Costco Connection-Separate Problems, One Solution (Al Gore Barf)

Costco Connection ^ | Nov 2009 | Al Gore

[HarleyD]

As a nation, we face...

This is an excerpt. Click on link for full article to read the same old garbage. See my comment below for why this is posted.

[HarleyD]

I’ll not stop shopping at Costco. But I believe it’s past time of simply rolling over on these liberals who control organizations like the AMA, AARP, and everything else. I know a number of good union workers who are conservatives but can’t/don’t speak out. I think it’s time we make our voices heard even though I suspect my letter will never see the light of day.

[ZinGirl]

update to our reply from Costco:

(interesting!.....and it is my bold in the quoted text)

Thank you for your e-mail to Costco Wholesale. Thank you for sharing your opinion about our November Costco Connection Magazine cover featuring Algore. We appreciate and respect the opinion of our members.

"Algore"? from Costco? hahahahaha

[gert1]

this link may also help get your comments read

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=NWQs06jo9ES1XfXhpMSj3w_3d_3d

[Jo Nuvark]

Costco Response to a letter from my friend...

Dear Member,

Thank you for your email to Costco Wholesale.

At times we publish articles that may be seen as controversial to some and acceptable to others. It is our policy to let our members decide what is acceptable by what they choose to read. Our member’s opinions and views on personally controversial persons or articles are always welcome and their refusal to purchase any products or read any article for personal, political, or religious reasons is respected and honored.

In terms of the articles we publish in the magazine, our coverage has included – and will continue to include- everyone from Tim LaHaye to Howard Stern. Again, we rely on time for the balance and on each member’s judgment to choose what he or she wants to read.

We appreciate you taking the time to share your comments with us.

Thank you,

Taylor
Costco Wholesale Corporation

[4woodenboats]

I sent an email to their editor, David Fuller.

dfuller@costco.com

I just wanted to express my disgust with your biased gushing over who, in your opinion, has more "stature", Political Scientist Al Gore, a scam artist that has been thoroughly discredited by everyone from the Filipeno scientists who had to calm a panicked populace after Gorebull Alarming washed ashore:

http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=48807

to the scientists that are honest enough to admit that critical data has been cherry picked and/or ignored (have you ever set aside your professional title long enough to take a humble, unbiased effort to fact check someone who you obviously worship? On the razor thin chance that you can stop gushing long enough to read).

http://igloo.atmos.uiuc.edu/cgi-bin/test/print.sh?fm=06&fd=25&fy=1999&sm=06&sd=25&sy=2008

http://www.climateaudit.org/

You gloat that Al of Girth writes for you for free, while Glenn Beck, whose ability to uncover the truth and prove his points unafraid of challenge has earned his stature, must pay to be in The Holy Grail of Journalism, a warehouse outlet coupon book.

There's a lot bigger men than you in much smaller jobs, and as a long time member of Costco, I feel this would be an appropriate time to hand over your job to someone who puts the customers and the company before asinine political worship.

You have put one hell of a stain on a good store. Please leave.

[4woodenboats]

I’m a little late to the party on this one, but I sent it directly to the lapdog editor who had gushed all over himself.

[enviros_kill]

Here’s my reply to these nitwits:

The November Costco Connection with Al Gore, greatest con-man of the century, on the front cover was an affront. I have a degree in Physics and a Masters in Knowledge Management and have extensively researched and written about energy and environment topics for 15 years. Al Gore’s presence on your Connection drags Costco, a store I formerly admired, into the muck and mire of the proven unethical and corrupt man-made global warming superstition. I expected better from a store that epitomizes the tremendous benefits the free market can provide to humans. Al Gore promotes the green form of communism in which a global government, using the false crisis of man-made global warming (what a joke - the globe is cooling while CO2 increases) dictates your every purchase and action. The errors in Al gore’s science fiction slide show, An Inconvenient Truth, are cataloged here (2007)
http://scienceandpublicpolicy.org/monckton/goreerrors.html

Did you know a court in Britain found serious errors in the Al Gore slide show as well and requires a warning before it can be viewed in British schools? (2007)
http://planetgore.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NTJjYWQ5ODRhMmFhMzcxMWIxMGI2NzNmOTAxNjNjMGI=

Wake up Costco, either you are ignorant of the real motives behind the so-called ‘green’ movement or you wish to make a bed with those who despise free enterprise. Which is it?

