The American Spectator

home
ADVERTISEMENT
RSS Feed
search
ADVERTISEMENT
The Largest Selection of Liberal-baiting Merchandise on the Net!
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Print Email

AmSpecBlog

Time to Shop at Whole Foods?

By on 8.14.09 @ 12:21PM

My eating habits are pretty simple--and awful, so I just shop at the closest supermarket.  But opponents of a government health care takeover might want to consider dropping by Whole Foods.  It seems that some advocates of nationalized medicine are boycotting the store after its CEO, John Mackey, wrote an article for the Wall Street Journal opposing Obamacare.

Reports ABC News:

Joshua has been taking the bus to his local Whole Foods in New York City every five days for the past two years. This week, he said he'll go elsewhere to fulfill his fresh vegetable and organic produce needs.

"I will never shop there again," vowed Joshua, a 45-year-old blogger, who asked that his last name not be published.

Like many of his fellow health food fanatics, Joshua said he will no longer patronize the store after learning about Whole Foods Market Inc.'s CEO John Mackey's views on health care reform, which were made public this week in an op-ed piece he wrote for The Wall Street Journal.

Michael Lent, another Whole Foods enthusiast in Long Beach, Calif., told ABCNews.com that he, too, will turn to other organic groceries for his weekly shopping list.

"I'm boycotting [Whole Foods] because all Americans need health care," said Lent, 33, who used to visit his local Whole Foods "several times a week."

"While Mackey is worried about health care and stimulus spending, he doesn't seem too worried about expensive wars and tax breaks for the wealthy and big businesses such as his own that contribute to the deficit," said Lent.

In his op-ed, "The Whole Foods Alternative to ObamaCare," published Tuesday, Mackey criticized President Barack Obama's health care plan.

With Wal Mart providing the famous "stab in the back" by supporting health care "reform" in order to gain an advantage over some of its competitors, it is good to see at least one company stand on principle.

Comments

Pete| 8.14.09 @ 12:46PM

"While Mackey is worried about health care and stimulus spending, he doesn't seem too worried about expensive wars and tax breaks for the wealthy and big businesses such as his own that contribute to the deficit," said Lent.

A tax break for big business contributes to the deficit? Oh, I get it...businesss should pay more so the government can spend more...if they give the goverment less but the government spends at the same level, the deficit goes up. Those evil, dastardly businesses!

This is hilarious on many fronts...what a conundrum for the elitist hippies near where I live. Like Obama, where will they get their arugula?

Layla| 8.14.09 @ 12:55PM

I WILL be shopping at Whole Foods from now on.

Solo| 8.14.09 @ 1:24PM

Do they sell steak?

I like mine thick and bloody!

Pete| 8.14.09 @ 1:44PM

They have good stuff, but it is ridiculously overpriced. And the store near me is always (I only stomach going once a year to buy fresh, raw tuna) filled with the worst kinds of smelly, elitist hippies carrying their canvas shopping bags and exuding smugness at their "organic" purchases. That is why this is so hilarious...these freaks will be torn between their green, organic hippiness and the fact that the guy who is gouging them for their coveted "environmentally friendly" goods is a conservative capitalist (imagine that...a capitalist as a business owner). This works in my favor, though, in that I will have more room in the parking lot...usually have to squeeze the SUV in between Toyota Piouses.

Ryon| 10.19.09 @ 9:26PM

Do you get off bashing people who simply like to avoid damaging their bodies? Pete, you call these people "smelly and elitist hippies." You don't think that sounds a bit over-indulgent and well stupidly ignorant? Get over yourself sad little person. And really clever with the Toyota Piouses. I bet you were playing with yourself over that one.

Aaron| 8.14.09 @ 4:35PM

Lefty liberals probably have no idea how many times they walk into a conservative owned store. Unlike their kind, we don't flaunt the politics in the store because were out to make money. To think of how many businesses I either haven't considered or refuse to go to anymore because of their in your face political views. My wife's business for example is completely politically neutral to customers. Our customers would typically fall into a liberal leaning crowd and it would be ridiculous to put GOP links on our website or use our business name for endorsements. I see liberal establishments doing this kind of stuff very frequently, it obviously speaks to their holier than thou attitude.

JB| 8.14.09 @ 4:38PM

So I guess the Lefties will head over to Wal-mart?

Let them eat crow!

Carolynp| 8.14.09 @ 6:05PM

I have been trying to switch my family to organic in order to support more small businesses in our area (very rural area...). I think you would be surprised at how many folks in the organic business are anti-Democrat now. When it became apparent that the Dems are wholesale the property of large agg interests, the organic movement (along with small farmers) was one of the first sold down the river. Rep Schraeder in Oregon is a big pharm trust fund baby (Pfeizer), AND the biggest donor to his re-election so far is the sugar lobby (how many sugar plantations do think there are in the Pacific Northwest?) The dems are aware that he will have an uphill battle.

