Today, at Home Depot, I saw a 'Register Republican' table

[alittlelark]

on the way out. I had not noticed him there until he asked me if I wanted to register. I looked at him with what I'm sure was a look of absolute horror and disgust for a moment until I got my 'mommy-bearings' (he was, like 17-20). I stared him in the eyes and said "Are you nuts, do you want to get drafted?"

I was stuck at HD waiting for their rental truck for 2 hrs (It was supposed to be back in 30 minutes). I watched soooo many people laugh at him and diss him, I watched 1 woman try to sway him.

He was a good looking young man - blonde, clean-cut, honorable looking. When I decided to talk to the store personnel about him, they said the table had been there all summer, many people had complained, but was usually 'manned' by a Hispanic (there were some politically savvy employees there).

Why? Because this HD is in E Palo Alto - which has the lowest property values, and highest minority ratio in Silicon Valley.

The question is WHY


BUT Here's the problem - for every 30-40 people dissing him...1 signed up. I saw 4 people in 2 hours, but I wasn't there at all times (I was also inside griping about why the truck was not here yet)

OK- Why is Home Depot allowing them there?

What did his parents DO TO HIM that made him willing to sit there, fidgeting and uncomfortable for most of a day?

Why have I only heard about it now? (OK, I almost never go there)

But the big question "How many ignorants have they signed up at HD's throughout the US?"

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Home Despot is a huuuuge supporter of Republicans.

I won't shop there any more.

[alittlelark]

6. I was sent there for our school.

Believe me - I HATE the place, almost as much as I hate WAL_MART

[Tight_rope]

38. I'm shocked...I love home deposit...frequent there often...

I was just in my locate home deposit last week...I didn't see this shit going on. And if I did, the most certainly will hear my bitching about it. My husband says that everyone should fear my mouth because when shit "AIN'T" right. I'm not affair to call a manager.

[Norquist Nemesis]

2. Another good question is...

Where's the Dem's registration table?

[Baja Margie]

18. Same thing here,

We went to check out the new Walmart in East Otay a few weeks back. I know, I hate Walmart, they are horrible to their employees, but curiosity killed the cat. This guy, however, had a life sized placard of the chimpy. This is bad, I know, but Mike stalked him, waited for him to take a break, then went over a drew a swastika over Chimpy's face. Old hippies, old habits die hard.

The reason why he is the was he is, is because he's been brainwashed.

I can't believe your guy was actually registering people, I'm assuming by the locale, these were non-whites? I am always so sad to see this happen, and ooooo am I going to be flamed by this, but this type of GOP'er is the absolute worse. They are like wanna be's: I wanna be rich, I wanna have the newest house, I wanna have the newest and most expensive SUV, I wanna shop at Neiman's, etc,etc. They really get sucked into conspicuous consumerism as if it is the be and end all to everything, while losing sight of the real issues and their brothers and sisters. I'm sorry, but I find this to be true.

[alittlelark]

22. No, they were White, 1 was Asian

This HD is in the middle of Silicon Valley (ie vast metropolis) and the closest Home Depot for a huge # of high $$$ silicon valley ppl (Palo Alto, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills...)

[democracyindanger]

3. Home Depot

is one of the GOP's largest contributors.

[madmax]

In that case they'll never see another dime from me.

I'll pay more at the local hardware or paint store but, I refuse to do business with repug supporters.

I left my hairdresser after selection 2000 because I found out he was a pug. I was a customer of his for 12 years. That's how pissed off I am.

[Sugarbleus]

24. Do any of you realize that AOL and Yahoo and Dell also support

Bush???? Someone should check out Lou Dobbs or something to find out who the corps are that lean republican.

The BIG corporations are almost impossible to ignore in terms of doing daily business--they are in EVERYTHING consumer related....how are you going to get around this?

Cable TV (comcast) supports republicans, certain telephone services do, certain food producers do, clothes you wear...it's a mess. The gas we buy, the cars we drive.......many/MOST support the republican agenda.

We'd have to stop shopping and doing everything to avoid them.

[alittlelark]

28. I would be willing to contribute $$$

To a group that would rate MANY co's on their political leanings, animal rights leanings, equal pay, discrimination.....

Many people would.

Can it happen?
Can we make it happen?

[Sugarbleus]

30. I think it could be done....BIG job...but doable. eom

[69KV]

32. There was a group that did that

Back around 1989-1992. They published a book "Shopping for a Better World" with a new edition each year. Had consumer brands rated on the company's environmental record, animal testing, labor record, promotion of women, corporate donations, etc. Don't know what ever happened to them. I suspect some company sued over a bad rating but don't know for certain.

[blondeatlast]

52. I've tried to kick up interest here on DU for something like this.

I'm glad someone else is interested; usually my posts drop like a rock.

[Fovea]

4. And why don't we have a booth there...

Man, just the residual pissed off of those 30 folks would get us 5 or 10 new registered voters...

[alittlelark]

8. My kids start school on the 24th

I will set up shop at that time. I just wish I had realized sooner

[Fovea]

17. You absolutely rock!

And I thank you.

[Baja Margie]

19. Thank you

alittlelark, you're great.

[Berserker]

11. another reason

Never to shop there.

[LoZoccolo]

5. If he's a deputy registrar he could get in BIG FUCKEN TROUBLE for that.

Of course, he might have been just handing out mail-in forms or something, plus I don't know the laws in California versus Illinois so this could all be bullshit, but if you were to put this guy in a headlock and call the cops you might just be able to make his ass spend a night in the stoney lonesome for electioneering or some such and tell them you were just putting him under citizens arrest or whatever. Of course I don't know at all so don't listen to me. But put him in a headlock tomorrow.

[alittlelark]

12. Please send me a PM w/ a link to regulations.

Thanks!

[LoZoccolo]

15. I don't have it because I don't live in California...

...but you can call your county registrar's office and ask. You'll probably need to know if he actually is a deputy registrar or if he's handing out mail-in motor voter forms (which usually anyone can do, but is the least effective way to register people):

http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/elections_d.htm

[DemBones DemBones]

7. Unless they're refusing Democrats the right to do the same thing,

I don't have a problem with it -- other than that no Dems ARE doing it!

[alittlelark]

13. Hopefully I will be soon, I'll keep ya posted

I'm gonna post this in Cal. Forum in the morning to see if anyone can help me.

[gardenista]

26. My DAD is registering Dems every Saturday at a Home Depot

near Sacramento, CA, in a very RW area. I'm so proud of him.

[Pachamama]

31. Well, we need to start going to the Shopping Malls and Stores!

And start setting up tables....and even better if we get to set up right across from them...It would crack me up to see more people walking over to the Democrats/Kerry/Edwards table right in front of their faces.....

[murielm99]

9. The look of absolute horror and disgust...

That reminded me of my daughter at a recent summer festival.

She had just finished marching with the band in the parade. A very handsome young man came up to her and started flirting. She shot him a look of pure hatred, and he backed off, looking totally bewildered.

He was wearing a Lee County Republicans shirt.

I raised the kid right.

[alittlelark]

14. Cool Kid!!!

You're raising them right!

[69KV]

10. Home Depot if I remember

was the company that sponsored a huge rally for Dubya about a year or so ago. It was all right out in the open. HD makes no effort to hide where their politics lie, which is way off to the right. They are also the fifth largest source of contributions to the Repuke National Committee for 2004, see: http://www.opensecrets.org/parties/contrib.asp?Cmte=RNC&cycle=2004

They are also anti-union scum who drive small mom & pop hardware stores out of business. I haven't stepped into a Home Depot in two years.

[Ohio Dem]

16. Doesn't Home Depot not bid gov't contracts because they

skirt the minority hiring regulations needed for a gov't contract? I know I heard that somewhere (probably here, or the old DU, anyway), but it was a long time ago.

[Baja Margie]

20. Yes, they didn't want to meet Federal Standards.

but then they changed their tune:

http://www.interesting-people.org/archive/interesting-people/200206/msg00145.html

Now, the Feds are one of their "best" customers.

I don't want to offend anyone, but I love Ask Bob!

Check it out:

http://www.theweirdcrap.com/commentaries/askbob2003/0807.html

And, here are more horror stories:

http://www.homedepotsucks.com/horror.htm


Ok, try that first one again, I think I fixed it.

[Kazak]

21. Yeah, I stopped shopping there...

promptly once I caught on that they were bigtime Bush/Cheney contributors.

