One of the key non-violent weapons we have at our disposal as activists beyond letter-writing is economic pressure. Open Secrets (www.opensecrets.org) has provided outstanding research to illuminate campaign financing by the following businesses.   We recommended, where possible, discontinuing the use of any consumer products available through these companies, and their subsidiaries. We also recommend writing to their Consumer Relations and Board of Directors. A template letter is below, with help from David Dixon/Charlotte Coordinator of the Fellowship Of Reconciliation .

We also strongly recommend the boycott of Clear Channel-owned media, Fox News and MSNBC for their recent hiring of hate-monger Michael Savage.

The following is campaign contribution research from Open Secrets.  It depicts companies and their contribution profiles for the 2000 and 2002 elections.

LEGEND:  Republican   Democrat   On the fence

Rank	Organization Name	Total	Contribution Tilt 1989-2002 Cycles	Contribution Tilt 2001/2002 Only
5	Philip Morris	$19,774,738
7	American Medical Assn	$19,483,754
19	United Parcel Service	$15,141,468
20	National Auto Dealers Assn	$15,055,085
23	National Rifle Assn	$13,603,744
25	National Assn of Home Builders	$13,236,922
28	FedEx Corp	$12,126,736
29	Verizon Communications	$11,447,240
32	National Beer Wholesalers Assn	$10,907,645
33	Microsoft Corp	$10,549,481
34	Ernst & Young	$10,515,230
37	Lockheed Martin	$10,452,495
38	RJR Nabisco/RJ Reynolds Tobacco	$10,395,722
40	Blue Cross/Blue Shield	$9,959,744
41	American Institute of CPAs	$9,872,592
42	National Assn of Insurance & Financial Advisors	$9,839,555
47	Union Pacific Corp	$9,143,133
51	Morgan Stanley	$8,902,089
52	Deloitte & Touche	$8,805,416
53	AFLAC Inc	$8,764,080
55	Merrill Lynch	$8,608,669
57	MBNA Corp	$8,499,634
58	PricewaterhouseCoopers	$8,498,674
60	ChevronTexaco	$8,380,571
61	American Financial Group	$8,274,613
62	UST Inc	$8,059,872
65	Archer Daniels Midland	$7,763,964
67	Walt Disney Co	$7,538,058
70	Pfizer Inc	$7,369,574
72	General Motors	$7,227,082
75	Amway Corp	$7,048,754
77	American International Group	$6,708,436
79	Enron Corp	$6,504,266
80	Credit Suisse First Boston	$6,345,911
82	Southern Co	$6,307,434
83	CSX Corp	$6,193,520
85	Bristol-Myers Squibb	$6,146,802
89	Andersen	$6,055,134
90	GlaxoSmithKline	$6,031,730
93	Eli Lilly & Co	$5,982,589
95	National Restaurant Assn	$5,894,417
96	American Council of Life Insurers	$5,890,903
97	Associated General Contractors	$5,862,984
100	Exxon Mobil Corp	$4,753,805

Based on data released by the FEC on Wednesday, March 05, 2003.

Boycott Letter Template (Thank you to David Dixon/Charlotte Coordinator Fellowship Of Reconciliation)

The Director of Consumer Relations
Address
City, State ZIP

Re: Boycott of *

In the past I have enjoyed your products. Nevertheless, your company has provided the Republican party, and the current Administration substantial campaign funding. This is an Administration that has acted with aggression and barbarism toward the World community maintaining a foreign policy that can be summarized as "Let them hate us as long as they fear us".

Furthermore, since this Administration assumed power, over 2.6 Million jobs have been lost in America. Is your Corporation unconcerned with the diminishing ability of the American public to consume your products ?  Will tax cuts that might be realized by the most affluent and small percentage of America offset your loss of revenue ? As more Americans must go without health insurance, while this administration continues to focus on military aggression, more disposable income (that might otherwise have been used to purchase your product) will be spent on medical care.  As to our future, as state governments accelerate toward bankruptcy, thus endangering the funding of education, schools and vital social programs, will the future consumer of America have enough income to purchase your products ?

If your corporate advertising campaign centerpiece were arrested, or was involved in questionable activity, how long would you continue to run a promotion built around them ? That being said, does your corporation have any concerns about the relationship of this Administration and Enron and Halliburton executives ? We consumers do.

Therefore, by the time you receive this letter, and until such a time that you cease expending funds to a political party that is seriously damaging the country that I love, I will no longer consume your products and I will be letting all of my friends, family and associates know about your contributions to the Republican party.

I am not boycotting American companies, just the Republican-party supporters.  I will continue to purchase from American companies who contribute to morally-responsible organizations.


Sincerely,

Concerned Citizen
Address
City, State ZIP