[dfwgator]

No wonder they were featured in "Idiocracy."

[icwhatudo]

Feel free to leave a comment for Costco here

[mcrichmary]

For all of you that echo the thought that Al Gore is a threat to business interests with his quackery, cancel your membership as I did. I sent a letter to costco connections and the president/ceo of costco with my disgust. How could they use Al Gore and his unproven ideas as a poster-child that if he gets his way will destroy the United States as we know it today. There are many other options, including WalMart and Sams Club.

[Radioisotope]

This is what I wrote to them today.

I received your magazine recently touting Al Gores lies about global warming and I will not be renewing my membership this month. Gore’s arguments can be proven wrong by the likes of Lord Christopher Monkton of the Heartland Institute. Gore refuses to debate him, because he knows he is lying and the real secret behind the global warming agenda is to form a New World Order. I can not believe a corporation like yours would choose to get political with a controversial character like Al Gore, especially since most of your customer base tends to be small business, which is a group that leans conservative republican. I’m also surprised from a credibility stand point. He is a proven liar with statements like “During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet”. Also saying that his mom used to lull him to sleep by singing “Look for the Union Label” which was written in 1975! So a 28 year old man is being sung to sleep by his mommy? As far I’m concerned a liar like this is capable of “inventing” global warming. I am totally disgusted by this and refuse to support lies and propaganda being spread through your store and your “ragazine” with my hard earned money. I will also be spreading the word to all of my friends and family that are members of Costco. I already know of two of my family members who won’t be renewing their membership:

******* and ********

Go ahead and look them up on file and know that they too are disgusted by this. Today I am tearing up my Executive Membership card and will be purchasing a membership from Sam’s Club. You can thank the marketing “genius” who decided to put that rubbish in your magazine at the risk of turning off loyal customers!

Regretfully
*******

[proudpapa]

Here’s the Official Costco response that I received...it sounds like they realize that they made a mistake...:

Thank you for your e-mail concerning the November cover story written by Al Gore. I am sorry to hear about your decision not to purchase Christmas gifts at Costco.

I want to assure you that our selection of Al Gore was in no way meant to promote a political agenda. The piece was offered to us by the publishers of Mr. Gore’s new book and we felt that it would help us sell the book. Neither Costco nor the magazine take stands on partisan political issues.

We will take greater care in the future to avoid partisanship or the appearance of it.

You were not the only correspondent to take us to task for this. In our December issue you will see a selection of the comment we have received.

Take care,

Dave Fuller

Editor

The Costco Connection

[sam_paine]

I wrote Costco Connection, and told them of my disgust, and let them know I’ll be buying things elsewhere when it makes economic sense.

Your logic escapes me.

You're upset over their mag, but you're threatening to continue buying things at Costco whether it's cheaper than elsewhere or not?

Brilliant!

[kings9111]

Costo:

We are very disappointed in your decision to exalt Al Gore and to belittle Glen Beck in a recent article in your magazine. As a shopper in your store I would expect you to be apolitical. I frequent the book area, noticing the disproportionate number of left-leaning material. I reasoned that there was still a number of conservative selections available - concluding that Costco was making an attempt at being fair (albeit a vain attempt in light of this obvious bias in the following excerpt).

“Let’s talk about Al Gore and Glenn Beck. One of them appears on our cover this month, having penned an article for us concerning his ideas about climate change. The other’s book was promoted in a full-page paid advertisement in last month’s issue.

These two people have little in common in terms of politics or stature. (There is only one person I can think of who has both a Nobel Peace Prize and the title of vice president of the United States on his resume.)”

I always shop at your stores around the Christmas season - not this year - unless I get an apology. I don’t think I stand alone - you have a lot of people to answer to.

