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Clean-up on Aisle 6: Hogg & Co. Staging a Publix 'Die-In'

May 25, 2018 - 6:00am

From the sublime to the ridiculous, David Hogg, Parkland's most prominent media fixture, has a doozie of a stunt planned for us on Friday.

The young man, a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School during the Feb. 14 deadly shooting, apparently has the promise of media attention. That can be the only explanation.

Initially, Hogg called for just a boycott of Publix (he mentioned getting his chocolate chip muffins elsewhere). Maybe he thought the boycott idea was being ignored. After all, in spite of quotes to the contrary, shoppers still show they love the Lakeland-based supermarket chain and Publix officials never stopped donating money to gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam. Putnam, remember, had the audacity to call himself "a proud NRA sellout."

Well, now Hogg has racheted up his anti-NRA/anti-Publix vitriol, and he's called for a "die-in." That's what happens Friday. A die-in. Have a look at his call to action. He wants students and activists to stage die-ins starting at 4 p.m. for 12 minutes inside Parkland's two Publix stores.

Others can join in, too, says Hogg. All they have to do is pick out a Publix, go in and hit the floor.

"I don't know whether to laugh or throw up," said Donald Klein, a high school senior in St. Lucie County, when he read Hogg's Twitter announcement.

The rise of this fabricated outrage came from the Tampa Bay Times, which detailed the backing of Putnam by the giant grocer, which also happens to be the state's largest employer.

Kids lying on the floor tantrum-style when they don't get something they want: As if Publix and its customers have never seen that before. This involvement of the Parkland activist has of course generated other attention-grabbing, pseudo activists. News reports have circulated of people claiming to be lifelong Publix customers who declare they will never shop at the stores again.

Really? Anybody believe that?

It is rather likely these folks are spouting balloon juice, and will be back to nabbing BoGo items by next month. If they were, in fact, so politically active about their produce providers, they would have curtailed their patronage of the chain decades ago. The company has been supporting Congressman and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam since 1996, not because of his Second Amendment stance, but because Putnam’s home district is where the Publix corporate headquarters is based, and because supermarket officials believe in his leadership for Florida. 

Hopefully, Publix will continue to show its class and will not back away from Putnam.

This is where we are in contemporary America: Everything has to be politicized, and even the products on the shelves carry a party bias that must be exposed. Taking the ridiculousness to the extreme, what is a shopper to do when faced with a consumer paradox? Look at Roku boxes, for instance. They were targeted for not removing the NRA TV channel, but they also carry HULU, which boycotted the Laura Ingraham show over comments about Hogg. Do I support or boycott HULU? 

As the “news” first broke last week, the company issued this statement through a spokesman: “As the hometown candidate, Publix has had a long-standing relationship with Commissioner Putnam. We support pro-business candidates, and believe Commissioner Putnam will make a great governor.” 

This has done little to quell the flashy media reports. As more customers are quoted in editorials, or trotted out in front of the 6 O'Clock News cameras, the store chain has been compelled to come forward with additional comments. “We regret that some of our political contributions have led to an unintentional customer divide instead of our desire to support a growing economy in Florida. ... As a result of this situation, we are evaluating our processes to ensure that our giving better reflects our intended desire to support a strong economy and a healthy community.”

Honestly, the company needn’t worry too much about appeasing its customer base. While Hogg has been a media darling, with the press hanging on his every utterance (as informed, or ignorant as those may be), he has proven himself to be the opposite of a motivational force. In spite of the fawning media, his calls for action have largely yielded reaction.

Since ramping up his gun control prolix, the months of March and April saw gun sales, permit applications, and donations to the NRA swell to higher levels, some in record amounts. His ballyhooed advertiser boycott of the Laura Ingraham program resulted in her enjoying a spike in her ratings, and many advertisers returning to her show. 

Hogg also called for investors to drop the investment management corporations Blackrock Inc., and The Vanguard Group, because they had holdings in gun manufacturers. Both firms had no comment about the boycott -- largely because the 18-year-old investment guru is driving up gun sales and benefitting  the portfolios of those firms.

Media cameras will be out Friday. We'll see how it goes.

Brad Slager, a Fort Lauderdale freelance writer, wrote this piece exclusively for Sunshine State News. Slager writes on politics and the entertainment industry and his stories appear in such publications as RedState and The Federalist.


