Wal-Mart, already battered by the left-wing, is now coming under pressure from the right.While union-backed groups accuse Wal-Mart of supporting a "right-wing agenda," a conservative activist group now accuses Wal-Mart of supporting the homosexual agenda.
The American Family Association is reminding its supporters that Wal-Mart recently joined the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. AFA says Wal-Mart plans to give "two large grants" to the NGLCC -- and it also plans to give domestic-partnership benefits to homosexual employees' partners.
Moreover, the president of the NGLCC said he expects Wal-Mart to use its influence to pressure suppliers such as Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson and Gillette to give preferential treatment to businesses owned by homosexuals.
The American Family Association, noting that the NGLCC is a leading promoter of homosexual marriage, is urging conservatives to take action:
"Send your email to Wal-Mart expressing you displeasure with their promotion of homosexual marriage," AFA told its supporters. "Call your local Wal-Mart manager and express your displeasure."
The group wants Americans to know about "Wal-Mart's funding of the homosexual agenda."
The American Family Association also is leading a grassroots movement against Ford Motor Company, which reneged on a promise to stop financially supporting homosexual advocacy groups.
AFA says says almost 600,000 people have signed a pledge to boycott Ford, which posted its biggest quarterly loss in 14 years on Monday.
The American Family Association believes its boycott is partly responsible for Ford's current financial difficulties.
"Over 40 pro-family leaders urged Ford to remain neutral in the homosexual marriage battle, but Ford refused," the AFA says on its website.
Left hook
A union-back group called WakeUpWalMart.com on Monday circulated an open letter to analysts attending Wal-Mart's annual meeting in Teaneck, N.J.
The group is calling attention to Wal-Mart's "declining public image, sluggish sales, a rebellion by employees in its own store, and a growing grassroots movement to change the company."
WakeUpWalMart says it wants to change Wal-Mart into a "better, more responsible business" -- which means unionizing the retailer.
The group claims that a "solid one-third" of the American public now holds a negative view of Wal-Mart, and it is urging stock analysts to "join with us in calling on Wal-Mart to change for the better."
WakeUpWalMart.com is demanding that Wal-Mart pay higher wages, offer affordable health benefits, and which means paying higher wages, and "treat its employees with dignity and respect."
"Together, we can help Wal-Mart expand into new markets, appeal to higher income customers and grow into an even more profitable business," the group claims.
Despite all the pressure and criticism, Wal-Mart stock was up on Monday, helping to propel the Dow Jones Industrial Average to yet another record close.
Accrding to the Associated Press, Wal-Mart pleased investors with its announcement that it "plans to bring costs in line with a slowdown in sales and earnings growth."
Even so, the company reportedly plans to open stores in 600 new locations next year.