Land's End repub founder takes out full-page anti-Bush ad in WI

[Rose Siding]

Gary Comer, founder of the Land's End clothing company, took out a full-page ad in the Wisconsin State Journal today, addressed to "Undecided Voters of Wisconsin." Land's End is a beloved business in Wisconsin, a reliable employer of thousands in the politically conservative southwestern portion of the state. In the ad, he doesn't come out and say "vote for Kerry," but the message is clear:

I have been a Republican and voted Republican most of my life. But in my opinion, this administration has high-jacked the Republican Party I knew and is taking Wisconsin and the United States in dangerous directions. If Bush is re-elected, you and your children and grandchildren and mine will pay dearly in their freedoms and opportunities long after his term of office expires. I believe that four more years of President Bush and the people who surround him is not in our Nation's best interest.

You could very well be the deciding factor in the electoral outcome of this election. Think carefully, vote your heart and head. I think of the debt that we will leave ourselves and everyone who follows, and I question the judgment that caused the deaths of 1100 U.S. friends and neighbors in a war that we didn't need to start.
Emphasis his.

UPDATE: Apparently, Rudy Guilani had recently come to the Dodgeville, WI headquarters of Land's End to campaign for Bush, so I would imagine Comer's ad is in response to that action.

http://polis-chicago.blogspot.com/2004/10/more-republicans-for-kerry-wisconsin.html

via Atrios

[stray cat]

1. Rudy mobilizes the base but its the democratic base

yes. Tues "we the people" speak and I hope its a loud and clear call for change!

[Misunderestimator]

6. Yeah... I just caught the tail-end of his act this morning on MTP

What a pile of horseshit steams out of his mouth. I can't believe New Yorkers EVER elected that man. Prediction... NYC will not see another republican mayor for a very long time (that is, after they get rid of their current one), now that the democratic base has decided not to take it anymore.

[jrthin]

2. I know which catalog I'll

be doing all my Christmas shopping from.

[MoonRiver]

3. Exactly. I'm googling Land's End right now. Will post link.

[rockymountaindem]

4. Great!

I can feel good about that Land's End jacket hanging on my wall.

[Dudley_DUright]

13. My mom's family is from Dodgeville, WI and

practically my whole wardrobe is from Land's End. It will be hard to buy any more than I already do from them, but I will try! Here is their website if anyone is interesting in shopping for Christmas a little early this year.

http://www.landsend.com/

[NJmaverick]

5. WOW! This is awesome!

Good news for America and President Kerry!

[amazona]

7. hey nice statement

I just had occasion to order from Land's End, nice to know that the money is going to a reasonable person.

[Cerridwen]

8. Back pedal? Epiphany? CYA? link below from DU

Some Lands' End employees said Tuesday they were hoodwinked into attending a speech by former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani at the company's Dodgeville plan

More at link.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=106x11033



edited to add: I'll wait to be convinced. Afraid I've seen too much of this type of flip-flop from concerned (about profits) business owners before. Sorry to be a downer, here.

:hi:

[City Lights]

18. I'm one who asked to be taken off their mailing list based

on rudy ghouli's motivational speech turned bush rally. Now I'm going to have to get back on it.

[lynintenn]

39. I asked to be taken off the mailing list too

because of Rudy's visit praising GWB on terroism.
My reply from then....................Please send us your mailing address so we can comply with your request

[MuseRider]

9. Just dug the latest catalogue

out of the trash. I will try to use them lots more now. Brains and courage, you can't beat that.

[leftofthedial]

Knowing his Repuke background, I had stopped buying Land's End

but I will start again this holiday season.

Kudos to Gary Comer for having the courage to express his convictions.

[unfrigginreal]

10. Well, I know where some of my Christmas shopping will be done.

Great news!

[Missy Vixen]

11. We have been shopping at Lands' End for over 13 years now

Their stuff is a bit more expensive, but they are anti-sweatshop (they stage surprise inspections of factories that are TRULY surprises instead of pre-scheduled "inspections",) they employ Americans and they treat their workers well.

Also, their stuff wears and wears and wears.

Please go to http://www.landsend.com to start your shopping, and please write to the paper in question to thank Mr. Comer for his comments. I sure will.

Julie

[spooky3]

22. Uh, you may want to wait. GU cited workers' rights violations by LE.

The discovery of workers' rights violations in a Lands' End factory in El Salvador prompted Georgetown University not to renew its contract with the company this year.

Lands' End, whose contract with Georgetown expires this January, was responsible for manufacturing apparel bearing the Georgetown University logo. The Georgetown University Licensing Oversight Committee made the recommendation to cancel the contract after Lands' End failed to comply with Georgetown University's Code of Conduct for Licensees.

