Target Wal-Mart

Robert L. Borosage and Troy Peters
November 14, 2005

Robert L. Borosage is co-director and Troy Peters is policy fellow at the Campaign For America's Future.

Wal-Mart must feel like a piñata these days—everyone’s lining up to take a shot at it. This week, 7,000 house parties are being held to screen Robert Greenwald’s blockbuster documentary, “Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price.” The inspector general of the Labor Department censures its sweetheart deal that promised to give Wal-Mart notice before any future investigation of illegal child labor practices. Legislators from the L.A. City Council to the U.S. Senate are introducing legislation to curb the giant’s public subsidies. Communities are rejecting Wal-Mart’s demands for subsidies and zoning exemptions. Right-wing groups are furious Wal-Mart is taking the Christ out of the Christmas holidays. It’s gotten so bad that Wal-Mart has created a war room staffed by veterans of political campaigns to wage the PR battle.