Parkland student David Hogg is at it again, putting his newfound media-induced celebrity status to work to target Publix, a Florida based supermarket chain.
A popular employee-owned supermarket chain with nearly $35 billion in revenue in 2017, Publix drew Hogg’s ire because they make a political donation to a hometown candidate.
That’s it. The bar’s pretty low these days when it comes to the left’s collective outrage.
Publix donated $670,000 to Republican gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam, the Tampa Bay Times reported. Putnam is a hometown candidate who was born down the street from the chain’s Lakeland headquarters.
Putnam is a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment, and has called himself a “proud NRA sellout.” The politician opposed stricter state gun laws passed after the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School that claimed 17 lives, according to The Times.
And that’s all it took for Hogg to take to Twitter to call for a boycott and a “die in,” set for Friday.
“.@Publix is a #NRASellOut In Parkland we will have a die in the Friday (the 25th) before memorial day weekend. Starting at 4pm for 12 min inside our 2 Publix stores. Just go an lie down starting at 4. Feel free to die in with us at as many other @Publix as possible.” Hogg tweeted.
.@Publix is a #NRASellOut
In Parkland we will have a die in the Friday (the 25th) before memorial day weekend. Starting at 4pm for 12 min inside our 2 Publix stores. Just go an lie down starting at 4. Feel free to die in with us at as many other @Publix as possible.— David Hogg (@davidhogg111) May 23, 2018
He claims Publix is a NRA sellout while calling for a mob to set upon the business, but the chain clarified that it has never donated to the NRA, explaining in an earlier statement that they support Putnam for his “pro-business values.”
The call for a boycott over the support for Putnam was pushed by Democratic state Rep. Carlos Smith, a left-wing gay rights activist who played an instrumental role in hijacking the narrative in the Orlando Pulse shooting away from an Islamic terrorist attack to an attack on the LGBT community, despite evidence the shooter may not have realized he was in a gay bar.
IT’S A SIGN! Just one week after finding out @Publix is supporting anti-immigrant “NRA-sellout” @adamputnam w/$670K in contributions, a @Lucky’s appears outside our office (across the street from Publix) as a progressive alternative! Dreams really DO come true! #BoycottPublix pic.twitter.com/oaTeqXUncr
— Rep. Carlos G Smith (@CarlosGSmith) May 22, 2018
Smith also charged that the donation was “pay to play” — Putnam is Commissioner of Agriculture in Florida and is charged with inspecting supermarkets.
In a vile manner that befits the Democratic lawmaker, Smith cited 7 stores that failed inspection, out of 781 stores in the state. There are a total of 1182 Publix stores across the Southeast.
That an elected member of the Florida legislature would publicly attack a member of the business community in such a manner shows how low the Democrat Party has sunk.
Ag Comm @adamputnam is in charge of inspecting grocery stores. After 7 @Publix stores FAILED health inspections for rat shit, bugs, meat at unsafe temps + more, Putnam pulled reports from his site + eliminated pass/fail system. We call that pay to play. https://t.co/3ndjTBlV07
— Rep. Carlos G Smith (@CarlosGSmith) May 24, 2018
Publix said it will evaluate its contribution processes to ensure it reflects the chain’s “intended desire,” The Times reported. The chain also said it regrets the contribution has caused “unintentional customer divide instead of (a) desire to support a growing economy in Florida.”
That liberal zealots like Smith and Hogg attack a company ranked as one of the best employers in the country by Fortune and Forbes goes to show just how ill-informed the left is.
Florida state Sen. Kelly Stargel, who represents Lakeland, took to Facebook to note Publix’ commitment to the community.
“Publix cares about their community,” the Republican posted. “They have donated Hundred of Millions of dollars to charities and organizations that support the children and families in our community including the United Way, Feeding America, Special Olympics, Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and just about every school in Florida. They were ranked the #2 company in the nation for social responsibility by a Harris poll.”
There’s little doubt that our politics have become unhinged when you look to the left’s reaction to a company making a political contribution — a reaction that is getting strong play from their media allies.
Fellow Stoneman Douglas student Kyle Kashuve tagged his classmate “anti-labor” in a tweet saying the boycott is “just wrong.”
“Anti-labor David Hogg boycotting employee-owned @publix is just wrong. I support small business, and the hard working owner operators. Show your support for labor, and go shop there,” the Second Amendment-supporting student tweeted.
Anti-labor David Hogg boycotting employee-owned @publix is just wrong. I support small business, and the hard working owner operators. Show your support for labor, and go shop there. https://t.co/b6a0mMmMBh
— Kyle Kashuv (@KyleKashuv) May 23, 2018
Here’s a sampling of other responses from Twitter:
The last boycott Hogg launched on two of the biggest gun investors didn’t go so well. In fact, it had zero effect on their clients and finances.https://t.co/tfiZJF13Hf
Maybe it’s time you stop the senseless boycotts, David. https://t.co/ZYJrGVmeFl
— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) May 23, 2018
https://twitter.com/DanielElordi23/status/999343349839605765
Can’t wait to see your mugshot when you’re arrested https://t.co/efuz5bDNJb
— Eric Salomon (@ericssalomon) May 24, 2018
https://twitter.com/Anthvac/status/999693724396457985
Publix has nothing to do with your school shooting. Interrupting a place of work because your fame has gotten to your damn head is insane. The employees have mouths to feed. If you had a job you'd know how it feels to have your work interrupted by hooligans https://t.co/yRAkvZfslm
— Dragonwolf (@DragonofWolves) May 24, 2018
Lay off my Pubsubs and take a lap junior https://t.co/xcRo9sdrtD
— Matt Luber (@Lubes11) May 24, 2018
I’d run you all over with my shopping cart on my way to get @Publix delicious subs https://t.co/asuP13N1Mv
— Logan (@LReger15) May 24, 2018
I always find the best way to enact change is to lie down on the floor of a private business. https://t.co/pXwwOppp1l
— Sara Gonzales (@SaraGonzalesTX) May 24, 2018
https://twitter.com/TurtleboyNews/status/999468511083876352
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The longest-tenured writer at BizPac Review, Tom grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills.
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