Target May Face Backlash on Salvation Army (Concerned Women of America)

[Khephra]

MINNEAPOLIS -- A backlash could be brewing against Target Corp. after it decided to ban Salvation Army bell-ringers and their red kettles from its store entrances this holiday season.

The company announced the decision months ago, but the criticism didn't start to mount until Salvation Army officials recently noted the problems it could cause to their fund raising plans, and shoppers noticed the bell ringers' absence.

The latest reaction has come from several national Christian groups, who are denouncing Target's decision.

"For Target to say that the Salvation Army is no longer welcome at the inn should send a message to Christians that perhaps they'd like to do their shopping elsewhere," said Robert Knight, a spokesman for Concerned Women of America, a Christian activist group that claims more than 500,000 members.

http://www.newsday.com/business/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-target-backlash,0,2662212.story?coll=sns-ap-business-headlines

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FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH THE CWA:

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Right Wing Organizations


Concerned Women for America

1015 Fifteenth St. N.W., Suite 1100
Washington, D.C. 20005
www.cwfa.org

Founder and Chairman: Beverly LaHaye
Date of founding: 1979
Place of founding: San Diego, CA
Finances: $11.9 million dollars (2002)
Membership: CWA claims over 500,000 members.
State chapters: 500 regional groups across the country. Staff: 34
Publications: Family Voice (published monthly, has 200,000 subscribers) and Issues at a Glance (monthly). Family Watch, a church communication, reaches 500,000 people in churches across the country. CWA also offers many books, cassettes, and video tapes to their supporters on a wide variety of subjects.
Radio: CWA's daily radio show, "Concerned Women Today," is broadcast on 75 stations and reaches an estimated weekly audience of over 1 million.
Affiliate groups: Concerned Women for America Education and Legal Defense Foundation, Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee (CWALAC), the Beverly LaHaye Institute, and the Culture and Family Institute.


CWA’s Principal Issues:
CWA’s Activities:
CWA's History:
CWA State Activities:
Quotes by Beverly LaHaye:


CWA’s Principal Issues:


Concerned Women for America is “the nation’s largest public policy women’s organization… to protect traditional values that support the Biblical design of the family.”

CWA is anti-gay, anti-choice, anti-feminism and anti-sex education. Beverly LaHaye started CWA to respond to the advances of feminism after watching NOW’s founder Betty Friedan on television in 1978. CWA identifies feminism as “anti-god, anti-family.” CWA identifies state-level Equal Rights Amendments (ERAs) as responsible for the breakdown of families, “The ERA proposes the elimination of our God-given roles as men and women, resulting in the redefinition -- and eventual destruction -- of family.”


CWA’s Activities:


CWA has lobbied against the Freedom of Choice Act and gay rights legislation in many states. Grassroots activity for most states is headed by a CWA Area Representative and a steering committee.

This group monitors state legislation, organizes Prayer/Action chapters and coordinates the CWA's “Project 535” grassroots congressional lobbying program. (“Project 535” refers to the total number of congresspeople in both the House and Senate.)

CWA fights against sex education curricula that is not completely abstinence based and opposes anti-drug and alcohol abuse programs that emphasize self-esteem. Many challengers to books and curricula in public schools use CWA's materials.

CWA has been active in the fight against using Harry Potter books in schools. Publications such as “Harry Potter: Seduction of the Occult” claim that the books promote the practice of witchcraft among children. CWA offers books and videos such as, “Harry Potter: Withcraft Repackaged: Making Evil Look Innocent.” (Produced by Tim LaHaye, Beverly LaHaye’s husband.)

CWA has also been active in supporting teaching creationism and “intelligent design theory” in science classrooms.

CWA anti-gay work covers many issues, from supporting the Boy Scouts of America ban against gay participants, to opposing any “out” gay people in President Bush’s administration. CWA has been active in opposing any and all gay and lesbian civil rights measures, including supporting the right to discriminate against gays and lesbians in employment. CWA supports the “Truth in Love” campaign that says that homosexuality is a sin and claims gays and lesbians can become “straight” through “the love of Jesus Christ.” CWA established the Culture and Family Institute (CFI) to combat gay and lesbian civil rights. Bob Knight and Peter LaBarbara, long time anti-gay crusaders, lead the Culture and Family Institute.

