Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Wal-Mart for President? Hillary's deep ties to Wal-Mart re-examined

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion: Presidential (Through Nov 2009) Donate to DU
 
futureliveshere Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-10-08 10:41 PM
Original message
Wal-Mart for President? Hillary's deep ties to Wal-Mart re-examined
Edited on Thu Apr-10-08 10:46 PM by futureliveshere
This HuffPo article puts some context and perspective behind Hillary's SIX year presence on Wal-Mart's board.

I wonder how the same people who get apoplectic about BO's remaining in Rev. Wright's church when he was saying inflammatory things turn a blind eye to Hillary. She was on the board of Wal-Mart, whose members have been shamelessly anti-union and pro big business and have been the most ruthless perpetrators of crimes against the common worker and she was paid for being there by them.

Wake up people and smell the coffee. Hillary Clinton is mainly bothered about Hillary Clinton only.

Here's the link and the article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/zp-heller/wal-mart-for-president_b_96160.html

Just because Hillary Clinton is ignoring her Wal-Mart ties, that doesn't mean the rest of us should.

New footage from the Center for Public Integrity confirms what Hillary Clinton has conveniently omitted from her website and campaign speeches: she was on Wal-Mart's Board of Directors for six years, from 1986-1992.

It was during those six years that Clinton served with the notoriously anti-union Rose Law firm in Little Rock, defending Wal-Mart against workers who tried to unionize. It was also during those six years that Clinton served with fellow board member John Tate, whose favorite saying was: "Labor unions are nothing but blood-sucking parasites living off the productive labor of people who work for a living."

In this video, you can see Sam Walton, plain as the Wal-Mart logo's menacing yellow smile, as he presides over the grand re-opening of the company's original store in Rogers, Arkansas. Walton praises Clinton, "You're one of the finest lawyers -- legal persons -- that I've ever met or ever known. And without any question, you've added more to our board than any person we've ever had on that board."

Walton then proudly reminds us that both Hillary Clinton and her husband Bill (then governor of Arkansas) helped start the company's "Buy American" program. In case Clinton forgets to tell you, Wal-Mart touted Buy American with signs and advertisements claiming their clothes and other goods were "Made in the U.S.A."

Buy American was a horrendous lie. Not only did Wal-Mart continue to get clothes from Asian sweatshops, but they also became the nation's biggest importer of Chinese goods, forcing U.S. manufacturers out of business. Oh wait, maybe Buy American referred to clothing produced in New York's Chinatown, where in 1991 (during Clinton's Wal-Mart tenure), labor inspectors found 16- and 17-year-old illegal Chinese immigrants working without pay.

Now that this video is out, there's no way Clinton can deny being on Wal-Mart's payroll (the company gave her around $15,000 a year, $100,000 in Wal-Mart stock, and its lobbyists contributed tens of thousands to her presidential campaign). There's no way a champion of women's rights can deny being linked to a company that continues to defend itself against one major discriminatory suit after another. And there's no way a presidential candidate who is backed by a slew of unions can deny connections to anti-union fanatics like John "Blood-Sucking Parasites" Tate and a company that pays its employees salaries below the poverty line.

Unless of course Clinton omits it from her website, or the press inexplicably decides to leave it out of their otherwise exhaustive scrutiny of her career.

Back to the video... Sam Walton says, "But Hillary, I hope you can stay long enough to feast your eyes on this latest creation of Wal-Mart," to which Clinton jokes, "I want to shop, Sam!"


edited to reduce the anger once I cooled down. The facts speak for themselves.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
Ned_Devine Donating Member (996 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-10-08 10:48 PM
Response to Original message
1. This has been my # 1 argument against her since she ran for senate
I really don't care too much about the surface area bs. I am truly bothered that she can go to these union rallies and act as if her past with Wal-Mart wasn't her own.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
futureliveshere Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-10-08 11:07 PM
Response to Reply #1
6. surface area bs??
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Ned_Devine Donating Member (996 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-10-08 11:21 PM
Response to Reply #6
8. Silly inconsequencial things like the laugh, phony accent and so on
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
futureliveshere Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-10-08 11:25 PM
Response to Reply #8
11. Aah yes - the famous belly laugh
This is a good article on the latest example of the same. Take a look.