Their response:

At times we publish articles that may be seen as controversial to some and acceptable to others. It is our policy to let our members decide what is acceptable by what they choose to read. Our member’s opinions and views on personally controversial persons or articles are always welcome and their refusal to purchase any products or read any article for personal, political, or religious reasons is respected and honored.

In terms of the articles we publish in the magazine, our coverage has included – and will continue to include- everyone from Tim LaHaye to Howard Stern. Again, we rely on time for the balance and on each member’s judgment to choose what he or she wants to read.

We have forwarded your comments to our business executives for their review. Thank you for taking the time to share your comments with us.

Thank you for your e-mail to Costco Wholesale.

Thank you,

Judah
Costco Wholesale Corporation

[curmudgeon7]

Thanks for your post. Here’s what I sent today (via snail mail)... I truly hope others will follow!

Mr. James D. Sinegal, CEO
Costco Wholesale Corporation
999 Lake Drive
Issaquah, WA 98027

Dear Mr. Sinegal,

Upon opening our mail, I was truly dismayed to see Costco’s obvious promotion of Al Gore and his fraudulent agenda. Anyone with a modicum of common sense would realize the hypocritical Al Gore is a huckster/con-artist who is scheming to enrich himself with his “man-made global warming” hoax.

Unfortunately after being a loyal Price Club/Costco member for over 21 years, we can no longer do business with a firm that clearly promotes Al Gore’s hogwash. Therefore please cancel our Costco membership (Acct # XXXX) forthwith.
Sincerely,

Enc: Costco membership card (cut-up)

[J Panda]

Here was my recent letter on this topic to the Costco Connection Publisher...with copy to James Sinegal CEO. I received a personal call from Sinegal’s assistant acknowledging the significant controversy caused by the article...and indicating that “development” might be necessary with the CC leadership team!!

Ms. Ginnie Roeglin
Publisher
The Costco Connection
999 Lake Drive
Issaquah, Washington
98027

Dear Ms. Roeglin,

Enclosed is my copy of your recent edition of The Costco Connection which I am returning to you to express my displeasure with Costco for your selection of cover story. While I agree with your editor, David W. Fuller, that “the right to print articles or sell and promote books written by (Al Gore and Glenn Beck) is protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution”, I question the judgment that you and he have shown in putting a polarizing and derisive figure such as Al Gore on the cover of your promotional material to Costco customers.

Your magazine, I would surmise, is aimed at strengthening the relationship with all your Costco customers, stimulating interest in warehouse offerings, and further encouraging your customers to shop with Costco. I would venture to guess that your decision to highlight Al Gore this month only alienated, annoyed and angered a large portion of your loyal customer base…for no real good reason!

It is also clear, from Mr. Fuller’s “From the Editor’s Desk” column, that you both suspected in advance that this choice would not be well received by all Costco members, yet your “in-your-face” decision to proceed completely ignored the adverse impact that this might create with a portion of the Costco member base. You simply allowed your zeal for Al Gore, and his opinions, to cloud your business judgment.

Many, like me, find Al Gore hypocritical and contradictory in what he preaches and how he acts, lecturing others on their carbon footprint while himself acting hugely irresponsibly in his own personal energy use.

In addition, the opinions in his article continue to emphasize his significant lack of understanding of the solutions to the three crises he describes. If he truly wanted to make a huge dent in carbon emissions in the U.S., and around the world, he would not be “skeptical about the role that can be played by nuclear power” in replacing coal fired power plants in the electric grid as quickly as possible vs. suggesting that solar panels, windmills and other renewable sources of energy, and a “smart grid”, could provide any near-term resolution.

But, to the point, I respectfully suggest that, as the publisher of a marketing, promotional publication, targeted at building a strong, positive relationship with Costco’s broad base of diverse customers, you do a disservice to your company to use this venue to impose your (or Mr. Fuller’s) political beliefs. I, for one, am interested in Costco as a quality retailer, wholesaler and valued supplier…not as another left-wing voice.

Ms. Roeglin, please remove me from your mailing list for future issues of The Costco Connection.

With regrets at your bad business judgment,