During John Ashcroft’s confirmation hearings in the Senate, CWA and many other “pro-family” groups held a press conference of conservative women leaders, which they claim resulted in 13,000 e-mails to senators, phone calls from members, hand-delivering information to senators and appearing on several major news networks in his support. CWA called Ashcroft’s critics “anti-religionists.”

As a leader of the religious right, Beverly and her husband Tim LaHaye are strong supporters of other religious-right groups and leaders. For instance, in the summer of 2001 the LaHaye’s gave Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University $4.5 million dollars. (Beverly LaHaye is a trustee of the university.)

Beverly LaHaye, alongside many other conservative leaders, has lobbied to de-fund the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). In 1991 Beverly LaHaye testified before the Committee on Appropriations, Interior Subcommittee, of the House of Representatives to argue for de-funding of the NEA.



CWA's History:


In 1994 CWA filed suit on behalf of an anti-abortion protester, who was arrested during a protest, against the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE), which banned protesters from blocking clinic entrances. In 1995 the Court of Appeals upheld FACE and CWA appealed to the Supreme Court, although the Court refused to hear the case.

A lot of CWA’s history involves legal issues:

In 1994 Virginia State Democratic Committee filed an injunction against CWA to stop the distribution of CWA’s “nonpartisan” voter guides. CWA and the Family Foundation (of Virginia) appealed to the courts, which ordered the ban lifted.


In 1993 CWA-Iowa claimed victory by helping to defeat the state ERA with a 52 percent majority vote.


In 1988, Beverly LaHaye testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the confirmation hearings for Judge Anthony Kennedy to the U.S. Supreme Court.


During the 1987 Robert Bork Supreme Court nominee hearings controversy, CWA led a national petition drive, sponsored a “Women for Bork” rally and organized 350 people to lobby senators on Bork’s behalf.



CWA State Activities:


Many of the CWA state groups are very active and effective on local issues. For instance, in 1998 the CWA-California Bay Area chapter helped gather 60,000 necessary signatures to force the Board of Supervisors to repeal or place on the ballot a domestic partnership ordinance. The Board repealed the ordinance.




Quotes by Beverly LaHaye:

“Most women know the feminist agenda has failed. They see our culture crumbling from its influence. In fact, feminism has harmed women and families worldwide as its proponents have used the United Nations to spread their agenda." (http://www.cwfa.org/library/_familyvoice/1999-07/4-5.shtml)

"Yes, religion and politics do mix. America is a nation based on biblical principles. Christian values dominate our government. The test of those values is the Bible. Politicians who do not use the bible to guide their public and private lives do not belong in office." (“Ms.” magazine, 2/87)

On censorship: "I am aware that America is and must always be a land of freedom including freedom of speech. But there is a right time and place for everything." (CWA News, 3/91)

Mrs. LaHaye warned her members that homosexuals "want their depraved 'values' to become our children's values. Homosexuals expect society to embrace their immoral way of life. Worse yet, they are looking for new recruits!" (CWA direct mail, 5/92)



http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=3151

[goddess40]

1. could it be that they don't donate enough to the republicans

of all the chains Target is the one that seems to give something to the Dems. While they still give more to the republicans they do give a higher percentage of their money to dems than any of their competitors.

[mediaman007]

37. On behalf of the Salvation Army, I would like to thank Target for allowing

our organization to work in front of your stores for more than 20 years. We've made millions of dollars because you were so generous. The Target organization should be proud of its contributions to our society. We are very grateful."

That's what the Salvation Army should have said. But instead, they whine because a decision went against them. Psst: it was business...not personal.

Try and stand in front of Walmart or Sam's Club and see how welcome you are!

[Blue Gardener]

2. I guess I'll have to shop there more now

Anything I can do to piss off the fundies is worth it.

[llmart]

4. Me too.

I'm not a shopper, but now I'm definitely taking my business, such that it is, to Target.

[MissB]

6. Yup. (nt)

[candy]

18. I was there today and it was quite crowded. n/t

[Joanne98]

3. There's a SA bell ringer outside of Kroger in my town

Two nights ago I pointed at her and said, "George W. Bush, I'm never giving to you again". She didn't look surprised. I guess I'm not the only one who's saying it. SCREW the Salvation Army.

[Merlot]

13. ok, dumb question...

How strong is the relationship between the SA and GW? Did they openly support his campaign?

I don't care for the bell ringers outside the stores, it's noisy and distracting. Maybe I'll cross the threshold of a Target store this season.

