W.W.J.S.

Hold on to your hats. You're not going to believe this.

An Associated Press story in today's Seattle Times:

W.W.J.S. -- Where would Jesus shop?

According to union-backed critics of Wal-Mart Stores, not at the world's largest retailer. WakeUpWalMart.com unveiled a religious-themed campaign Thursday asking shoppers whether God wants them to buy things from the Bentonville, Ark.-based company.

The group, funded by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, launched a TV ad and released a letter signed by 65 clergy members and religious figures. The group says Wal-Mart's policy on wages, health benefits and other issues harms families and communities.

Wal-Mart accused the group of using union dues to exploit religion and said it would give nearly $200 million in cash contributions to charities this year.

The 30-second TV spot, starting today in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Texas, is part of the latest seasonal-themed campaign against Wal-Mart. The TV ad starts with a picture of a Bible-like tome and a narrator who says, "Our faith teaches us 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.'

"If these are our values, then ask yourself: Should people of faith shop at Wal-Mart this holiday season?"

Wal-Mart spokeswoman Sarah Clark criticized the ad.

"Surely Americans are deeply offended that the union leadership would use religion as just another tactic in a negative attack campaign against a company that donates more money to good works than any other company in America," she said.

The letter from clergy members took a line similar to the ad's.

"Jesus would not embrace Wal-Mart's values of greed and profits at any cost, particularly when children suffer as a result of those misguided values," the letter said.

Clark said the clergy had been misled.

"We share their compassion for people just like we continue to provide jobs to those who want a better life. We save the average American family $2,300 a year per household," she said.

This is a new low, even for the anti-Wal-Mart moonbats. It shows the true desperation of their "cause". Average people just aren't tuning in to their message.

Of course, this religious angle to the anti-Wal-Mart movement is nothing new. United Christ Church recently held a "Wal-Mart Week of Action". Both the Pullman and Moscow anti-Wal-Mart groups hold their weekly meetings in churches.

8 out of 10 Americans shop at Wal-Mart. That’s around the same number of people who profess to be Christians in the U.S. Many Wal-Mart opponents are self-avowed agnostics or atheists. The highest concentration of Wal-Mart stores is in the Southeast, where there is also the highest concentration of churches. But the ultra-liberal denominations opposing Wal-Mart, such as the UCC and the Unitarian Universalists are not the kinds of churches you find there. I have a feeling this sacrireligious ad campaign using the Lord’s name to promote a political agenda is going to backfire in a huge way. The left-wing union strategists in New York and Washington, DC need to get out more. I only hope they run that ad on the Palouse. It will show once and for all just how out of touch with the mainstream those who oppose Wal-Mart really are.

I don’t presume to know where Jesus would shop. But I think I know what He might say: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!”