[Mike Bates]

If they had to depend only on Democrats as customers, they'd be out of business pronto.

[cinFLA]

It gets worse. The hire the likes of Joyceln Elders and Danny Glover as their spokemen to the youth!

[GOP_1900AD]

The demographic of a large population of white liberals, all of who attended college and were indoctrinated by Marxist profs, during a past peak of KGB infiltration, is destroying our country. Now that the hippies are running many corporations, they are drunk with power and throwing their money at the worst possible things. It is an UTTER disaster which will take us at least 100 years to fix.

[GOP_1900AD]

The demographic of a large population of white liberals, all of whom attended college and were indoctrinated by Marxist profs, during a past peak of KGB infiltration, is destroying our country. Now that the hippies are running many corporations, they are drunk with power and throwing their money at the worst possible things. It is an UTTER disaster which will take us at least 100 years to fix.

[Toespi]

This country is headed for a Civil War between liberals and conservatives. Maybe not a shooting war but certainly a hostile war of boundaries by boycotts. I frankly, am all for it because the truth is, this country would cease to exist as we know it without the contributions of the steady conservatives who pay the lion's share of the taxes, social security, and healthcare and basically keep their mouths shut. One week of an organized, meant-to-hurt boycott of these businesses, newspapers, radio/tv, hollywood, etc. owned by liberals would shake their foundations pretty badly.

[ElkGroveDan]

Wait until they learn that Democrats:

1) hate so-called big box stores and would like ot banish then forever

2) are in favor of mandatory union membership for just about everyone in the retail sector

As these concepts begin to sink in, they will either change their tunes or be ousted by their boards. In the end places like Costco are capitalism at its best. I predict that there will be a clash in the hallways of their corporate offices before very long.

In the meantime, as a father of five, I can't afford to pay a penny extra for anything. It is insane for me to buy other than in bulk. I plan on remaing a customer for now and sending them frequent letters of complaint.

[green iguana]

This is my favorite line:

"Also in December, Costco CEO James Sinegal gave $95,000 to the Joint Victory Campaign 2004 fund. He says he contributed because of job losses during the Bush administration..."

I wonder if Costco is using its postion as a major retailer to help remedy this by primarily selling products that are made in the USA, thereby creating jobs. Bet not.

[eleni121]

Don't need COSTCO BUMP!

[Quix]

Much agree with you on all counts.

Not really an option in my region anyway. The nearest Costco is in Albuquerque, 200+ miles away. I'll make do with Sam's.

I was greatly disappointed to hear of their huge donation and philosophical bent. I suppose, at some point, given trends, it will be impossible to shop sensibly and avoid such mentalities on the part of the organizations. But, when we can, while we can--makes a lot of patriotic and Christian sense to me.

[Recovering_Democrat]

When I found out about the COSTCO/Anti-Bush Connection, I told some friends. One of us actually received an answer from a senior officer of the company, and I've been given permission to share it with you all! Here it is:

"Dear Member,

Thanks for taking the time to share your views with us. Perhaps you will allow me to take a moment to respond.

Costco is a publicly traded company with a widely distributed ownership. No individual employee of Costco owns more than 2% of the outstanding stock of the company.

Costco does not engage in any political activity. We have a firm rule prohibiting the contribution of any company funds in support of or against any candidate for public office. On the other hand, individual employees of this company, like those of most other companies in America, participate in the political process on their own time, and using their own funds.

In the instance you are complaining about, two of our most senior employees made a decision to support an organization that is dedicated to assisting the Democratic Party candidate in the upcoming election. Since we are a two party system, our executives have only two choices, unless they refrain from any political activity. In this case, their contribution represents a commitment, personal to them, and having nothing to do with Costco or its funds, which demonstrates active participation in the electoral process. We don't know what could be more patriotic than that.

If you are going to select businesses to patronize based solely on whether the employees support Democratic or Republican candidates, you are going to be kept very busy keeping up with the ever-changing tides of candidate support, and will have little time left to shop.