READ MORE FROM SUNSHINE STATE NEWS

David Hogg, Accidental Champion of Gun Interests

Commission Set to Begin Parkland Probe

Comments

Oh my goodness, I guess I mistook your comment "Trumper" as a good thing. By the way, it is a good thing. When will you and those kids realize that they are simply actors prompted by whoever is supporting them. Their right to free speech was won by defensive use of weapons and zeal. Our forefathers knew that if they were stripped of their weapons (whichever they were able to get) that they would then be stripped of their rights to free assemble, their right to the results of their work product, their right to land ownership, their right to employ themselves at something in their developed talent range and other rights that we enjoy today. We do not have the right to strip people of their defenses no matter what we think of the power, intention or strength of those defenses. As for defenses at schools, it is more simply done with secure fencing, barricade and entry systems as well as allowing armed personnel (screened for sanity, perhaps, but shouldn't all teachers be screened for "sanity"?) Didn't you learn in kindergarten that cowering to the bullies will only get you bullied even more? What we have is an imbalance in our society which has been building due to an entitlement mentality combined with toxic medications touted as the answers to behaviour problems and lack of complete nutrients which lead to disturbances. However, this is nothing new. It is only increased in recent years due the the above. So, keep your guns. Watch the entrances. Get off all "medications" and find a natural way. Get out of the toxic lighting and blue screens; get full sunshine in morning and afternoon; eat real food that you grow or at least cook yourself; drink non-fluoridated water (fluoridated water causes thyroid problems which leads to weight problems which leads to more problems which lead to more medications which lead to more side effects which lead to more pain which lead to more medication and misery which leads to stress and less money and more reliance on others and reliance on government which leads to entrappment into a lifestyle that you are frustrated in. Don't drink the water.) ... develop your uniqued talents, share your talent and forever be grateful. I support gun ownership.

WELL STATED. MY QUESTION IS: IS A PERMIT REQUIRED TO HAVE A PROTEST? IF SO, WHO WOULD ISSUE A PERMIT TO PROTEST INSIDE PUBLIX? WHERE I LIVE, IN GA, A PERMIT IS REQUIRED BEFORE A GROUP CAN PROTEST. THIS IS KNOW BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH A FEW GOOD INTENTIONED PROTEST. RULES WERE LAYED DOWN AND WHEN ONE DECIDED TO BREAK THE RULE OFF TO JAIL THEY WENT TO SIT UNTIL THEY COULD APPEAR BEFORE A JUDGE FOR PAIL, ETC. IS FLA DIFFERENT....NO PERMIT REQUIRED. WHY WERE THESE KIDS NOT ARRESTED, BUT ALLOWED TO BEHAVE AS HTHEY DID. I THINK I MIGHT HAVE SPILLED SOME WATER ON THEM AS I WAS SHOPPING. I AM OFFENDED BY WHAT THEY DID. AND IT WILL NOT STOP HERE.PUBLIX HAS BEEN BULLIED, OR ELSE THEY WERE TRYING TO AVOID GIVING PUBLICITY TO THESE KIDS. HARD CHOICE FOR PUBLIX.

Amen sister!!!! MAGA Let’s do some common sense things like metal detectors and more armed police at schools!!!! That gun -free zone sign isn’t working very well! Poor brainwashed snowflakes think taking guns is the answer! Misguided shills!

Hogg is an attention wh*re.

You must be a trumper with gun

Suzy, To bad you don't realize that 90% of the time shootings are committed by crazy and deranged demoncrats, liberals,me too movement losers, and crybabies like yourself. You do know guns were around before Trump right?

Poor thing, you cannot have a discussion without name calling? Trump is the best thing that happened to this country since Reagan! God bless him and his family!

Suzy you appear to have a bad case of TDR (Trump Derangement Syndrome). Have you considered suicide? For the good of the country please take it under advisement

Harry you are a sad excuse for a man. Your answer to someone you disagree with is wishing death on someone. You are pathetic.

WHAT ????? I get assaulted everyday for being a conservative by people like her. Typical liberals.

You are an evil and stupid person.you don’t understand the difference between standing up for your beliefs or sitting around waiting for it to happen again. What is a media *** anyway?