[DS1]

5. Ahh, you know, I did some xmas shopping with a friend the other night

at target *hey, we're both poor college students* - and while I didn't notice them missing at the time, I'm now really glad they weren't there.

I hate being pestered on the way in and out of stores, or pretty much anywhere for that matter.

[Dickie Flatt]

7. Maybe I'd be more sympathetic to the SalArm if they weren't anti-gay

[oneighty]

8. Could it be people

are opting for faith based good deeds? Do not need no stinking money God will provide.

Do gooders cannot have it both ways.

180..Ex bell ringer.

180

[Anakin Skywalker]

9. Sounds like a bunch of stuffy, rich housewives

who don't need to work.

"...traditional values that support the Biblical design of the family.”?

"Yes, religion and politics do mix. America is a nation based on biblical principles."

HURL! :puke:

Try some REALITY-based thinking for once, you bunch of stuck-up, hiding-out-in-the-suburbs, head-in-the-sand ostriches! (This is to the rightwing freepers who lurk, not the DUers here)

I bet behind all that facade of uppity-ness lies some Desperate Housewives-like behaviors. :)

[Ian David]

19. Concerned Women for America are evil

Concerned Women for America are Total Bitches

CWFA even says that being fat is like being gay:

Coming Out of the Pantry 9/23/2004
By Brian Fitzpatrick

So what do obesity and homosexuality have in common?

My friend Pete just wrote to ask how we should respond when people ask us, “Are you saying they chose their attractions?” Here’s my reply.

The good news is, I don't have to play this role forever. Every time I open my mouth, I have a choice over what goes in. Dealing with the emotional problems, transforming my self-image, and losing the excess weight, is a very, very tough battle, but it is possible to make progress. So far, I've lost 40 pounds, and I still have 40 to go.

No analogy is perfect, but the parallel to homosexuality here seems clear. The best psychiatrists and therapists (check out Charles Socarides and
Jeffrey Satinover) acknowledge that same-sex attraction is a deep-seated emotional disorder, often triggered by a traumatic event, but shaped largely by choices made even as a child in responding to the trauma. In this respect, homosexual attraction is chosen, though unwittingly.


The adult homosexual can honestly say that he never consciously chose same-sex attraction. However, he does have the power to decide whether to indulge in the behavior. Every time he chooses to abstain, he weakens the grip the behavior has on him, and he weakens the attraction itself.

http://www.cwfa.org/articles/6411/CFI/family/



I would say that CWFA is primarily concerned about who and what go in your mouth.

[PDX Bara]

38. "head-in-the-sand ostriches"

Me-thinks such a stance makes a really good target for a swift kick... :evilgrin:

[kainah]

10. Robert Knight

"For Target to say that the Salvation Army is no longer welcome at the inn should send a message to Christians that perhaps they'd like to do their shopping elsewhere," said Robert Knight, a spokesman for Concerned Women of America, a Christian activist group that claims more than 500,000 members.

I find it terribly amusing -- and quite appropriate, actually -- that Concerned Women of America has a male spokesman. More support for George Lakoff's theory of stern father morality. After all, women certainly aren't capable of speaking for themselves, I guess, even if they are concerned.

[Anakin Skywalker]

12. Bravo for Noticing.

"I find it terribly amusing -- and quite appropriate, actually -- that Concerned Women of America has a male spokesman. More support for George Lakoff's theory of stern father morality. After all, women certainly aren't capable of speaking for themselves, I guess, even if they are concerned."

Great analysis. And funny too! :)

[Just Me]

11. I am just awe-struck by those who reject humanitarianism,...

,...in order to FEEL influential/powerful.

Do they have any room in their attics to imagine or think about the consequences of their actions,...whatsoever?

*sigh*

I shouldn't judge those whose frames of life are different from my own. I just wish they would make their boxes big enough to include the rest of us,...who are just like them,...human beings struggling through a life full of challenges.

[KurtNYC]

14. No bells? No CWA? I'm off to Target to do some shopping!

Yee haw.

[azmesa207]

17. No Bells I'm off to Target

I find Target a much better store than Wall Mart I bought gift card from Wall Mart On line Last year for Christmas and they double charge me and it took 3 month to get the money Back from them.

[durablend]

26. Gotta watch out for those bell ringers!

One of them was arrested for theft from his post at a local shopping center...he stole $450 from the kettle to support his drug habit.

[BOSSHOG]

15. Fuck the Salvation Army and fuck the CWA

Find a Target store and do some business with them.

