Political-economic snit

[godfry n. glad]

I received this today from an acquaintance:

Just something to consider.....

Be aware which corporations helped elect Bush in the first place. Vote with your pocketbook this holiday season.

With the holidays upon us, some of us might wish to be mindful of whom we
patronize relative to their 2000 Election Cycle political donations, as
reported by the Center for Responsive Politics. [Would be interesting to
have the 2004 statistics.]

Shopping?

Price Club/Costco donated $225K, of which 99% went to democrats;

WalMart, $467K, 97% to republicans;
K-Mart, $524K, 86% to republicans;
Home Depot, $298K, 89% to republicans;
Target, $226K, 70% to republicans;
Circuit City Stores, $261K, 95% to republicans;
Rite Aid, $517K, 60% to democrats;
Magla Products (Stanley tools, Mr. Clean), $22K, 100% to democrats;

3M Co., $281K, 87% to republicans;
Hallmark Cards, $319K, 92% to republicans;
Amway, $391K, 100% republican;
Kohler Co. (plumbing fixtures), $283K, 100% republicans;

Warnaco (undergarments), $55K, 73% to democrats;

B.F. Goodrich (tires), $215K, 97% to republicans;
Proctor & Gamble, $243K, 79% to republicans;

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, $153K, 99% to democrats;
Estee Lauder, $448K, 95% to democrats;
Guess ? Inc., $145K, 98% to democrats;
Calvin Klein, $78K, 100% to democrats;
Liz Claiborne, Inc., $34K, 97% to democrats;
Levi Straus, $26K, 97% to democrats;
Olan Mills, $175K, 99% to democrats.

Spirits?
Coors, $174K, 92% to republicans; (also Budweiser - sd)

Gallo Winery, $337K, 95% to democrats;

Brown-Forman Corp. (Southern Comfort, Jack Daniels, Bushmills, Korbel wines
- as well as Lennox China, Dansk, Gorham Silver), $644, 80% to republicans;

Southern Wine & Spirits, $213K, 73% to democrats;
Joseph E. Seagrams & Sons (includes beverage business, plus
considerable media interests), $2M+, 67% democrats.

Hungry?
Pilgrim's Pride Corp. (chicken), $366K, 100% republican;
Outback Steakhouse, $641K, 95% republican;

Sonic Corporation, $83K, 98% democrat;

Tricon Global Restaurants (KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell), $133K, 87%
republican;
Brinker International (Maggiano's, Brinker Cafe, Chili's, On the
Border, Macaroni Grill, Cozymel's, Corner Baker, EatZis), $242K, 83%
republican;

Triarc Companies (Arby's, T.J. Cinnamon's, Pasta Connections), $112K, 96%
democrats;

Waffle House, $279K, 100% republican;
McDonald's Corp., $197K, 86% republican;
Darden Restaurants (Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Smokey Bones, Bahama Breeze), $121K, 89% republican;

Hyatt Corporation, $187K, 80% to democrats;

Mariott International, $323K, 81% to republicans;
Holiday Inns, $38K, 71% to republicans.

[wade-w]

Just note about ownership of two of the restaurant conglomerates you mentioned, Godfry.

Darden is in turn owned by General Mills (the cereal maker).

Tricon is a subsidiary of Pepsi.

And isn't Bushmills Irish? Is Brown-Foreman the importer?

[godfry n. glad]

And isn't Bushmills Irish? Is Brown-Foreman the importer?

That was my impression. Northern Irish, actually. Which means it's probably Unionist. Their site online seems to be owned and controlled by Pernod Ricard, but I'm not sure whether PR owns Bushmills, or has worldwide distribution rights, and whether there is any relationship betwixt Pernod Ricard and Brown-Foreman.

Brown-Foreman Beverages International does not list Old Bushmills on their webpage as one of their spirits products, so I'm assuming that they are distributors of Old Bushmills.

The list is not mine, but one forwarded to me.