You know, you’d think that after the Bud Light fiasco and the massive push-back Target received over their controversial child-themed transgender merch and association with a clothing designer who has used satanic imagery to “make a point” about alleged anti-LGBTQ “hate” that the struggling retailer would have learned that wading into the culture wars was not a good idea from a business standpoint.
But in another one we can file under “lessons not learned,” conservative commentator Mark Levin announced on his Twitter feed Wednesday that his publisher had been alerted by Target that they would not be selling his upcoming book “The Democrat Party Hates America” in their stores when it was released in September on grounds that some of their customers would be rattled by the book cover:
“Target has informed my publisher, Simon & Schuster, that it will not carry my new book when it is released on September 19. It claims that certain customers might be offended by the title. Imagine that! So, the corporatist leftwing censorship begins. I will discuss this in more detail on this evening’s radio show. However, I’d like to encourage you to go to http://Amazon.com and pre-order your discounted copies. Let’s send a big message and drive pre-order sales way up on Amazon’s list. Thank you!”
Prominent Republican politicos like Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) responded accordingly to the news and in the process helped amplify Levin’s tweet all the more, prompting more outcry in conservative circles.
In response, Target appears to have backed down, issuing a statement noting that they were initially concerned about the word “hate” being used but would be stocking it in stores anyway:
“We’ve been offering this book for pre-sale since mid-June. As we have with Mark Levin’s past books, many of which are currently available for sale at Target, we’ll offer his newest title for sale when it is available on September 19,” a spokesperson for Target told Fox News Digital. “The use of the word ‘hate’ in the title caused our team to reach out to the publisher, but as stated, we are continuing to offer this book for pre-sale now and it will be available for sale on its release date. We regret any confusion this situation caused.”
Levin declared victory in the aftermath, praising his supporters for their commitment to “free speech and market capitalism,” and correctly pointing out that the “silent majority is silent no longer”:
“Target just informed my publisher that it has reversed course and will be taking my new book in its stores upon its release.
You folks are an immense force for free speech and market capitalism, and conservative authors and audiences everywhere will benefit from your patriotism. I could not be more proud of you — not only for how this specific case turned out, as there will undoubtedly be more of this — but because you’ve made it clear that you’ve had enough and will exercise your enormous power. The silent majority is silent no longer. I’ll more fully discuss this on radio. God bless and I thank and salute you all.”
Levin’s book will of course also be available at other retailers when it comes out on Sept. 19th, for anyone who prefers to shop elsewhere. Just sayin’.
Flashback: Christian MLB Player Releases Hostage-Style Video After Fauxfending LGBTQ Outrage Machine