[TlalocW]

16. There's a Target close to my home

I like getting my cheap but really good quality slacks there amongst other items. I'm glad to know about this.

I'm off to "Tahr-jay."

TlalocW

[Love Bug]

20. Geez, how many times does Target have to explain this?

They said the reason why they were no longer allowing the SA bell ringers is because it is against their corporate policy to allow solicitation and they had decided to make it apply fairly. Apparently they have had to deal with many such requests and it wasn't fair to the other organizations they had turned down to allow the SA to continue. Their decision had nothing to do with how they feel/don't feel about the SA.

BTW -- Target does earmark a certain % of their profits (5% I think) to go towards organizations in the communities Target stores are at, such as schools.

[BiggJawn]

21. They have to explain it until they cave-in.

That's the RW strategy, cry and claim "Peresecution of Christians!!!" to any who will put you on-camera until Target actually does start to catch some heat over it.

Then they say "Geez....OK, you can HAVE your fucking kettle out front!"
And the noise from the RW will stop.

[gaia_gardener]

30. But unless you give Christian organizations

special benefits, you are persecuting them. If they have to be equal to everyone else then it's because you hate them and are biased.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

22. *shaking my pointy big head*

I am getting so thoroughly disappointed in those who pass themselves off as 'holier than thou (us?)'.
Whether anyone here beleives in the existence of Christ or not, the fact remains, the teachings attributed to Him do not address any of the things this group stands for. Not one.
In fact, as has been stated in these forums many times before, Jesus would be called a liberal were He to be here in the flesh today. And we know what these people think about liberals...........

[HereSince1628]

23. What can I say? Origins of Walmart prove Australopithecines exist

They have PROVEN that humans are derived from synaptically deprived, thug-like, semi-anthropicines with questionable bipedal cadence.

Let the girls fight over the inheritance, but _buy_ NOTHING.

Walmart is evidence that mother's, and perhaps society at large, should be able to choose abortion for corporations that are clearly sociopathic

[Forkboy]

24. Never trust any group with the word "concerned" in thier title

[Anakin Skywalker]

25. Rightwing Names

do sound rather hysterical and paranoid to me. I can't think of some examples this instant (tired after a day of hard work. REAL hard work, not G.W.'s hard work of willful ignorance). Maybe I will post some later when I can remember.

[sendero]

28. Or "Heritage"..

... which is a code word for "neanderthal".

[brentspeak]

27. Wouldn't be surprised if WalMart is funding this boycott effort

It would make good business sense for Mall-Wart to undermine Target in anyway it can.

[chookie]

51. Business plan

1) Make sure Martha Stewart (largely responsible for uptick of KMart) goes to jail as Scapegoat for Corporate Crime.
2) Claim Target persecutes Christians.

As someone pointed out on another thread, ABC News Tonight ran a story about naughty naughty Target -- and at the end of the broadcast, it is shown that WalMart is one of their major sponsors (along with Viagra). Nothing to see here....

Target also was the first and only store of its kind to ban tobacco products. Bravo.

No more money for WalMart from me. (BTW -- it's not just me and my political consciousness, but ordinary people I know who do not follow such things tell me all the time that WalMart makes them sick and they can't stand to go there, that it has become a chaotic mess there. Interesting.)

I buy from KMart, because they have stood by Martha Stewart's show trial and public crucifiction. Me, and many others, are now buying her magazine in record numbers -- her subscription renewals are up 19% -- the industry average is 3%.

Target was always the sanest of the lot, and they get my money too.

[jmowreader]

29. I thought "Christians" all shopped at Wal-Mart anyway

Because as you know, Wal-Mart expouses good "Christian" values like running every small Christian bookseller out of business while simultaneously killing the Bible-printing trade in the US by selling Chinese-made Bibles.

[FormerOstrich]

31. Okay..I am forming.... Agitated Women of America...

Yikes those women sound frightening!!!

They are concerned...I am ultra concerned...about them!

I think I'll do more shopping at Target.....

[K8-EEE]

36. Egads! My Concern Knows No Bounds!

I've been boycotting Target because of their GOP donations -- this almost makes me want to go in & buy something!

[goddess40]

39. They give less to the GOP then any other store in my area

So that's where I'm shopping. Maybe I should let them know.

[trogdor]

40. Can I be your spokesperson?

Don't let my maleness discourage you. CWA does it.

OTOH, I bet the reason they use a male spokesperson is because all the "concerned women" are too ugly to be on TV. Never mind.

