Boycott Martin’s Potato Rolls and Do Your Bit to Save America
Every time you bite into one of those delicious Martin’s Potato Rolls you may be contributing to the end of democracy and that is not hyperbole.
And while you’re at it, lay off of the Chicken Sandwich at Federal Donuts, a twice-fried boneless chicken breast dusted in house ranch seasoning, and topped with American cheese, dill pickles, and “Spicy Rooster Sauce,” all, of course, on a Martin’s Potato Roll. Likewise I suggest you stay away from national burger chain Shake Shack, which also serves its burgers on Martin’s Potato Rolls.
Martin’s Potato Rolls magnate Jim Martin has given $110,000 to the Pennsylvania gubernatorial campaign of far right wing Republican Doug Mastriano. Mastriano won the recent GOP primary election and will face Democratic Attorney General Josh Shapiro in the general election in November.
Mastriano, who was endorsed by trump, is a leading voice in the big lie about non-existent voter fraud in the 2020 election which put Joe Biden in the driver’s seat in Washington. If Mastriano wins, he would have significant power over the election machinery in one of the nation’s most important battleground states during the 2024 presidential race. In Pennsylvania, the governor appoints the secretary of state, who is in charge of running Pennsylvania’s elections and signing off on its electors. So this is not hyperbole.
Mastriano chartered buses to shuttle trump supporters to the rally on Jan. 6, 2021, which preceded the attack on the Capitol. He has agreed to testify before the congressional committee that is investigating the insurrection. Mastriano also attended and raised money for his “Patriots Arise for God and Country” conference last month that promoted QAnon beliefs and other conspiracy theories.
Mastriano, who is currently a Pennsylvania state senator, supports a complete ban on abortion, with no exceptions. He introduced a “heartbeat bill,” which would make it illegal to have an abortion in after around six weeks, before many people know they’re pregnant. He also has introduced legislation to make federal gun laws unenforceable in Pennsylvania.
Known as a Christian nationalist, Mastriano met with supporters at a rally last month in Pennsburg, Pa., where he said, “The forces of darkness are hitting us really hard right now. We’re going to bring the state back to righteousness, this is our day, our hour to take our state back and renew the blessings of America.”
According to campaign finance records, Martin gave $10,000 in May 2021 and another $100,000 last December, marking the largest contributions by a single person to the Mastriano campaign, according to according to Open Secrets, a nonprofit that tracks money in politics. Martin’s wife, Donna, this year provided Mastriano’s campaign with an in-kind donation worth around $4,000. The description of that contribution in candidate filings is listed as “travel.” Their daughter, Julie, social media manager for the potato bread company, also gave $2,000 last year. In 2020, Jim Martin donated $11,000 to Mastriano’s campaign.Martin also contributed $1,000 to the Georgia congressional campaign of Jody Hice, another far right, Trump-endorsed election denier. Hice lost his primary bid to unseat Republican Brad Raffensperger, the Secretary of State who refused to “find” the 11,000 votes that would help trump overturn the 2020 election.
Martin also donated $1,000 each this year to Arkansas gubernatorial Republican nominee Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Trump’s former press secretary and lie enabler; and Pennsylvania State Rep. Robert W. Kauffman, who was one of 90 GOP state legislators who sent a letter to Vice President Mike Pence on Jan. 5 asking him to delay certification of the election so that trump could be declared the winner.
Martin’s “Famous Pastry Shoppe” in South Central Pennsylvania was founded in 1955 by Jim Martin’s parents, Lloyd and Lois Martin. The company’s baked goods are distributed worldwide to restaurants and supermarkets and its potato rolls are a key ingredient of New York-based Shake Shack’s famous “ShackBurger.” In its “Stand For Something Good,” report on its corporate values, the New York-based Shake Shack notes, “Doing good is in our roots, a part of our DNA since day one. 20 years later, we’re still continuing to expand and evolve our mission to Stand For Something Good in everything we do.” The section on “social impact” is opposite a photo of a rainbow flag and parade for the LGBTQ community. Apparently, Shake Shack executive officer, Randy Garutti, doesn’t know that Mastriano has objected to extending protections for the LGBTQ community.
So if you respect the LGBTQ community and reject Mastriano’s conspiracy-laden, racist platform, you should avoid the Shake Shack products, including the ShackBurger Single, even if it is ranked the best cheeseburger in Pennsylvania by Thrillist News. “It’s no secret that Shake Shack’s simple cheeseburger is transcendent,” said the review, noting that it’s served on Martin’s Potato Roll and “you cannot beat a Martin’s Potato Roll.”
