The fact of the matter is they can say whatever they want about optimizing assortment, it's all a line of bs. The only reason they would announce this is to make a political statement. Honestly, do you really think the are going to make an announcement that they have decided to drop Friskies 16 lbs bag of dry cat food?
Sears has every right as a company to make any political statement they wish just like customers have every right to decide which companies they want to do business with.
I hope customers pay attention and make them pay.