Paula Deen interview on Smithfield and unions (full/short)

[underpants]

Celebrity chef and Smithfield Foods spokeswoman, Paula Deen, wants to share her expertise in the kitchen, not on unions, because she says she's not an expert.

“You wouldn't come to me if you had a brain tumor and said please, operate on my tumor, cut it out. You wouldn't come to me if you had a brain tumor and said please, operate on my tumor, cut it out. No, you wouldn't come to me for that. I wouldn't come to a union organizer to help me develop recipes in my kitchen or to help me come in and cook. I want people who know what they're doing and i have no knowledge of those kind of issues.” Explains Paula Deen.

She visited the Tar Heel, N.C. plant a few months ago and met with half a dozen female employees.

“We got to talk about a lot of things their families and where they lived and how long they had been working there. And naturally, I did have some opportunities to ask them union questions and there was no one around but us and I asked them, I said do you feel threatened in any way, to answer, to talk about things like this and they said absolutely, no they didn't feel threatened.” Explains Paula.

“Some say that those you met with were hand picked, how do you respond to that claim?” I ask.

“I don't know maybe this group of people, maybe it just worked out that they feel the same way I feel. They're proud to live in America and have an opportunity to work and proud to have their job.” Answers Paula.

"If it's somehow found out down the road that Smithfield Foods is intimidating it's workers, would you ever pull your name or not be associated with the company? “ I ask Paula.

“You know, all of us in America who work we all have some complaints about our work. It's called work for a reason. It's not called play, so there will always be complaints about our workplace. On my job, i have been injured. I have taken falls. But you know what, that's part of the risk I take when I go to work and of course. I don't want to take unnecessary risks. I don't want anyone out there taking unnecessary risks, but this is our, it's our job.” Answers Paula.

She says she's being pulled into something beyond her control

”I have a very big heart and I have a compassionate heart for people but I am not the one to solve union issues. I'm a little cook from Southwest Georgia.” Adds Paula.

http://www.wsav.com/midatlantic/sav/news.apx.-content-articles-SAV-2007-12-10-0019.html

[LisaM]

1. Oh, Paula, Paula, Paula

How can she not see that her influence could help these people? I think she needs to have a little talk with John Edwards.

[underpants]

2. The interviewer did a good job there

she asked questions that should be asked. Paula thought she had a good line (about meeting with female workers) and the interviewer would have none of it--Paula then just basically told her to shove it LIFE SUCKS GET OVER IT or words to that effect.

Very telling. She stuck with the corporation. I would bet that she had some professional advise courtesy of the Smithfield but it didn't seem to help.

[Virginia Dare]

7. She's thick as thieves with the corporate ownership of the company..

and she's trying to pretend that she's removed from what's going on. I agree, I saw her get heckled in person recently, and you could tell she was ready for it, and that she'd obviously been very well trained in how to react.

[gratuitous]

3. Sounds like Paula has some Michael Jordan-itis

I like Paula's show and her manner, but she needs a little education. She may not be able to "solve" union issues, but she sure as shooting could make sure the pie is more equitably divided.

[Virginia Dare]

4. Oh, you're just a little ole cook from Southwest Georgia, are you Paula?

yeah, we all have "complaints" about our jobs, like these:

Denise Walker: Sexually harassed by management at Smithfield, then fired after missing work for medical reasons.

Paul Bruce: Fired from Smithfield after taking time off for chemotherapy. He and his family lost everything, including their house.

Vanessa McLoud: Fired and denied workers' compensation after a back injury left her unable to work.

Abel Cervantes: Permanently disabled after an accident in the plant, and then denied workers' compensation

Should I go on? But, you know all about that don't you Paula, after all you've fallen on your fat ass a few times at "work", haven't you?

Yep, you're real compassionate, except where your own sizable pocketbook is involved.

[LisaM]

5. I think you could make your point without calling Paula Deen fat

I don't agree with her, but I really think that was uncalled for. She had agoraphobia for years, and being able to deal with weight issues is probably a step forward for her. Just because she lacks compassion doesn't mean we should.

[Virginia Dare]

9. I saw her in person..

and she refers to herself as "fat" rather regularly. "Us fat girls", hee hee hee.

I honestly don't understand the obsession over Paula Deen's personal life. She obviously doesn't give a crap about anybody else's.

[RebelOne]

12. Maybe Paula is not aware of what happened to these workers.

[Virginia Dare]

16. That's why they're trying to meet with her...n/t

[aikoaiko]

6. I would be very surprised if she is not contractually obligated to not speak about union issues.

It seems like she is self-consciously avoiding the issue. I'll still eat at Lady and Sons.

[TahitiNut]

8. Elsewhere, Aunt Jemima told interviewers how Pinnacle Foods was even better than Quaker Oats ...

... and Betty Crocker lauded the pretty glass ceilings at General Mills. :eyes:

[asjr]

10. Are we to the point we pick out

someone to blame for anything? Paula Deen is just what she says she is--a cook--and a darn good one. She struggled as a single mother for years and years and finally has a career. She doesn't have to eat cornbread and pinto beans every day. I am not about to blame her for union worries.

[readmoreoften]

14. So once you make it to heck with other poor people who didn't happen to get discovered?

Life presents ethical challenges and you are responsible for the sides you choose no matter how you are. It's not that hard. Even if you're some lucky woman whose sandwiches "got discovered". If you are aligned with an organization that violates human rights, and you're asked to speak out, you either do or you don't. And if you don't--the criticism you get will be well-deserved.

[underpants]

15. She is paid lots of money to be the face of that company

to be their spokesperson. If not to directly read their scripts (she does) then to portray an image for the company. In that she is also the public facade of the company so she is open to having to at least be the target of protest and civil displays of public opinion.


Good and bad the money pays for both. Don't want the hassle? Don't take the money.

[mother earth]

11. Any woman worth her own salt, who has worked herself up thru

the years and thru many a turn in fortune, should today realize that having herself won the battle, it's time to pay it forward. (Hey, Paula...you listening?)

It is time to recognize that all men and women who are part of any corporation's success should be recognized and acknowledged. Wouldn't it be nice for a corporation such as Smithfield, and a cooking "celeb" such as Paula Deen to stand up and recognize that EVERY worker along the way counts. Aren't these the qualities that all Americans strive for?

I think Paula Deen would be better served to acknowledge her own power to be a force for good with Smithfield, not just a face. It's time for every American to join hands with ALL American workers, we are all in this together.

Union issues are American worker issues. There is nothing more important than labor rights and wanting what's best for Americans in this great country. Paula needs to wake up to issues that are facing all men and women who made her and Smithfield the successes they are, right here at home.

May Paula & Smithfield's hearts grow in this season, may they both come to value the American worker & stand proud with the unions.

[readmoreoften]

13. People don't like unions because they demand people put their money where their mouth is.

We are all "big-hearted and compassionate people" until we are required to risk ourselves for justice, until we are asked to stand beside our equals. With union issues, everything is a little too cut and dry, and that pisses people off. You either cross the picket line or you don't. You can't cross the picket line and then give cookies and warm milk to the picketers on the way out. That's what all thee "big-hearted people" don't get.

I've known many a compassionate scab who just didn't "approve" of mean people yelling in the streets. Unions expose hypocrisy and that's why people rail against them. They cut to the core of this shallow "charity" culture.