And while we’re on the subject of boycotts, here are a few other companies to avoid:
* Publix food company. Julie Jenkins Fancelli, a member of the family that founded Publix, donated $300,000 to help finance the “Stop the Steal” rally that resulted in riot at the capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
* Planet Fitness. CEO Chris Rondeau gave more than $1,200 to trump’s 2016 election campaign. In 2018, Rondeau contributed to the congressional campaign of former New Hampshire State Sen. Andy Sanborn, a staunchly conservative Republican who has opposed numerous bills supporting LGBTQ + civil rights.
* Uline shipping supply company. Billionaires Elizabeth and Richard Uihlein have donated millions of dollars to pro-Trump, super PAC America First Action. Richard Uihlein is an heir to the Schlitz brewing fortune. So walk away from Schlitz beer, something that is already easy to do, anyway. The couple contributed $500,000 to Trump’s inauguration and they have been longtime Republican donors, with a history of supporting far-right candidates, and efforts in opposition to gay and transgender rights. In the 2014 election cycle, the Uihleins donated at least $5 million, mostly to right-wing PACs. From 2015 to 2020, they donated $4.3 million, including $800,000 in October 2020, to Tea Party Patriots, a group that is being investigated for its role in the March to Save America rally that preceded the Capitol attack.
* Muy Cos. The company owns hundreds of Wendy’s, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut locations and CEO James Bodenstedt has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to trump’s re-election, including a $200,000 donation to the Trump Victory PAC in March 2020. Bodenstedt was a major donor to trump’s 2020 election campaign, donating more than $1 million. MUY! Brands and its subsidiaries were among the first companies to receive coronavirus relief aid by the Trump administration. So keep away from Wendy’s, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, it’s good for your physical and moral health.
* Wrestling and mixed martial arts. World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) owner Linda McMahon contributed $360,000 to trump’s re-election PAC. She was the administrator of the Small Business Administration under trump. McMahon also was chairwoman of America First Action, a pro-Trump Super PAC.
Ultimate Fighting Championship’s former CEO Lorenzo Fertitta contributed a million dollars to a super PAC which supported trump’s 2020 campaign. The Fertittas are major donors to the Republican Party and Republican candidates, having given more than $9,700,000 from 2009 to 2020. Try watching hurling instead.
* Nathan’s Famous Hot dogs. They are tasty but chairman Howard Lorber raised funds for Trump’s 2016 and 2020 campaigns. Lorber also is the chairman of Douglas Elliman, the largest residential real estate brokerage in the New York metropolitan area. Lorber served as one of the top economic advisers to trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.
* Marvel Entertainment. Say goodbye to Spiderman, Ironman et al, all creations of Marvel Entertainment. Marvel Chair Isaac Perlmutter, an Israeli-American, donated $360,000 to Trump 2020 and $5 million to a Super PAC supporting trump and other conservative candidates in 2020. Perlmutter’s wife, Laura, was part of trump’s Inauguration committee.
* Equinox Fitness/Soul Cycle/Blink Fitness: Chairman Stephen Ross, who also owns the Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium, held a trump re-election fund raiser at his Southampton home. Tickets cost $250,000 for a photo opportunity, roundtable discussion and other events. But tickets were only $100,000 for a photo op and lunch. Ross is the chairman and majority owner of The Related Companies, a global real estate development firm he founded in 1972, a kindred spirit for trump.
* Estee Lauder: CEO Ron Lauder donated $100,000 to Trump Victory committee and more than $1.6 million in political contributions to pro-trump organizations.
* Molson Coors: Board member Peter Coors raised funds for trump and Trump PAC.
* LendingTree: CEO Doug Lebda raised funds for trump’s 2016 campaign.
* CVS: CVS Health Corp. donated $35,000 to trump’s Victory PAC and $500,000 to America First Policies, a non-profit that promotes anti-immigration rhetoric and policies.
* AT&T: The company donated more than $2 million in cash and services to trump’s inauguration.
* Charles Schwab: Chairman Charles Schwab donated $1 million to trump’s inauguration.
* Bank of America / Merrill Lynch: The financial giant donated $1 million to trump’s inauguration.
* Goya Foods: CEO Robert Unanue, CEO for the world’s largest Hispanic-owned food company, praised trump at a White House ceremony on July 9, 2020, saying, “We are all truly blessed…to have a leader like President Trump who is a builder.” Unanue family members who are shareholders of Goya have given thousands of dollars to mostly Republican candidates and politicians, including trump.
*MyPillow: You know all about CEO Mike Lindell.