http://www.blog.newsweek.com/blogs/stumper/archive/2008/04/10/what-s-so-funny-hillary.aspx

You have to admit they are quite off-putting and not very presidential.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Ned_Devine Donating Member (996 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-11-08 03:28 PM
Response to Reply #11
40. I agree...
...it's just that it's the least of my over all problems with her. Her history of being on the wrong side of things, i.e. her IWR vote, her siding w/big business over unions re: Wal-Mart, NAFTA...but now having a 180 about face on those issues is what bothers me. Every thing that she does appears to be politically calculated to me. Perhaps Barrack is just as calculating and has a better way of making it seem sincere. I don't know
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
futureliveshere Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-11-08 04:26 PM
Response to Reply #40
43. Or maybe she is just more calcuating than he is
I think it could be the difference in sheer length of time spent in Washington. Who knows in another 4-5 years if Obama will be just like Bill today? But for now he comes across as a sincere person who connects with me almost every time he expresses an opinion. I find that incredibly comforting and confidence-building. And he LISTENS, so I feel he will be flexible if his opinion is not shared by the larger populace. Power has not gone to his head YET!!

Hillary on the other hand for the exact reasons you mention does just the opposite. My real eye-opener was when she promoted McCain ahead of Obama and threw Mud on the democratic party in favor of the repubs. That was the end for me.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Ned_Devine Donating Member (996 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Apr-12-08 01:57 AM
Response to Reply #43
49. I couldn't have said it better.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
papau Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-10-08 10:50 PM
Response to Original message
2. ZP Heller can't find a reason to support Obama -so it's smears/lies to promote the racial identity?
Edited on Thu Apr-10-08 10:51 PM by papau
Try posting all the interviews with board members on how Hillary fought for worker rights while on the Board - and esp. how she fought for women's rights and fair promotions and pay for women.

The correct statement in the blog entry is that Sam was anti-union as was others on his board - the blog says not a thing about how the current anti-worker WalMart did not exist until Sam died - and Hillary was off the board.

Love the Obama smears of Hillary - makes me want to vote for him. There be some Karma coming for the fellow that pissed on the idea of a Clinton/Obama ticket - in any order.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Ned_Devine Donating Member (996 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-10-08 10:57 PM
Response to Reply #2
3. What with this latest meme? "There be some Karma coming for the fellow ...
...that pissed on the idea of a Clinton/Obama ticket - in any order."

Why would that be? He had every reason on earth to deny that possibility. She is not worthy and would drag down the ticket
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
futureliveshere Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-10-08 10:59 PM
Response to Reply #2
5. Well, she was obviously not very good at those women-rights fights then!!!
Edited on Thu Apr-10-08 11:01 PM by futureliveshere
This is the same Wal-Mart that recently tried to recover the health care costs from a female employee of theirs right?

My point is, if Hillary Clinton tried so hard to make Wal-Mart a nicer place for the common employee then WHY HASN'T SHE SUCCEEDED?? What does that say about her effectiveness and "ready to lead on day1" message? Especially when so much praise is being poured on her for her fantastic contributions by Sam Walton himself. Wal-Mart still is ruthless, or are you seeing a different company?

Maybe her logic is that since she has tried for SO many years and FAILED multiple times to create meaningful change for the small worker at Wal-Mart and at universal health care, she should be given ONE more chance to do it correctly this time. But success breeds success. Looking at their tax returns, the Clintons only seem to have been very very successful at accumulating vast sums of wealth. No problems with that, but don't claim to be for the common person at the same time as you are raking in the moolah by trampling over them.

title edited to make concise.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
IsItJustMe Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-10-08 10:58 PM
Response to Original message
4. K&R
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
wpelb Donating Member (292 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-10-08 11:14 PM
Response to Original message
7. What does a person on the board actually do?
Does a person on the board of directors of a major corporation really do all that much? Does he (or she, in the case of Hillary Clinton) do anything more than attend a few board meetings a year? I'm obviously not rich, and I don't play a rich person on TV, the radio, or even in my dreams, so I don't really know how much influence one way or another Mrs. Clinton could have had while on the Wal-Mart board.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
futureliveshere Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-10-08 11:22 PM
Response to Reply #7
9. Normally it totally depends upon that person's interest, dynamism and ability to gather support.
So when Sam Walton says "You're one of the finest lawyers -- legal persons -- that I've ever met or ever known. And without any question, you've added more to our board than any person we've ever had on that board." I take him at his word and assume that Hillary Clinton not only played a large part in defining Wal-Marts legal opinions, rules & regulations as a lawyer, but she also played a role in defining the business proposition and psychology of the board and company.