William R| 8.14.09 @ 6:41PM

I'm a regular at Whole Foods for their beef, seafood, pork, chicken and fresh produce. They also have a great wine selection. It has a very mixed crowd. Lots of elite liberals, but also lost of well dressed blue haired women in the produce department fighting over tomatoes. I love their dry aged beef. Great steaks!

Eric Dondero| 8.14.09 @ 9:01PM

Bandow, your "Ron Paulian" isolationist Pro-Islamo-Fascist views on foreign policy absolutely suck.

But on economics and cultural matters, you're pretty solid.

(It simply amazes me how someone like you can be soooo good on economic issues, and sooooo bad on foreign policy).

Anyway, I gave you a link and a nice write up over at Libertarian Republican for this fine piece.

Stick to economics (and cultural matters), Bandow. Your intelligence shines through on these two subjects, unlike your utter ignorance on Defense matters.

Eric Dondero, Publisher
Libertarian Republican

Pkane| 8.15.09 @ 1:59AM

Hahaha, this indeed beautiful. How does the leftist mind even begin to comprehend that an evil right winger is the only source in town for their free trade coffee, organic whatnots and save the whales corn flakes? What's a commie to do? Go to a regular chain and line the evil pockets of United Fruit?

Sounds to me like the Grocery System is outdated. Organic food sold at outrageous prices, just to line the pockets of a rightwing junta? Meanwhile working families, deprived of their right to wheatgrass and flax powder, push broken carts through the filthy aisles of C-Town, tricked by bright colors and cartoons into spending their hard earned foodstamps on brand name cereals.

I think we need to scrap this broken system for a National Food Service, where all Americans enjoy their right to healthy, happy, equal meals from the local ObamaMart. Or, better yet, extend Meals on Wheels to all citizens! No more confusion over what's for dinner, no more uninformed, high fat, inhumane dietary choices. Instead Secretary Gibbs will announce the nation's vegan menu selections each morning at the White House press briefing.

Pingback| 8.15.09 @ 9:48AM

Boycott Obamacare. Girlcott Whole Foods! links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…(say, Mr. Mackey) managed to secure legislation that obliges you to shop at Whole Foods? I await your reply. Donald J. Boudreaux …….. Doug Bandow, at the American Spectator blog, proposes that opponents of Obamacare do the opposite of boycotting Whole Foods — that is, go out of our way to shop at Whole Foods.  The Boudreaux family is in!  (But a question is raised.  What’s the opposite of…

Cathy| 8.15.09 @ 4:49PM

I love the comments from the conservatives who say they're going to shop at Whole Foods to support this guy. No, you're not. Once you walk into the place and don't see Twinkies and other junk food, you'll waddle on out. : )

There are other stores I can shop at for organic fruits and veggies and other healthy foods, such as Trader Joe's and Wild Oats.

Juan C. de Cardenas| 8.15.09 @ 5:11PM

"There are other stores I can shop at for organic fruits and veggies and other healthy foods, such as Trader Joe's and Wild Oats."
Cathy, Wild Oats was bought by Whole Foods so your choice is down to one, just don't research too much into the owners of Trader Joe's, you might find out your only option will be your own home garden.
BTW I am a conservative who shops at Whole Foods whenever it fancies me, there is plenty of junk food there (candy and similar stuff is not less junk because is made, or so they say, with organic ingredients). I laugh at much of the attitude of Whole Foods and its regular customers but hey I am glad they have their choice. If they, you included, would respect mine it would be nice, but you rather not.
ObamaCare is not about providing for the uninsured but about limiting choice in health care for everybody except for the very rich and the politically connected.

Cathy| 8.15.09 @ 5:56PM

Juan, who is disrespecting your choice? I'm not telling you where to shop!

"ObamaCare is not about providing for the uninsured but about limiting choice in health care for everybody except for the very rich and the politically connected."

No, it's about providing health care for the uninsured and EXPANDING choices for others. The Republican politicians who receive huge donations from the health insurance industry (whose political donations heavily favor the GOP) eagerly distort and even lie about the contents of Obama's proposed plan because they don't want to lose their funding.

And thank you for telling me about Wild Oats...they haven't changed the sign at the one near me yet. :) There are many independent stores I can buy quality food from besides Trader Joe's...perhaps it's time to start showing more support for small businesses.

Sign me...ex-Republican and ex-conservative who saw the light many, many years ago.

Patti| 8.18.09 @ 12:44PM

I love the prejudging liberals who think that all conservatives eat junk food and are fat... so telling...

