Times newsman spots man with ponytail at Whole Foods
August 23rd, 2009 by Cliff Bostock in NewsThe “Prescriptions” blog of the New York Times reported on the Whole Foods brouhaha yesterday. More than 25,000 people have joined a boycott group on Facebook because of CEO John Mackey’s op-ed opposing government-financed health insurance. (The group now has its own website, WholeBoycott.com.)
Kevin Sack, who lives in Atlanta and is Southern Bureau chief for the Times, visited the Midtown Ponce de Leon store and reported the following on the “Prescriptions” blog.:
At a Whole Foods store in midtown Atlanta on Thursday, there seemed to be little awareness of the boycott, although employees said some customers had commented about it.
“I’ve had a few to come in and say I don’t agree with his point of view,” said one cashier, “but they’re still here, so….”
Another cashier said one of her customers had announced herself as an “anti-boycotter,” saying she was shopping there specifically to support Mr. Mackey’s views.
As they loaded their groceries into a green Volvo, Carl and Sharon Gentry said they had not heard of the boycott until asked about it by a reporter (sorry about that, Whole Foods).
“I’m going to go into management right now and tell them I disagree and that we’re going to see that people not shop here,” said Mr. Gentry, 54, sporting a gray ponytail.
“I’m just going to have to stop buying,” said his wife. “But they have good meat, that’s the problem, and good fish.”
Other shoppers were not nearly so passionate. “In my opinion, a boycott is stupid because you’re going to cost the people who work here their jobs,” said Katrina Drlik, 27. “People have a right to their own opinion.”
Obviously, you’re going to get a mainly predictable opinion if you ask people shopping at Whole Foods if they support a boycott of it. Oh, and I love the mention of Mr. Gentry’s ponytail. I’m sure Mr. Sack didn’t mean to stereotype anyone.
August 23rd, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Put me in the list of shoppers who is purchasing MORE OFTEN at Whole Foods due to Mr. Mackey’s article.
August 23rd, 2009 at 10:45 pm
Couldn’t agree more Travis. It’s refreshing to hear someone at such a high level speak his mind. 70% of the country feels the same way.
August 24th, 2009 at 12:18 am
Cliff – he also said someone was driving a green Volvo. Is that not stereotyping too? Or is it the good kind?
August 24th, 2009 at 9:42 am
@Jason Szelest
I’m not sure where you’re getting your numbers from (though I’m assuming FOX News).
In fact, per the June ‘09 NBC/WSJ poll linked below, 55% of Americans support Obama’s plan, 35% oppose it, 10% are unsure/”depends” (see question 32).
Did you pull that 70% number out of your ass or would you care to support it with a citation?
http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/sections/news/090617_NBC-WSJ_poll_Full.pdf
August 24th, 2009 at 10:44 am
Drew,
First, simply calling something “Fox News” doesn’t make it incorrect, especially when your link goes to an equally biased MSNBC. Second, using a poll from two months ago is misleading at best, dishonest at worst. A little Google action and you can find August results of the same poll in The Atlantic (hardly a bastion of pro-conservative rhetoric) that shows only 36% of Americans think that the current plan is a ‘Good Idea’ (42% think it’s a Bad Idea & 16% aren’t sure). So it’s not the 70% mentioned earlier, but it’s hardly a clear winner with the public.
All that said, I can’t imagine why the leadership of Whole Foods would ever say something like this. I admire their courage, but alienating a significant portion of your customer base in the middle of a recession doesn’t strike me as terribly prudent.
August 24th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Travis and Jason, you must be deranged psychopaths. Stop drinking the FOX News kool aid and getting manipulated and brainwashed. Health care costs are going to bring this country down if we don’t do something about it. I guess that’s okay with Republicans as long as their stock options in Blue Cross Blue Shield don’t tank.
August 24th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
@DecaturRobbie
The poll I linked to was commissioned by NBC News (not MSNBC, which is merely the site hosting the poll) and the Wall Street Journal (which is owned by News Corp) and performed by Hart/McInturff.
You’re correct that I was looking at an outdated poll and I appreciate you pointing me to the link to the updated August poll (http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/MSNBC/Sections/NEWS/NBC-WSJ_Poll.pdf).
While I see (question 7a) that your numbers are correct (36% “Good Idea”, 42% “Bad Idea”) you’ll notice that the question merely says “From what you’ve heard about Barack Obama’s healthcare plan…”. If you look down to question 12 though, which actually spells out the details of the proposed plan, you’ll see that 53% “Favor” it while 43% “Oppose” it. While not a mandate, the majority of the electorate (or at least the polling sample) still support Obama’s reforms, as long as you don’t refer to it as “Obama’s reforms”.
Nonetheless, I appreciate you making a reasoned response with data to support your assertions and agree that, regardless of Mackey’s personal opinions, it was a pretty boneheaded move to make from a business perspective.
August 24th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
I think it is funny as a business owner and someone who works part-time…I do not have health insurance due to the HIGH cost. I do believe people have every right to say what they think and I have a right to choose where I shop.
I am enjoying returning to Dekalb Farmer’s Market. Yes it is a little out of the way but the prices are so much better!
August 25th, 2009 at 1:14 am
Jill,
Perhaps you should educate yourself a little better before you speak. Blue Cross/Blue Shield is a non-profit organization. No politician nor anyone else has “stock options” there.
I wonder who has been manipulated and brainwashed here?
August 25th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Buy your own damn Health Care like the rest of us!
August 26th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
I’ve shopped at Whole Foods maybe four times, mainly because I forget it’s even there and shop where I normally go.
Mr. Mackey has gained a more frequent customer in me. I’ll remember Whole Foods now and make it a point to shop there more often.