Question: Politics of Lowes and Home Depot...

[BeyondThePale]

I seem to remember some discussion previously regarding the political background of the owners of these companies (one was more right wing than the other). Can anyone clarify this?

And yes, I do try to shop at my neighborhood hardware and lawn/garden store whenever possible--but sometimes I am inexplicably drawn to the bright lights of the mega-store.

Thanks

[Alpharetta]

1. Of the two, Lowes is less blatantly Republican

The 2 Home Depot guys are pretty blatant. Nardelli entertains Republican fundraising dinners at his house. Blank is a big donor. Bush likes to make "economic" statements during "candid drop-in" PR visits at Home Depot stores.

Lowes board members give heavily Republican. But give to Dem candidates too.

There's a website somewhere that says how red or blue a company is.

I shop at Lowes. Seldom at Home Depot.

[peace frog]

2. Don't know specifically, however...

BuyBlue.org is a good resource to check for "blue-friendly" organizations: http://www.buyblue.org/

[NewJeffCT]

3. I've seen those big inconsistencies in those "buy blue" websites

They are literally all over the board. One site has a company as solidly blue, another says the same place as solidly red.

I guess I'd only trust the companies that are listed as solidly blue by both the major "buy blue" sites.

[Atman]

4. Go by the color of their logos

nt

[Swamp Rat]

5. Isn't Tom Ridge the spokesman for Home Depot?

Got duct tape? :D

[Alpharetta]

6. Yeah. Buyblue says they both are NASCAR Bush country corporations

http://www.buyblue.org/detail.php?corpId=38 (lowes)
http://www.buyblue.org/detail.php?corpId=83 (home depot)

[UTUSN]

7. A DUer Said Depot "Gives Red but Acts Blue"

based on their Gay-friendly hiring and possibly labor policies.

[Ian David]

8. Their gay-friendlyness was done kicking-and-screaming

Groups raised a big stink when it was learned Home Depot provided health coverage for people's pets, but not their gay partners.

To their credit, it was fixed practically over night.

RetailWire -Gay Groups Not Happy About Home Depot's Pet Insurance
http://www.retailwire.com/Discussions/Sngl_Discussion.cfm/10103

And John Ashcroft is on their Board of Directors

Home Depot: Free Your Company From The Homosexual Agenda!
http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=115