KathyDe| 8.19.09 @ 10:47PM

I've never been in a Whole Foods store in my life. Elitist, liberal hippies are not my thing. But with the CEO's stand that there is another way(s) of fixing the cost of health care (tort reform being one of the best), I will take my babybooming, conservative self into the closest Whole Foods tomorrow. What lack of intelligence for the liberal masses to believe that one would have to pander to obama and his elitest minions' version of healthcare reform as the only solution.

YourIntellectualSuperior| 8.19.09 @ 11:22PM

Geez, Cathy, are you sure the light you saw wasn't a UFO? Because, honey, you're out there!
[it's about providing health care for the uninsured and EXPANDING choices for others. The Republican politicians who receive huge donations from the health insurance industry (whose political donations heavily favor the GOP) eagerly distort and even lie about the contents of Obama's proposed plan because they don't want to lose their funding. ]
Okay, 'expanding choices for others? You clearly have not read the Bill. I have. You are so wrong, there has never been a more wrong in human history. Tell you what, Cathy, read the damn Bill for yourself (you can read, right?) and then come back to this blog and comment. You know what they say, "better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt".

YourIntellectualSuperior| 8.19.09 @ 11:46PM

Oh, I forgot to mention, Cathy, that I am a Conservative, I grow my own vegetables and raise chickens for eggs. My husband has a f/t job and now sells firewood p/t because his other job(janitorial; but don't read anything into this, you pre-judging liberal, you, because he is a college graduate with a BS in biology) was given to a "team" of Hispanics (I'm SURE they were legal, although several of them could not speak English). I am disabled, which is why my husband works 2 jobs. I do what I can though, and I try to take care of myself. I am 5'8.5" and a size 4. You?
I also wanted to correct you: [Republican politicians who receive huge donations from the health insurance industry (whose political donations heavily favor the GOP) -- AIG is the biggest, and they're in the tank for Obama; AARP sponsors the biggest supplemental insurance plan for seniors and THEY are in the tank for Obama (although after 65K seniors canceled their memberships, they have now gone neutral) -- surely you must watch SOME news! Now, add to that big Pharma (in fact, Axelrod is getting rich doing their pro-government-option TV ads. But I'm sure there is a totally ethical explanation...), and the AMA is behind a government option (this has been on TV, too), and all groups donated to the Democrats more than 2:1 Republicans. So, what the hell are you talking about, woman? Please provide some relevant facts with your ridiculous rants -- right now you sound as intelligent as a box of hair.

threadingwater| 8.21.09 @ 10:58AM

I LOVE the comments from people who now claim they will be shopping at Whole Foods. Please, do it. You'll be lining the pockets of the Dems with every dollar you spend there.
Don't believe me? Check out their corporate political contribution history and choke on your new-found fondness for organic hummus.

Michael| 8.31.09 @ 12:52AM

If Whole Foods contributes more to the Democrats and Democrats are the ones boycotting Whole Foods on the basis that they disagree with John Mackey's coming out against Obama's Health care proposal, isn't this like shooting yourself in the foot?

It's kind of like saying, "thanks for supporting so many of our causes but since you don't support this one we are going to hurt you. Aren't Democrats just showing their true colors?

uggboots| 9.2.09 @ 3:58AM

ugg boots sale
Classic Short Ugg Boots

uggboots| 9.2.09 @ 3:58AM

ugg bailey button boots
Classic Tall Ugg Boots

Leave a Comment

ADVERTISEMENT

AmSpecBlog

The Road Ahead in the Health Care Battle

Philip Klein

* * * *

In Sum, IPCC Discredited

Paul Chesser

* * * *

Blanche Lincoln Gives Reid Needed Votes to Advance Bill

Philip Klein

* * * *

Landrieu Says She’ll Vote to Advance Health Care Bill

Philip Klein

* * * *

That Dangerous Radical . . . Marvin Olasky?

Robert Stacy McCain

* * * *

Elsewhere in the Enviro-Activist Mediasphere

Paul Chesser

* * * *

Forget the Committees

Greg Scandlen

* * * *

Reid Disses David Broder

Philip Klein

* * * *

New Articles

Moment of Truth

W. James Antle, III

* * * *

No Sales Days in the Afghan War

George H. Wittman

* * * *

Bureaucrats With Badges

Mark Hyman

* * * *

Obama in Wonderland

Ken Blackwell

* * * *

A Writer Speaks

William Tucker

* * * *

What Has Changed?

Robert P. Kirchhoefer

* * * *

High Stakes

Manon McKinnon

* * * *

Bowing to No One

* * * *
ADVERTISEMENT
Home| About| Advertise| Donate| Privacy Policy| Contact
Copyright 2008, The American Spectator