Has anyone else noticed how fast the FBI's blame switched to the NRA? The FBI failed to respond to request that Cruz was going to something drastic at school. The FBI admitted fault but yet Hogg, whose father was with the FBI, is sucked up by anti-gun nuts and all of a sudden it's the NRA's fault. I also think the parents that blame the NRA are afraid of being blamed for being a BAD parent. Some know they have kids that bully, some know they pumped their kids with ADHD drugs and some just don't like guns but that's an opinion. Guns don't get up and shoot by themselves. This last killer had 3 different types of IED's planted in the school. So Instead of listening to left wing nut jobs, you should be finding out what is making kids want to kill kids. BTW, those of you that attend this Hogg fest might end up in jail because if you don't leave when requested by management, you can be arrested and removed by force..

It's pretty clear why our children are now shooting up schools! God has been thrown out of every public school! When you have no influence of God on children the other influence is from Satan! We kicked God off our campuses so now Satan has full control! When I attended hifh school in 1970 it was common practice to see students trucks on campus with rifles and shotguns hanging in the truck back window! Schools were pro gun zones! Students then had no evil heart to kill their classmates! Our nation has abandoned God! We are reaping what we sowed folks! It won't get better but worse until we repent and turn this Nation back to God! Psalm 9:17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

check your facts dude... Hogg's dad has not worked for the FBI in years, which by the way is run by Repubs...

Thats why those democrats (you call them republicans) cover for hillary and her evil deeds. Wake up fool.

Thats why those democrats (you call them republicans) cover for hillary and her evil deeds. Wake up fool.

Thats why those democrats (you call them republicans) cover for hillary and her evil deeds. Wake up fool.

The fact that you pick out the least important part of my comment tells me you are not worth an answer.

The FBI was NOT run by Republicans but Democrats ..and that is why they are now having issues with corruption!

David Hogg is a classic example of what's wrong in America -- young people who think they should be able to stomp their feet, scream outrageous demands, and get what they want because they want it. Mr. Hogg's self-love and self-importance is wearing thin on America. The more extreme he gets, the more people will ignore him. Mr. Hogg may buy his chocolate chip muffins elsewhere but people who actually buy groceries will still be shopping at Publix -- just like me and other adults who aren't moved by these childish antics. If Publix blinks, they deserve what they get. Publix only loses me if they cave to this foolish extortion.

Hogg should just eat his chocolate chip muffin and go away!

The store manager should have him arrested for criminal trespass! Publix is private property. Hogg child should be taught a lesson!

First Putman called himself a Proud NRA Sellout. Interesting you didn't actually quote him, why?...……………. Scared how bad it sounds!!…………….. Typical of fake news. And no mention he is attacking women too with backing the heartbeat abortion bill which is clearly unconstitutional...…………. That Publics would back such a person shows they have little morals they claim they have...…….And I use to like Putnam as a decent moderate man until about 5 yrs ago he turned into a far right panderer, hater of decent people, women just to get elected...…………. Vs Charlie Crist which started out as a rightwing panderer but grew into being a decent person for all the people...…….. But Putman's story is the sad story of the republican party digging it's hole to die in from hate...……….. And going to make Putman easier to beat, just quote him............See you in November!! ;^)

Charlie Christ a decent person? He left the Republican party because he couldn't win a primary. He belongs to you democrats because all he cares about is himself like the rest of the The DNC. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2014/05/08/charlie-crist-didnt-leave-the-republican-party-because-of-racism-he-left-it-because-he-couldnt-win-a-primary/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.68febf9efaac

Did I really need to quote Putnam's words Jerry? The appearance of David Hogg would tip off to most people this is entirely about guns. But strong work sussing out that I was hiding that central fact in my piece...about a gun protest...I suppose?

Off your meds again jerry?

I stand for “”””Publix Friday “”””

Amen! Buy in on Friday. Buy pork, not Hogg.

Remember the old "down home" adage: "Pigs eat, and Hoggs are slaughtered"... (This is much ado about a nearly nothing, 18 year old [as yet to be] fully formed juvenile mind,...hopefully...) < OINK ! ! > to the 'bleating' sheep ! ! !

"NRA" ('N'o-'R'esponse-'A'dvised) to these "piggish" juvenile undertakings... Ignore this newly contrived, juvenile version, of "militarized" 1st Amendment (not so free) speech ! (Bring back the Military, Selective Service, "Draft"... so these kids (sheep...Ba,ah,ah,ah !) can learn some HISTORY ! )

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