In short, I think you have been misinformed about the nature of the fund to which Mr. Brotman and Mr. Sinegal contributed, which has on its roster many fine American leaders who are very patriotic. It has nothing whatsoever to do with not supporting our President in his effort to eradicate terrorism, a cause that all Americans support.

I hope you will reconsider your decision about shopping with Costco. At least, if you make that decision, we think you should have all of the facts first.

Sincerely,
Joel Benoliel
Senior Vice President

(999 Lake Drive Issaquah, WA 98027 425/313-8100)


LOOKS LIKE THEY REALLY DON'T CARE, DOESN'T IT??

[PureSolace]

I'm gonna continue to go to Costco because they offer the best prices where I live. The Salmon is usually a low price. I can pick up enough paper goods to last me 6 months and lots cheaper compared to other places. They kick ass when it comes to offering the consumer a good deal and they're an active member in our capitalistic society. So they spend their OWN money that THEY made on the DEMwits... Big deal, one day when I own my own multi million dollar corperation, I'll donate to whatever right wing candidate that I see fit. It won't matter what my customers think (unless my business is politics). Business is Business. I don't care what they do in their bed room, just as much as i don't care what they do with their money. As far as I'm concerned, they just supply a product or srvice and I pay for it. What they do with their money is their business. Will i force myself to suffer and lose out on good deals? No way! Will I donate my OWN money to the DemocRATS? HELL NO! But will i support a competitive market and spend my money at the best places... You bet... THATS THE BEAUTY OF AMERICA! People can believe and do what they want, and everyone has a fair shot at creating their own multimillion dollar corperation so they too can donate money to anyone they want... the Repubs, The Dems... Indies?? Save the children? the U.N.(shudder) :) Do what you want and if you think you'll make a difference good luck. as for me and my circle of friends... Costco Hooooooo! :)

[nmh]

Go any where but Costco. They did the same thing in the last election. Just like Disney, they support the unthinkable and the ungodly.

[aculeus]

Costco to conservatives America: Get lost

[hope]

I just recently renewed my membership...I will be asking for a refund.

[Ditter]

I'd like to boycott Costco, but I have already given up on them. It just didn't suit me.

[ZULU]

Thanks for the heads up. Now Costco is in the same category as George Clooney, Walt Disney, Babs Streisand, etc.

[what's up]

I would love to know where more of the CEO's stand on political issues. It's meaningful because these are the men and women leading the world today...and I prefer to support the more capitalistic-minded, rather than socialistic.

John Chambers - CEO Cisco - Supporter of Bush...held fundraisers for him.

Carly Fiorona - CEO Hewlett Packard, I believe is a supporter of Bush.

Michael Dell - CEO Dell - I believe a conservative?

Charles Schwab - CEO Schwab - Conservative.

[yoe]

I also sent them a letter and had the same response - to date nothing. I also agree that the 'boys' have every right to fund and vote for whomever they choose - but it should not be made a political food fight. They chose and I will too, Sam's here we come.

Mr. Brotman & Mr. Sinegal are among those who look the other way when the torture, killing, maiming, and oppression is not in their back yard. Appeasement is more to their liking and let it be known, their best customer is China. To my way of seeing it, the Bush administration's radical agenda is nothing more than an agenda to protect America and her allies, maintain democracy and promote freedom around the world.

Sinegal says he contributed because of job losses during the Bush administration, the invasion of Iraq and cuts in social spending. Perhaps if Americans were better educated, more jobs would be available to them. I did not know it until recently, but we spend half again the amount on education as we do on defense – an unconscionable waste of taxpayer money that the teacher’s unions must answer to...60% of our high school students are illiterate, low paying jobs are their future as the progressives intend it to be.

[Doctor Raoul]

Wonder what kind of wages and benefits the people at Costco get?

Bet they don't buy ANYTHING that's produced by jobs that have been "outsourced" overseas.

Yeah, and Bill Clinton told Monica, I promise not to......well, as Hillary would say, "You know".

[Clemenza]

Ping!

[uncitizen]

Demorats in the town of San Ramon (i think), California are working on legislation to keep Walmart and Costco out of their town altogether. To protect unionized grocers of course.

So why all the love for Dems?