Hey - she is the one who talks glowingly about her own 35 YEARS of experience, not me.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Zachstar Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-10-08 11:23 PM
Response to Reply #7
10. Board members vote. They have large influence over a company.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
SunsetDreams Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-10-08 11:33 PM
Response to Reply #10
14. exactly
They set the policies and procedures of a major corporation.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Zachstar Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-10-08 11:38 PM
Response to Reply #14
16. Many .gov things work the same way.
School board

City Board

etc...
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Rosa Luxemburg Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-11-08 08:57 AM
Response to Reply #10
34. yes
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Zachstar Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-10-08 11:26 PM
Response to Original message
12. Clinton needs to address this. And adress why she has kept it mostly quiet.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
futureliveshere Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-10-08 11:32 PM
Response to Reply #12
13. Umm. its kinda obvious isn't it?? The campaign has yet to prove that they are good at damage control
Besides I can bet you that she will not say a word till PA votes or she will make a mess of things. She knows that.

At the most you will hear some sarcasm being heaped on Obama's campaign for daring to question her 35 YEARS of experience.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Zachstar Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-10-08 11:35 PM
Response to Reply #13
15. If she does not discuss it she will get the bad press. So her call.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Eric Condon Donating Member (761 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-11-08 12:06 AM
Response to Reply #12
19. Bill did address it - and tried to justify it by talking about how great Wal-Mart is.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=4183757&page=1

Being on the board of directors was "the right thing for her to do."

Yep, that's Hillary, champion of the working class.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Zachstar Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-11-08 12:28 AM
Response to Reply #19
22. Not Bill, we have seen what a great job he can do :P I mean Hillary
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
WhiteTara Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-10-08 11:46 PM
Response to Original message
17. I hate Walmart but it wasn't always so
when Sam Walton was alive, it was a good company and it was buy American. He died in like 1992 and that is when Hillary quit the board and the family is horrible and that is when Walmart became the true monster it is. But I don't fault HRC for her board work, it was a local company and not so big.

But if you are just a Hillary hater, I'm sure you'll find lots to hate her for...oh look! She just took another breath! Damn her!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
nebula Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-11-08 12:00 AM
Response to Reply #17
18. Hillary represented Wal-Mart against unions

Their 'Buy American' BS was nothing more than a slogan.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
hayu_lol Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-11-08 12:11 AM
Response to Reply #18
20. Bringing up the Hillary/WalMart connection again are we?
Why not include Michelle Obama's more than profitable connection with Treehouse Foods who produce approximately 16% of WalMart food products. She doubled her income from Treehouse immediately following Obamas status as a senator in Illinois.

Food for the goose is indeed food for the gander.

The bottom slime job belongs to both or to neither.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
nebula Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-11-08 12:17 AM
Response to Reply #20
21. That's nonsense.
Michelle was never with Treehouse while Obama was Illinois Senator.

She was on the Treehouse board less than two years, beginning in 2005.

She quit in 2007.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Beaverhausen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-11-08 04:17 PM
Response to Reply #21
42. and Hillary quit Wal Mart in 1992
Edited on Fri Apr-11-08 04:18 PM by Beaverhausen
edit- oops
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
nebula Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-11-08 12:34 AM
Response to Reply #20
23. But yeah,

the Wal-mart ties are an issue the GOP could use against either Dem candidate in the GE.


Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Zachstar Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-11-08 12:49 AM
Response to Reply #23
24. Bingo!! Too bad people seem to be forgetting the GE lately.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
futureliveshere Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-11-08 05:46 AM
Response to Reply #20
27. Michelle is not touting her 35 years experience.
Edited on Fri Apr-11-08 06:43 AM by futureliveshere
Nor is she running for president. Besides you are comparing a couple who had 2 student loans and were very much middle class with Hillary who comes from a more wealthy background than either of the Obama's.