In his Jan. 22 letter to Lands' End, which finalized the decision to cancel the contract, Vice President for Public Affairs and Strategic Development Dan Porterfield cited the Code of Conduct for Licensees as the reason for the cancellation. "Licensees shall recognize and respect the right of employees to freedom of association and collective bargaining," the Code of Conduct states.

snip

Not sure if you can use this link, but:

http://www.georgetownvoice.com/news/2004/01/29/News/University.Drops.Apparel.Contract-591470.shtml

[Missy Vixen]

33. We're still shopping with them

They employ Americans at a living wage. I am also sure that whatever was happening in El Salvador will be quickly addressed by Lands' End.

Julie

[spooky3]

37. I hope you're right--but GU tried to get them to change things

before cancelling the contract, and was unsuccessful. If you come across a link showing changes made, please post it here, thanks!

I'm also a long time Lands' End shopper and would like to continue that.

[GAspnes]

12. He must listen to Prairie Home Companion

while checking that his ads are run correctly, he's gotten a big dose of Garrison.

Now I have to go order my Christmas presents.

[NMDemDist2]

14. whew, I'm glad, I have always liked Lands End esp the "virtual" model

they have online. Check it out.....


http://www.landsend.com/

[LittleWoman]

15. Lands End also sponsors

Prairie Home Companion. I was very unhappy when I heard about the Giuliani speech, but in retrospect I think they were duped when the hired him. Earlier this spring in Columbus there was a huge day of motivational speeches and Giuliani was one of the featured speakers. I believe Lands End may have signed on for a motivational speech and Rudy turned it into a Bush speech without their knowledge. That is he said he would do one thing and then he did another. Sound familiar?

[chaz4jazz]

16. Christians for Kerry

http://www.publicchristian.com/borrowed/cbarker.shtml

This website is evangelicals for Kerry (or against Bush!)

[billkurtmeyer]

17. Funny I threw a Land End catalog in the trash early this morning,

I think that now I will dig it out and do some shopping!

[RhodaGrits]

19. Didn't Lands End get sold to Sears?? I'm not ready to retract

my boycott after sleaze Giuliani spoke there. Anyone know if this guy is still associated with Lands End or did he take the money and run?

[SharonAnn]

20. Looks like he took the money and bought an expensive ad.

That's not bad.

[mcg]

27. I'm not either, here was the response I got from Land's End

"I'm very sorry we disappointed you with our decision to grant Mr. Giuliani the opportunity to speak to our employees here at Land's End. From your concern we realize the timing of the visit may not have been well considered. However, politics aside, the former mayor of New York is still thought of by many to be an important figure in a very tragic and terrible event of our country's recent history. And none of our employees were coerced to attend.

We apologize that we disappointed you, but we do thank you for sharing your thoughts and concern."

I'm still boycotting.

[progressivebydesign]

21. He doesn't own it anymore, does he? Did Sears buy it out?

Otherwise... I'd buy SOOO many christmas gifts there if he still does. Though.. perhaps it would be good to support the employees there...

[spooky3]

23. I think you're right--he doesn't run it anymore. But here are his Dem

contributions, thanks to Newsmeat:

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?st=WI&last=Comer&first=Gary

note that there are multiple addresses, and contributions to Rethugs too:

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?city=CHICAGO&st=IL&last=Comer&first=Gary

[rednek_Liberal]

24. Cool.. I can order from their Overstocks ...

Save some money and not feel bada about it...Im Likin this.

http://landsend.com/cd/ov/frontdoor/0,,,00.html?sid=0917004399052115240

[Maiden England]

25. good for him

its about time the repubs started taking their party back. Of course the only way to do that is by removing the bushites at the top which will happen when they loose. Logical really, vote for KERRY!

[DemocracyInaction]

26. File this away and remember it.........because you are seeing the

coming split in this party. In these "midwest" battleground states you aren't seeing a mass of the right wing Christian nutcases of the South. You are seeing moderates and they are getting freaked by the Jesus freaks too. There are ambitious moderates seeking the repub presidency bid next time---watch for the internicene wars breaking out.

[Hans Delbrook]

28. Holey Moley

That's it - I'm doing all my Christmas shopping at Land's End this year. And, folks, I'm a big spender!

[idiosyncratic]

30. Just wondering, if you are a big spender . . .

How come your gold star for donating to DU doesn't show?

[Hans Delbrook]

31. Because

I donated before I started posting - truth be told. I was a lurker for a long time.

[spooky3]

38. but DU has ongoing salaries to pay--when you can, I hope you'll

contribute again.

[Supersedeas]

29. conservatives with integrity are taking a stand

[huckleberry]

32. Great news! I can start ordering at Lands End again!

I really like their stuff and wanted to order more but didn't like the Rudy thing.

[T Bone]

34. Now here is a Republican with some GUTS. A True Patriot

Not a weasley schlemiel like Hagel and Lugar.

[marlakay]

35. my husband says they are a very conservative company

so if they are on board the republicans are fleeing from the evil regime.

[LiberalAndProud]

36. Thinking people of all political persuasions are in the ABB club.

Kerry in a LANDSLIDE!