Amid Nationwide Protests, Target's Public Relations Department Flounders

This past weekend saw protests galore in front of Target shopping centers around the United States, as activists and consumers continue to express anger at the company for giving $150,000 to an anti-gay politician in Minnesota. For Target executives and Target's public relations department, it must feel like they've been cast in a sequel to the movie Groundhog Day, where they keep waking up and experiencing the same day over and over again.

Only the twist here is that with each passing day, Target's losing more and more customers, and digging itself deeper into a hole.

On Saturday, protests from Illinois to Minnesota to New Hampshire were held outside Target stores, drawing in some cases substantial crowds. Folks were holding signs and passing out flyers, drawing connections between Target's political donations and the coffers of candidates who have a track record of being some of the most anti-gay (not to mention anti-immigrant and anti-labor) candidates around. Tom "I support a religious ministry that advocates killing gay people" Emmer. Michele "Gay people are pedophiles" Bachmann. Tim "I don't believe gay people should be allowed to plan the funerals of their partners" Pawlenty. It's a Who's Who of homophobes, so to speak.

What's become clear in this whole debacle is that Target, over the past couple weeks, has proved inept at communicating and/or justifying why they work to elect anti-gay candidates. At first they tried to drop the soundbyte that because they had good corporate policies regarding gay rights, they should be allowed to donate to anti-gay political candidates. That went over like a concrete balloon.

Then Target tried to say, via an email sent by Target's CEO (Gregg Steinhafel) to all Target employees, that they were sorry if their anti-gay political donations offended anybody, but that it was their right to donate to political candidates who matched the company's own economic interests, even if on social issues that candidate was not so good. Cue another concrete balloon.

And now, it seems, Target's entered into a third phase. Dodge all questions about their anti-gay political donations, or the anti-gay political donations of nearly all of Target's senior executives, and instead refer people to a Web site. Frankly, I think I see another concrete balloon on the horizon.

Political radio host David Pakman (who really looks like a progressive and dreamy version of Kirk Cameron ... *swoon*) tried to interview someone at Target last week about the company's political contributions. But instead of getting an interview, he was given a run around. Check out the video, and note how difficult it is for Pakman to navigate the Target PR-machine:

"Wanted to let you know that we won't be able to provide an interview for your radio program. But you can logon to our pressroom to view our statements at this time..."

Is that statement really supposed to reassure consumers who are already skittish when it comes to Target? Especially when the public relations person from Target gives no contact information, calls from a private number, and gives no way for media peeps to follow up? It's like an ostrich is running the public relations shop at Target -- just stick your heads in the ground until reality changes.

Of course, it could be that Target is trying to purposely lie low. Rumors abound that groups like the Human Rights Campaign, and perhaps even the American Federation for Equal Rights (the folks who helped overturn Proposition 8 two weeks ago), are working with Target to make things right. But will a donation to either of these two groups be enough to help quell the frustration and anger that many consumers feel toward Target for their political activity?

Not if you're MoveOn. The netroots powerhouse released a new video last week challenging Target for engaging in elections in the first place, organizing folks under the mantra that corporate money doesn't belong in American politics. Hands down, MoveOn wins the award for coolest animation with their video. Check it out below.

And for a recap from some of the other protests held 'round the country this past weekend at Target stores, visit this Facebook page.

Photo credit: Boycott Target Facebook Page