I'd like an explanation as to why Wal-Mart of all companies suddenly became a target for crazy right-wing conspiracy theories. We all know the Jade Helm-15 craziness, where Wal-Mart actually had to deny in public that their recently shuttered stores in Texas were being used as secret staging grounds (complete with mass underground tunnels!) for the pending military invasion of Texas. You'd think that'd be enough as far as whacky conspiracy theories go for any one company, but guess not, because here comes another one. And it's courtesy of our favorite "holy shit, how the fuck did this guy ever get elected to Congress" cuckoo-bananas crazy-man, Allen West.
What nefarious scheme did West uncover at his local Wal-Mart? This one:
When former Rep. Allen West (R-FL) saw a sign at a Wal-Mart checkout lane indicating that a cashier with a non-Anglo-Saxon name couldn't sell alcohol products, he immediately accused the retail giant of bowing to Sharia law.
EEEEEEEEK!!! Another insidious Islamic scheme to undermine our nation! Quick, alert
Louis Gohmert! He's still in a position of power!
Oh, you want to know how West made this deductive leap? More details:
In a blog post published Monday, West described a recent trip to a Dallas area Wal-Mart with his daughter. West thought it curious that an employee put up a sign in their checkout lane that read "No alcohol products in this lane," and raised his eyebrows further when he noticed that the cashier's name tag indicated that his name was "NOT 'Steve.'"
West thought those two signs taken together could only mean one thing: the cashier was a Muslim who refused to scan alcohol products because he observed Sharia law.
Brilliant deductive work, Holmes.
But that's not all Detective West (my apologies to Honey) uncovered about this scheme! He also found religious hypocrisy and persecution as well!
"Imagine that, this employee at Walmart refused to just scan a bottle or container of an alcoholic beverage — and that is acceptable," West wrote. "A Christian business owner declines to participate or provide service to a specific event — a gay wedding — which contradicts their faith, and the State crushes them."
That nasty Muslim cashier can keep us from our sweet, sweet liquor but we can't treat gay people like second-class citizens.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS WORLD?!!!
Okay, leaving West's worldview now (thank God; it's not healthy to be in there long term). What's the real reason for the cashier not selling you any liquor? As you might expect, pretty basic:
Except that it's actually store policy not to allow underage employees to sell cigarettes and alcohol.
(Crickets chirping.)
So what did West do when the truth came out? Did he fess up to his error? Sort of:
Following publication of West's "Sharia" post, West's website posted an "editor's update" explaining what actually happened:
EDITOR'S UPDATE: We spoke to the Walmart store, and apparently employees under 21 years old are prohibited from selling cigarettes and alcohol. However, that isn't to say Walmart isn't selectively caving to Muslim demands, such as this case regarding Halal meat in Ohio.
The post no longer has the headline, "Sharia law comes to Walmart?" and instead reads, "More ominous signs of Christian persecution."
You know, Allen, if I'm at the store buying a case of beer and I get an underage clerk who can't sell it to me, I just wait for one who can. I don't see it as a violation of my religious freedom or see a Islamic sleeper agent. But then, I don't have your worldview. (And I'm very thankful for that.)
Poor Wal-Mart. Why are they attracting the crazies these days? Perhaps they'd better be on the safe side and make sure Michele Bachman doesn't visit. She has a lot of free time.