[FormerOstrich]

48. but Agitated Women of America are

gourgeous...

You are welcome to be a spokesman after you complete the fund raising duties.....deal??

[Born_A_Truman]

Well, Salvation Army was at my Target this weekend...

Right out front ringing the bell.

[Born_A_Truman]

32. Well, Salvation Army was at my Target this weekend...

Right out front ringing the bell.

[Amigust]

33. Definitely makes me want to switch to Target n/t

[Kimber Scott]

34. Why does EVERYTHING have to be political? Why can't stores just

sell shit to people who want to buy shit and leave it at that? I'm sick of all this weight-throwing. Target doesn't have to let anyone solicit outside their store and Wal-Mart can sell all the "Save me Christ" crap they want - and vicey versey - for that matter. God dang, I feel like the burka is just around the corner...

[Ilsa]

35. A cashier at the grocery store tried to coerce me

into donating $ to the salvation army. I explained that they had made me pretty angry over the last few years with some of their policies, but I'd give the money to my favorite children's home charity instead. The cashier still tried to coerce me.

[bushisanidiot]

41. Good for Target. The Homophobic Army should stay at Wal-mart where

they belong.

[notadmblnd]

42. The SA is nothing but a big corporation

from they day labor they hire to stand out in front of stores begging people for money.. to their overpriced junk shops. I really see very little good that they do for the community any longer. If anyone knows of any godd they have done recently, please let me know

[arikara]

50. I don't know of much good that they do these days...

but here are some examples of the stuff that they do around here:

In the city that I live, they are running an old folk's home. Recently, they canned all the long time union caregivers, mostly women, that were being paid a living wage and hired new people so that they could pay the new workers minimum wage. Many of the women that were fired were close to retirement and wound up at the food bank because there aren't many jobs for 58 year olds that pay a living wage anymore.

They give out one hamper a year and yet go head to head with the food bank for donations. They sell the stuff which has been donated to their thrift stores for antique store prices, and the people who need it can't afford it. The officers drive around in fancy cars and live in fancy houses, and they skim the cream of the donations. They are a corporation now and act like it in their quest for mammon.

You know the rest... including the gay bashing, the donations to the right wing parties and all.

[genieroze]

43. We than go to Walmart morons. eom

[LibertyLover]

44. CWA

That a group called Concerned Women for America had a male spokesperson for this press release says it all, at least to me, about how the conservative right-wing Christians REALLY feel about women.

[Mari333]

45. well, the higher the hair, the closer to jesus

"Jesus told me not to shop at Target..but I wouldnt anyway, because with those billionaire tax breaks I ONLY shop at Neiman-Marcus!"

[genieroze]

46. Hey, Target bashed the Christian Reich, go shop there for Christmas. eom

[maxrandb]

47. Maybe This Is Why Target kicked Wal-Mart's A$$ recently

Perhaps the "Starve the Beast" program is working. Maybe people aren't shopping as much at Wal-Mart because they can't stand the "Wal-Matrinization" of America.

Couldn't happen to a nicer company. I will not step foot in a Wal-Mart again EVER! I make up for their low prices by subsidizing their employees healthcare, public education, food stamps, and the thousands who lose their jobs in small "mom and pop" companies because a Super Wal-Mart opened up accross the street. I wouldn't shop there if they gave their shit away for free.

[spooky3]

49. Target's managers did the right thing. Why should they discriminate

in favor of the Salvation Army, when there are MANY charities that would want the same privilege? And why should they allow the SA, with its political leanings that it should NOT have as a tax-exempt charity, to alienate their customers?

I suggest as many of you have that SA's leaders go bang on the doors of its conservative supporters and ask for more $ from their tax cuts, instead of whining that there is no longer an affirmative action program at Target to favor the already privileged who discriminate against others.

[loudsue]

52. Does anybody have the e-mail addy for Target's home office?

I think it would be nice to send them a supportive e-mail, and let them know that there are those of us who are boycotting Walmart and oppose ALL of the groups that support Walmart....even these sicko CWA women.

Someone needs to tell American businesses that there are still CONSUMERS out here, with computers (e-mail) and MONEY, who don't believe in the Walmart way, and that we are whole-heartedly supporting Target. We can also tell them that we do not support the '$alivating Army', because they aren't any longer strictly supporting individuals in communities, but have taken on a decidedly political agenda that "MANY FIND OFFENSIVE".

:kick::kick::kick: