Choosetheblue -- appears to be working ;) Tampa Trib Editorial

[Florida_Geek]

Funny how a Repug newspaper finds time to write

Beware Advice To Shop Your Politics

Published: Dec 20, 2004

V ote with your pocketbook, a widely distributed e-mail advises. It includes a long list of companies and how much each supposedly gave to Democrats or Republicans.

The mass mailing cited the Center for Responsive Politics, a highly regarded nonpartisan research group that keeps track of campaign contributions.

We found this particular advice not at all in keeping with the spirit of Christmas fellowship. For democracy to work during the year, a tolerance of opposing views is essential. It would be idiotic to avoid a good store just because its owner doesn't support your candidate.

...more at link

http://www.tampatrib.com/News/MGBVHH55V2E.html

[BattyDem]

1. "...a tolerance of opposing views is essential."

Tell that to the Repugs! :eyes: :mad:

[Cha]

8. Yeah, tell that to their fucking mouthpiece..

limpbaughs!

When the big fat idiot gets tolerant..I will.

[TexasChick]

10. Exactly, especially after reading another DUer's post about being at a

red state airport and one of the flight attendants (or the check in clerks) said to them when they arrived from their flight that they are not welcome there and that the red states don't need them or want them there.

I guess we'll see how long the Repuketards last without the blue states' business, huh? Even I am seeking out only Dem donating companies here in Dallas (McKinney), TX to do business with myself.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

37. There was so much "tolerance" when the Dixie Chicks....

spoke out against the war.

:eyes:

[despairing optimist]

51. Imagine the chief rabbi of Berlin in 1934 saying that

"Tolerance of opposing views is essential." Not if those voicing them deny you your humanity and civil rights. Not if someone is practically killing you with their words of bigotry and hate. Not if those views are lies getting innocent people killed and wasting human and financial resources of this country, and destroying any moral authority we have in the world.

No deals with the devil. No justice, no peace, no false unity. When the last person courageous enough to stand up and fight dies, the lies that are left don't equal freedom and peace; and the liars who mouth them don't become heroes.

[justinsb]

2. If it makes him feel any better

I'm boycotting all US business. I'm equal opportunity. :hi:

[Cha]

6. Go for it!

I would too, if I were an outsider looking at what this country is doing to the planet because of the bushtard policies. Maybe if the whole world boycotts us..bushgoons will take notice.

[justinsb]

11. Well

If things continue as they are with the US National Debt going up by $2.75 billion a day and the trade defeceit with the rest of the world at about 1.75 billion a day, it won't take long. - Remeber that it's not the debt itself, but the interest on that debt (like a credit card way wayyyyy over it's limit) that will eat you.

[lcordero]

15. I don't blame you

If I were in your shoes I would do the same exact thing.

[sandnsea]

53. I'm boycotting consumerism

basically. But when I do have to shop, I try to look at both political contributions AND ethical behavior. Costco stood up for its employees so I can support that. When Target stands against exploiting foreign workers that make the clothes they sell, maybe I'll consider them an ethical corporation. Political contributions isn't enough to get my dollar.

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

3. Waaaaaaa....too bad. Using divisive politics cuts both ways. n/t

[Florida_Geek]

5. funny how the Repugs dump on Dems anyway they can

but do not hurt Christmas sells.

[Cha]

4. Shows you what that freak knows!

"It would be idiotic to avoid a good store just because its owner doesn't support your candidate."

It means too much to me to give money to someone who is helping to drag our country through the Gutter!

[lutherj]

7. Idiotic? That's just the free market working. Apparently politcs has

become part of the product. That's now what they mean by "enlightened self-interest".

[SOS]

9. Idiotic?

On the contrary. It would be idiotic to patronize a business that gives huge amounts of cash to Bush. It's an indirect campaign contribution to your opponent.
Krispy Kreme donuts, Wal-Mart, Wendy's....? No thanks.

[Walt Starr]

12. Hmmm, didn't seem to be a bad thing when folks got Dixie Chicked!

Hypocritical bastards!

[mcscajun]

13. Exactly right! Shoe's on the other foot...

...there was no conciliatory press out of them when they yelled about boycotting certain movie stars or singers for being too outspoken politically, and yes, it was outside of 'election year.'

on edit: I just followed the link to the story...and the banner ad above it was for Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Florida:
"How can Blue help you?"

Too funny.

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

31. BINGO. Or the countless other entertainers who they blackballed. nt

[KarenS]

14. sheesh,,,, another letter to the editor ~ 2nd one today.

This stuff makes me nuts!!

Shopping my politics will become a way of life for me.

I read in another DU thread today, that if we don't behave,
they will send us to "Consumer Re-education Camps" soon :)

[Florida_Geek]

17. this was not a LTTE but a main editorial

:)

[KarenS]

24. I mean, I wrote 2 LTTE today ~

to two main editorials,,,,, I have a difficult time reading garbage like this and not responding !!! :)

[Florida_Geek]

26. thanks for your LTTE :) nt

[lcordero]

16. I guess that they see now that they are in the minority n/t

[Sleepless In NY]

18. Florida_Geek.... So glad its working! Next is our tax base

thats something we really have to concentrate on too and change. It's bad enough now, and it's going to get worse. Just read this on DU.."27 Million in US to See Tax Bill Rise" (w/disgusting Norquist quote) http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1083057. Funny how they don't like our "morals" but they arent to proud to take our money. Time for everyone to start paying their fair share.

[Cobalt Violet]

19. The only vote we have is with our pocketbooks.

[Piperay]

20. Yeah at least so far Diebold

hasn't found a way to manipulate that.

[hinachan]

48. You got that right!

Hit 'em in the wallet where it hurts the most! :D

[tsuki]

21. Gee, wasn't that the same argument they used during the boycotts

in the 60's? Hmmm.....

[adigal]

22. We have power in our pocketbooks

and after having the Repubs tell me how I am immoral, over and over, I feel that I do not want to give them any of my money. Why would they want my ill gotten gains anyway???

I bought tires locally instead of from Wal-Mart ($1200 - cha-ching!!!) I bought presents from Land's End and LL Bean, I bought other presents from a street fair, and I KNEW I was not the only one doing this! It warms my heart to hear that Wal-Mart's sales are down 7% from last year. If only they were down 47%!

[lcordero]

30. Hi

welcome to DU:toast:

[robbedvoter]

23. Geez, whatever happened to that free market they worship/skew

any chance they get?

[Guaranteed]

25. Tough. Shit.

Suck it.

[adigal]

27. They are losing money - need to "Deal with It"

YOu lost - money this Christmas season.

[Stuckinthebush]

28. The Trib doesn't want you to know something...

Money is power.

Use it wisely and use it to support those that support your ideals.

Good try Tribune. Keep working for your masters.

[JohnOneillsMemory]

55. Bingo. We figured out we're paying for our own oppression. NO MORE!

Governance by propaganda-induced fear has a learning curve. The fascists are figuring out just how much fear we can endure before it hurts productivity and willingness to join the military.

The White House and its media lackeys are realizing we can't take too much horror or we turn away from the news (don't take our meds) or, even worse, start to fight back with economic boycotts. That one has REALLY got their attention since they are being ‘red-lined’ by overseas investors, too.

"Your majesty! The peasants are revolting!"

The holiday season is a time to let us re-sensitize with a short 'peace and love'-vacation because they are gonna work our amygdalas HARD in January with the violence leading up to the Chimperor's Inauguration and the fake elections in Iraq.

THEY WON'T COUNT OUR VOTES BUT EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS. COUNT ON IT!

[proudbluestater]

29. They stole our election, now they want our wallet?

"We found this particular advice not at all in keeping with the spirit of Christmas fellowship."

This is not an editorial at all, it is a sermon.

It would be idiotic to avoid a good store because its owner doesn't support your candidate? How could that be idiotic? It's all we have left in this world of votes being counted by folks who promise Bush he WILL win the election, come hell or high water.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

39. All Florida DUer's should cancel their subsciptions to this rag.

[yorkiemommie1]

56. we are getting our hands slapped

by these prim and proper upright citizens since we are not following the emperor's dictates.

WE, the lied to, the lied about, the ridiculed and vilified every minute by the GOP and the media, are being reprimanded for not being 'christian' enough to hand over our retail dollars to the Reds.
well, screw them all. i'm keeping my green money in my blue wallet!

[wildeyed]

32. This is the only thing that really scares them anymore,

that we will withdraw our financial support.

It would be idiotic to avoid a good store just because its owner doesn't support your candidate. I don't care who the owner supports, personally. I only care when they start giving loads of cash to politicians who think I am immoral democratic scum. As they point out, tolerance of opposing views is essential. And no one is tolerating mine, so they can do without my $$$'s, too.

[hatrack]

33. The Tampa Tribune can pound this one up their ASS!

America, which we all love because of the many freedoms we enjoy - except, of course, when we try to exercise them.

[lcordero]

34. kick

:kick:

[GetTheRightVote]

35. I am glad to see it working so well, I hope it makes them think twice

about the party they donate to.

[lcordero]

36. It's working especially well in florida i guess

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-13forum12dec24,0,1893735.story?coll=sfla-news-opinion

[Patsy Stone]

40. I agree with this statement wholeheartedly

"Debate must be tempered with respect and civility."

But who does this guy think he's kidding? When was the last time this actually happened from a Repub mouth? It's all about nicety now that we're voting with our pocketbooks. Be nice to people and spend your money supporting them even though they cantstandya. :) BS.

As an ex-reader of the Scum Sentinel: Blechhh, Ptooey, Feh! And they can take the Herald with them.

Power to the People!

[BrklynLiberal]

42. You go girl!! n/t

[Patsy Stone]

43. A Very Kerry Christmas to you bklyn.

Stay warm, mmmkay? I hope the weather's improved since I left on Monday. Man, that was cold! Brrrr. :scared:

[Touchdown]

57. He's playing the "I'm a victim card"..typical

At the bottom of his "heart-filled plea" is this...

Ed Pozzuoli is a Fort Lauderdale attorney and former chairman of the Broward County Republican Party.

Where was his heart-felt pleas 4 years ago when those thugs in his own party called his neighbors a bunch of old jew idiots that can't use a simple butterfly ballot?

Where is his impassioned pleas when John Kerry was being vilified for his war medals, and accused of causing his own wounds, based off of evidence that amounted to nothing more than "Some people are saying..."?

The message is always the same. "Who cares how we won, the point is, is that we are in charge now, and it's time for YOU to be nice to us...or else!":eyes:

[Cookie wookie]

38. Obviously they don't get it.

Is it Christmas fellowship to send our troops to war based on lies, not give them the training or protective gear they need, bomb the hell out of innocent men, women, and children, make our country less safe from terrorism and thus further risk the lives of Americans so that corporations can rake in loot from war profiteering. If so, that's a different Christ from the one I know of.

Maybe some Christmas fellowship would have been good to take those Ohio voters out of the rain and give them enough voting machines so they didn't have to stand and faint or die in line...?? Huh?? Maybe???

Where does stealing elections fit in Christmas fellowship? Would Christ steal elections?

So, if we the people choose to NONVIOLENTLY protest the fascist overthrow of our government by not giving the fascist thieves our money, hey -- as the Republicans say, get over it.

[BrklynLiberal]

41. They hate our politics, but they love our $$$$$$$$

Frankly, I think it would be idiotic NOT to avoid a store if I knew its owner didn't support my candidate. I will go 20 miles out of my way to spend my money at a Democratic supporter rather than a Repugnant donater, and be happy to do it!!!
Their hypocritcal, whining pleas for "co-operation" and "unity" would be laughable if they were not so patently self-serving.

[GRLMGC]

44. Wah Wah Wah

Those companies can do whatever the hell they want. I'm not trying to silence anyone because I don't agree w/ their political beliefs. I'd just rather not donate any of my hard earned money to the RNC or any Republican candidates. If those companies are secure in their Republican love, then they can go ahead and keep on givin.

[DemBones DemBones]

45. This editorial in the Tampa Trib plus the Orlando Sun-Sentinel one make

it seem that Florida progressives are doing a good job of shifting their patronage to stores that support Democrats. Bet these guys were all for boycotting the Dixie Chicks -- sauce for the goose, guys, is good for the gander.

[DemDogs]

46. I am definitely doing it.

This is a no-brainer. Why feed the beast?

[Kber]

47. And when right wingers boycott stores that don't celebrate xmas

in the "approved" manner, did the Trib editorialize that too? Or did we all just miss that edition?

[demo dutch]

49. So pleased!! I have been sticking to the Blue Shops for all my

xmas shopping and more and so pleased to see that many are doing the same especially in Florida, where we have to endure the other Bush who implemented the Walmart gift certificate for lost citrus kanker trees because of the Florida Eradication program. Walmart doesn't even have a decent nursery!

[Contrary1]

50. What a shame...*sniff,sniff*

I would bet that some wealthy Repub business owner paid
for this thought provoking editorial. The Bushies don't have
the need to boycott Dem businesses. Everything they need
to exist can be found at Walmart.

[InvisibleBallots]

52. It appears to be working - looks like they are worried!

"It would be idiotic to avoid a good store just because its owner doesn't support your candidate."

Hmm.

[yorkiemommie1]

54. sent them a ltte too

thanks for posting!