their concerns. Just as we alerted Lowe’s to our concerns, now let’s show them our support by sending thank you emails and shopping in their stores. Click Here To Thank Lowe's Now!
Office Max
Office Max offers no "Christmas" in their advertising.
Kmart
Kmart promotes a "Holiday Sale" on their website. Links to the trees webpage asks if you "Need it by Christmas," but refers you to its "Holiday Shipping Dates" section.
Staples
In searching for "Christmas" on their website, results show only three matches. Staples ads avoid using "Christmas."
Home Depot
Home Depot says "In order to avoid endorsing a particular set of beliefs and to encourage the diversity we desire, The Home Depot has chosen to refer to this time of year as the 'Holiday Season'." Although Home Depot says it has not banned Christmas, a search for "Christmas" on their website says, "Were you looking for Holiday Decorations?" You won't find "Christmas" in their circulars, in-store promotions, or television commercials.
Best Buy
Best Buy offers no "Christmas" in their advertising.

Kohl's UPDATE: Kohl's has provided AFA with a corporate statement. They dispute the charge made on The O'Reilly Factor and provided a letter stating they "would use the word 'Christmas' in some of our advertising." AFA is pleased to let you know that this in, in fact, the case. Kohl's asks us to inform you of their plans to incorporate "Christmas" in future advertising. We appreciate Kohl's listening to their customers concerns and responding in kind.
These companies have banned "Christmas" from their television commercials. In a review of commercials aired on prime-time broadcast network, these companies clearly marketed their ads to Christmas shoppers without using the word "Christmas."
In a total of 116 commercials, only 11 (9%) included the word "Christmas" in the ad.

SC Johnson
87 & Republican http://www.buyblue.org/node/2932/view/summary
Therese Van Ryne Public Relations Manager

L.L. Bean
98% Democrat http://www.buyblue.org/node/1314/view/summary


Zales
88% Republican http://www.buyblue.org/node/2229/view/summary
David H. Sternblitz, Vice President


Kmart
99% Republican (but only about $7,000) http://www.buyblue.org/node/1281/view/summary
Julian C. Day, President and Chief Executive Officer


Outback Steakhouse
98% Republican (and spreading Santorum) http://www.buyblue.org/node/1625/view/summary
Emails to Outback are being rejected with the message, "Your message was deleted without being read." You may wish to make a personal call.
Stephanie Amberg, Director of public relations [e-mail]
813-282-1225

Chris T. Sullivan Chairman of the Board [e-mail]

A. William Allen, III Chief Executive Officer [e-mail]

Benjamin P. Novello President, Outback Steakhouse [e-mail]

Lexus
(Politically neutral)



Old Navy
82% Democrat http://www.buyblue.org/node/971/view/summary


Old Navy is proud of their anti-Christmas stance, simply referring to the "holiday" (Christmas) as nothing more than a tradition.


Kroger
88% Republican http://www.buyblue.org/node/1304/view/summary


Wal-Mart
78% Republican (and spreading Santorum)http://www.buyblue.org/node/2137/view/summary
H. Lee Scott, President and CEO


Best Buy
100% Republican http://www.buyblue.org/node/342/view/summary
Susan Busch Director, Corporate Public Relations


Cingular
65% Republican http://www.buyblue.org/node/1799/view/summary
Stephen M. Carter, Chief Executive Officer


Reckitt Benckiser
Tom Corran, SVP IR and corporate communications


Pier 1
99% Republican http://www.buyblue.org/node/1665/view/summary
Merianne Kimmel Roth, Senior PR Manager


Red Lobster
91% Republican http://www.buyblue.org/node/757/view/summary


Office Depot
88% Republican (but less than $9,000) http://www.buyblue.org/node/1606/view/summary
Bruce Nelson Chairman & Chief Executive Officer


Gillette
James (Jim) M. Kilts Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President


Applebee's
91% Republican http://www.buyblue.org/node/256/view/summary
Laurie, Ellison, Executive Director of Communications


Burlington Coat
100% Democrat http://www.buyblue.org/node/436/view/summary
Monroe G. Milstein – Chairman, President, and CEO

Dell
88% Republican http://www.buyblue.org/node/763/view/summary


Milton-Bradley
Gail Carvelli Media Relations Manager


Link to hate site deliberately left out.

Company contact info removed-- except for Outback Steak House. Feel free to bug them about whatever.

[Strathos]

1. There is no war on Christmas

It's something the rethugs have fabricated to divert attention from falling poll numbers and a very unpopular war.

[Ian David]

4. Yes, I know there is no war on Christmas.

I'm just trying to how the hypocrisy and the irony of the fact that if there were a war on Christmas, it would be the Republicans on the anti-Christmas side.

Or, if you believe Bill O'Reilly, The Catholic Church is partly to blame as well because they don't defend Christmas and they look the other way when priests molest children.

That got him another Worst Person in The World award last night on Olberman.

On edit: See related thread:
Bill O'Reilly: Catholic Church ignores Christmas and sex abuse victims
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5619411

[Toots]

2. We know they are hypocrites but why try and make us the same...

There is no "war on Christmas"....

[insane_cratic_gal]

3. One of your fact is wrong

Target is not 83 % democrat its 83% REPUBLICAN! in it's donations

[Ian David]

5. Thanks! Good catch! I'll go back and edit that. n/t

[bloom]

6. If you think that people should write to companies

and tell them that they should be advertising "Christmas" instead of "Holidays" - I think that is a really bad idea.


I don't want more "exclusive" advertising. It's not like I'm complaining if they do either - but I don't see this being a benefit to anything or anybody.

[Ian David]

7. I don't think people should do that.

In fact, I'm going to go back and edit out the contact information for those companies from the message post.

[PhilipShore]

8. Poem: Repuke Corporations don't believe in God-Soylent Green is People

Repuke corporations believe in the military-industrial complex and perpetual war, not a God. Christ was kicked out of the Church years ago, during the Reagan administration. The Repukes now worship their idol-- Pontius Pilate--in his place.

Soylent Green--the repuke modern day spiritual, physical (GM) foods-- of the the day, feeds off of the death and destruction of people, and blood provides the--oil--for the machine of WAR.

Soylent Green is people.
Soylent Green is people.
Soylent Green is people.