[alittlelark]

23. Now that I know it neither will I

But I haven't been there for soooo long, I had no idea what Facists they were!!!

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

25. Luckily, I work part-time at a HW store...

Owned by rock-ribbed Dems. The Matriarch, 90 years old, is a member of ACLU, the Dems and a few other progressive orgs. Been a Dem all her life.

Man, you ought to hear her burn on repukes. It is something to behold.:wow:

[alittlelark]

27. My G'ma was like that.......

....she taught me well. She died 9-8-01 (at 92 yrs old), I came out 1/2 hr after she died. Almost made it.

I flew back on 9-11-01. Major chaos, as you can imagine. The relatives who waited until the next day didn't get back for dayS.


She told me that all of these 'monopoly money' stores' were going to kill our society (at 38, I was too naive - engrossed to get it) and that Islam and Judiasm were fighting their blood wars on our soil.


Damn, I miss her!!!!

[Dem2theMax]

36. alittlelark, I just have to share this with you.

My Aunt died on 9-7-01 in Tenn. I flew back for the funeral on 9-10-01.

In her hands, she had 'monopoly pieces' - Boardwalk and St. James Place if I'm remembering correctly. Her grandchildren wanted to put something in with her that was a memory of something they did together - which was play Monopoly A LOT.

My flight home was on 9-11-01. I didn't make it. Airport shut down 10 minutes before I boarded. Took five days to get a flight home.

And Damn, I miss her too!

It was just so strange reading your post that I had to reply.

[alittlelark]

41. Wow, it is a small world

what are the odds? I Really miss my G'ma.

[Pachamama]

29. OMG! I was just about to post that they were at my COSTCO today!

Hi Lil' Lark! :hi:

Today, up in Marin County, CA in Novato at the Costco at Vintage Oaks Shopping Center, I arrived with my baby to go shopping on my usual Saturday Day errand run and I started laughing my head off when as I entered at the main entrance was a table decorated in Red/White/Blue and Bush/Cheney O4 signs everywhere. I thought it was a joke, but no joke and they had about 3-4 people (women mostly) signing people up with "Register here to Vote" and also the same in Spanish....Then I realized "THEY ARE SO DESPERATE!"....People were laughing at them primarily, but I did see for every 50 people passing by, someone going over and writing something. I too saw a bunch of Hispanic patrons looking at the table and wondering what was going on. I pointed at them and said "You've got to be kidding! Another 4 years of those two Pricks" They glared at me as I laughed and went in, turning my back to them with my bag covered with Pro-choice and Kerry buttons

I went up to an employee at the information desk and he rolled his eyes back and seemed to indicate to me he thought it was ridiculous. I asked him if I could talk to a manager about getting a "Dem" table set up, but we couldn't locate a manager. This kind employee informed me that the majority of employees there were voting Kerry and didn't like the Repubs outside. He then told me that one employee was at work wearing a Kerry button and was asked not to.

Meanwhile, I just kept thinking as I pushed my cart that I will organize a table also for a voter registration drive, but you know, the funny thing is that my feeling is it should be a "Voter Registration Table" and then let the people put down what Party affiliation they want to have. Nonetheless, I was angry because it felt like Costco was supporting the Republican Party and Bush. I think we need to organize Democratic Voter Reg tables at these Home Depots and Costco's where they are clearly trying to target the hispanic vote and other target groups to bump up their pathetic numbers.

What do you think Lil Lark? Should we organize this?

PS: Any other DUers in other states outside of CA see these kind of tables at Costco's or Home Depots today or lately? I also think that we should contact the corporate headquarters of these companies and ask them if they are supporting Bush and if so, they will lose our business...

[Swamp Rat]

33. Way to go Pachamama!!!

I don't go to those places much anymore, but if I see this happening I will speak up as you did. :hi:

[alittlelark]

40. Sorry I was so long in responding,

but, yes this needs to be set up ASAP. I'm PMing you

[mahina]

49. Costco supports Dems

Sams club and Walmart are Republican supporters.

[blondeatlast]

53. Costco bigshots support Dems and Costco has good employee relations.

They get my business for the way they treat their employees.

[Dookus]

34. He's there because he's committed to doing it

evidently, and the Democrats aren't. Absent any evidence that HP is DENYING Democrats the right to do it, it's not a problem.