Finally she was there for 2 years not 6 and not on Wal-Marts board which is a whole different ball game.

edited for clarity
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
cali Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-11-08 05:51 AM
Response to Reply #27
28. Hillary does not come from old money
And the Clintons weren't wealthy when she was on the Walmart board.
Not defending her for sitting on the board, but facts count.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
futureliveshere Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-11-08 06:42 AM
Response to Reply #28
29. I meant more in comparison with the Obama's
She came from a reasonably well-to-do family and was more comfortably off then the Obama's. Sorry if this didn't come through.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
FrenchieCat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-11-08 02:08 AM
Response to Original message
25. They won't talk about it now.....
Guess they are "saving" it. :shrug:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Zachstar Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-11-08 06:43 AM
Response to Reply #25
30. Guess who else is saving it?
McCain
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
futureliveshere Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-11-08 06:44 AM
Response to Reply #25
31. Neither will the Clintons since no one is pressurizing them. Its Ohio all over again.
Getting them to release their tax returns seemed akin to pulling fresh meat from a hungry lions jaws.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Zachstar Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-11-08 07:18 AM
Response to Reply #31
32. The pressure is starting. People are learning about the wal mart tie in and they will want info
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
SunsetDreams Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-11-08 03:02 AM
Response to Original message
26. Too many Union busting ties nt
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
antigop Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-11-08 08:55 AM
Response to Original message
33. From the Rose Law Firm's website--current practice areas
http://roselawfirm.com/practice/management.asp

Our specific areas of expertise include:

* Union organization, collective bargaining, arbitrations and NLRB charges
* Employment discrimination and fair employment litigation
* OSHA
* Employment contracts, trade secrets and covenants not to compete
* Affirmative action
* Wage and hour issues
* Personnel handbooks
* Supervisory training
* Compliance reviews and training
* Mediations
* Civil rights
* EEOC
* Harassment/retaliation
* Whistle-blowing


Did the Rose Law Firm engage in the same practice areas when HRC was there?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
futureliveshere Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-11-08 09:34 AM
Response to Reply #33
37. I'm not sure..But if it did then Senator Clinton didn't achieve too much at WM.
There is no way someone who believes in the before mentioned Rose areas of expertise would be called the most valuable member of the board. Don't you think?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
antigop Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-11-08 09:36 AM
Response to Reply #37
38. Huh? "Union organization, collective bargaining, arbitrations and NLRB charges" n/t
Edited on Fri Apr-11-08 09:36 AM by antigop
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
BigDDem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-11-08 08:57 AM
Response to Original message
35. Michelle's pickles are yummy
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
antigop Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-11-08 09:03 AM
Response to Original message
36. How "interesting" that her story on her website doesn't include her WalMart board membership
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/about/

Funny how her board membership wasn't included in her "story" on her website, huh?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Zachstar Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-11-08 04:34 PM
Response to Reply #36
44. Which raises the point.
Normally being on a board of a major company is something to be proud about. A sign of experience.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
antigop Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-11-08 11:30 PM
Response to Reply #44
48. Yes, why won't she mention her Walmart position in her "35 years of experience"? n/t
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
snooper2 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-11-08 09:54 AM
Response to Original message
39. She is a great Wal-Mart Associate...
:rofl:

:rofl:

:rofl:




GOBAMA!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Scurrilous Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-11-08 04:12 PM
Response to Original message
41. K & R
:thumbsup:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
quantass Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-11-08 05:06 PM
Response to Original message
45. k&r
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
TexasObserver Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-11-08 05:53 PM
Response to Original message
46. Hillary's background is a run of the mill, average, corporate errand runner.
Her entire background with the Rose law firm and with Walmart tell who she really is.

There isn't a dime's worth of difference between her and Harriet Miers.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
OhioChick Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-11-08 06:16 PM
Response to Original message
47. K&R
:kick:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Fri May 03rd 2024, 03:10 PM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion: Presidential (Through Nov 2009) Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC