Patricia Heaton and Albertsons

I emailed Albertsons, telling them that I wouldn't shop at their local store as long as that crazy fundie was their spokesperson. Told them how much I spent each week in their store, and that I would advise my friends to do the same. I also reminded them that there were plenty of other shopping options in the area. In under 24 hours I received an email reply, saying that she didn't represent the opinions of the chain, that they valued my business, etc.

I also got a call from the local store manager, wanting to find out exactly what she said.

Seems that Albertsons is more concerned about their bottom line than Ms. Heaton's agenda.

https://www.albertsons.com/abs_aboutalbertsons/dearalbertsons/contactus.asp

Buy from local farms and dairies as much as you can. Support locally owned grocers and shops. Keep your neighbors employed and the profits local to your community economy.

Then, if you need something only the big chains sell, go there just for those items.

As much as possible, but some things can only be found at the big chains.

I know what was done to Whoopie, etc...and I feel that I'm just fighting fire with fire. I choose to spend my money at Dem or neutral establishments as often as possible. Most of the big grocery chains are Republican contributers, which is bad enough, but if I have to patronize one of them, it won't be the one who hires a lying fundie witch as their spokesperson. She was wailing on and on, accusing Michael Shiavo of domestic abuse, etc. It was ridiculous.

I just wanted to let Albertsons know that I would taking my business elsewhere.

If you need to shop at a large chain, Safeway is a big Democratic Party supporter.

Goldberg, The Dixie Chicks, Linda Ronstadt and others. I cannot condone participating in something. I think people have a right to express themselves without those who disagree with them trying to destroy how they make a living.

Then perhaps Albertson's could release a statement saying that they do not support Ms Heaton or her standing on this matter, that way people can make their minds up about boycotting.

Whoopie, the Dixie Chicks, etc. were simply stating their opinion. Free Speech is guaranteed in this country, and yet the righties want to shut them up simply because they don't agree. HOWEVER, Heaton wantsto take others' rights away.

the other day and watched for as long as I could stand it, which, admitedly was not long. It seemed her opinion, albeit strong opinion, to me. She was near fanactical about not "starving" Terri Schaivo, taking it from a mother's viewpoint. She is a member of Feminists for Life, so she is definately a Fundie http://www.feministsforlife.org/. I do not agree with her in any way, shape form or fashion, but I still do not think we should do to others what we do not want done to us. I would like to think we are more honorable.

Silly and idealistic to still believe at my age - old enough to know better - that politics and honor can co-exist, but there you go.

desire to take the right to choose away from other women. She does want to do this. She supports repealing Roe v Wade, and the entire * agenda. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Of course she is welcome to her opinion about choice, but she advocates taking that right away from others.

Celebrities can express whatever opinion they want, their endorsees can back them or drop them, consumers can ignore it or boycott. Everyone has their say.

what celebs say. More freedom of speech issues. Apparently, she is in favour of feeding Ms. Schiavo indefinately http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/heaton%20under%20attack%20on%20the%20net

Why should I want to help someone continue making a(n excellent, over-the-top) living if I hate what they say or believe?

there is no dispute. But I thought what the right wing did and does do to punish any leftie celeb that speaks out is mean-spirited and vicious.

but that's because I'm a lefty :). I doubt those people really suffered as a result of a boycott. they make gazillions.

I prefer not to know where celebs stand on an issue, unless they're real activists (Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon, Charlton Heston) and back up what they say with what they do.

I enjoy Patricia Heaton's work on Raymond, but I am sorry she feels someone who is dead except for motor function should be kept alive against her husband's wishes. If I'd known this years ago about her, I'd probably never watched Raymond.

As for Albertson's, I already don't shop there, because it's a crap store. And I already hate their campaign. It's annoying.

politics. Let them decide.

I may want to to communicate with Albertsons as well. Thanks.

Keep that in mind, New Englanders.

seen her hunger strike threats the other day on the news. Too bad Raymond....

Good idea.

or in my case Jewel-Osco (it is the only store near me I can shop at and since I don't have a car... my options are limited).

She has the absolute right to express herself. I defend that right. I have a right to ask Albertsons if they support what she says or not. Again, I would have complete respect for them if they say, "We support her right to speak her opinion, but we do not support her opinion."

At no point in time do I ever want a corporation telling someone what they can and cannot say.

Heaton isn't the President of Albertsons, she is just a spokesperson. She made these comments not in the role of spokesperson but as a member of Feminists for Life.

All in all, it is a sticky situation. I hate Slim-Fast for what they did to Whoopi and I would hate any company that reacted in the same way to a person stating their personal opinion.

cannot say, but I think a company is within their rights to drop a sponsor if they feel their point of view conflicts with company values and reflects poorly on them. I think that's a form of free speech as well. I would have respect for a company that said, "We support Ms. Jones' right to express her opinion, but our company value of XYZ presents a clear conflict with those opinions. As of May 1, 2005 Ms. Jones will no longer represent our company as a spokesperson. We admire the strength of her convictions and wish her well."

with their spokesperson's views.

Period.

And I no longer shop at Albertson's.

her character is so much like her.

But I'm not going to stop shopping at Albertsons over it. The other options around here are even less appealing to me, and they have the best produce in my area.

No matter how obnoxious she is.

The Dixie Chicks made a statement about how they felt about someone...and Patricia Heaton passed judgement on another individual.
I think there is a difference.
:shrug:

get someone fired for expressing an opinion I disagree with.

She's entitled to her wrong opinion.

I do take issue with some of the shows airing her opinion unquestioned.

bottom line or else they would not pay them big bux to do so.
IF public opinion did NOT matter...then you would still see Michael Jackson stumping for Pepsi and Kobe Bryant still stumping for McDonalds.
Our opinions count...keep writing the letters.
It's important to remember that when a company signs a celebrity endorser, they're signing an image. A certain stigma attached. Just remember, we're talking multi-million dollar deals and any company should get what they pay for.

have chosen Patricia Heaton for their spokesperson. That's perfectly within my rights.

advocate for Church-type causes. I have other reasons not to shop at Albertson's, one of them is that they are predominantly Mormon owned and therefore part of the religious right and they did their part in trying to bust the union in the last strike.

Also, our local Albertson's moved their location and forced their longtime employees to work for an incoming Ralph's if they wanted to preserve their benefits and pension seniority, otherwise they would have to start out on entry level at the new Albertson's. Then Ralph's locked out the union members during the strike all the while they were planning on closing that store, which they did months later, forcing those employees to work at more distant stores or seek new employment.

I now shop at a smaller chain, Scolari's, who signed a contract with the union at that time, and none of their employees had to strike. It's a little more expensive, but with planning and coupons I can get my grocery bill down.

I don't shop at any of the ones she advertises for in my area, anyway.