I live in Santa Cruz (after living in East Palo Alto, the place mentioned in the OP for 10 years) and I see Democratic tables all over. My local Safeway has one almost every day, but that doesn't mean Safeway is officially endorsing it.

[UnityDem]

35. Article on Home Depot/Bush fund raising

Home Depot - where America fertilizes Bush.

http://baltimorechronicle.com/dec03_PublicCitizen.html

[DU GrovelBot]

37. ## PLEASE DONATE TO DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND! ##

==================
GROVELBOT.EXE v3.0
==================



This week is our third quarter 2004 fund drive. Democratic
Underground is a completely independent website. We depend almost entirely
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your support.

[leftchick]

39. Check Out This Qoute from HD Co-Founder.....

seemslikeadream just posted this article in LBN....

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040822/ZNYT01/408220461/1001/BUSINESS

<snip>
Even some Wall Street Republicans who say they expect to vote for President Bush voice concerns about the deficit as well as the fairness of a tax cut that makes rich people even richer. "My own feeling about the dividend tax cut is that I would not have done it," said Kenneth G. Langone, an enthusiastic Republican and co-founder of Home Depot who owns more than $700 million of the company's stock and runs his own investment bank. "It has meant millions to me, but I would have felt better if you dedicate it to deficit reduction."

[shivaji]

42. 95% of Corporations both large and small support pugs.....

so this is no surprise at all. These fatcats send
token contributions to dems as insurance, but send
the lions share to the repugs. Us small contributors
outnumber the corporate whores, but we need to open
our pockets.

[alittlelark]

43. It is time for some group - Aclu, Teamsters....

To re-open that decision that corporations are granted the same rights as human beings (circa 1850's).

That will erradicate these problems.

[Jane Austin]

45. I don't know about all small corporations, but ours sure doesn't

support right wing causes or candidates!

Why should we? I'm a liberal for a lot of reasons, but there's certainly damned little evidence that Republican policies help small businesses at all.

I would contend, in fact, that they are so friendly to HUGE corporations, that they cause a great deal of harm to small corporations.

Please don't lump hard-working, good-hearted, civic-minded, tax-paying businesses like ours with the greedheads of Big Business.

[Jane Austin]

44. Bastrop County (TX) Democrats have been outside Home Depot

several times this summer.

Props to Eric McGown for organizing this and making it happen.



Edited for late-night typo.

[imax2268]

46. not to get off topic...

but a few weeks ago I came home to notice a "voter registration form" on my door with a pamphlete for a Republican candidate attached to it...and wouldn't you know it...the "Republican" box was already filled in...

As far as home depot near my house...haven't seen anything yet...I'm just waiting for my chance to see one of those booths...let them ask me if I want to register as a Republicon...heh heh heh...I'll let them have it...!

[oscar111]

47. opensecrets.org has boycott list

well, really it is just where you can find the donations of most any corporation, and the top corps for each party.

you can make that into your personal list if you want to.

Rush Limb. sponsors are listed at http://www.takebackthemedia.org

[mahina]

48. Ask if they want to halve their customer base

Because that is a sure way to get their attention.
I asked the Borders guy who was not offering progressive books, 'do you want to be the bookstore for half of this community, or all of it?"
Quick change.
Of course I would not shop at Home Despot anyhow, after * went there right after a fundraiser. We pay for his transportation and security and all, and he goes and makes an ad for his contributor. Sickening.
Campaign finance reform needed in a very big way!

[Piperay]

50. I don't understand why the Democratic Party

doesn't have an official all out voter registration drive, sometimes they act like they don't really care about registering new voters at all. I know some liberal groups are on their own registering voters but WHY isn't the party making an all out effort??

[wyldwolf]

51. Someone needs to check this... may be illegal

In GA at least, voter registration drives HAVE to be non-partisan.

You can't even wear a button of your candidate.

[AirAmFan]

54. Very smart place to register voters who've moved recently

The percentage of people who've moved during the last two months, who visit a Home Depot or Lowe's, must be very high. Let's find out whether what this kid was doing is legal in our states. If it is, let's follow the Republicans' example!

In virtually all states, voter registration closes 30 days before a general election. That's only a few days after the end of next month, folks.