Home Depot Co-Founder Tells Democrats to 'Use Your Stupid Brains': 'You Don't Have Any Brains!'

[DonViejo]

by Justin Baragona | 11:37 am, January 28th, 2018

Link to tweet

Following the passage of the GOP tax reform bill, a number of corporations have announced bonuses and wage increases for its employees, citing the tax cuts as the main reason. One company that handed out one-time bonuses was Home Depot. And the co-founder had some strong words for Democrats who have criticized these bonuses as “crumbs” and dismissed them as PR moves.

Appearing on Fox News Saturday, Bernie Marcus took aim at Democratic leaders, telling host Neil Cavuto that derisive comments about the bonuses will come back to haunt Democrats as it paints them as elitist. “These are things that the [Nancy] Pelosi and [Chuck] Schumer group don’t have a clue about. It’s why they lost the election, it’s as simple as that,” Marcus said. “[Hillary] Clinton never knew about the real people out there. That’s why they lost the election, and that’s why they’re going to lose the next election for the same reason.”

Towards the end of the interview, Marcus then straight up sad Democrats were brainless:

“You’ve got to use your brains! Democrats, use your stupid brains. You don’t have any brains!”

Cavuto chimed in to ask Marcus to be nice, with the Home Depot co-founder continuing to rail against the party.

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https://www.mediaite.com/tv/home-depot-co-founder-tells-democrats-to-use-your-stupid-brains-you-dont-have-any-brains/

[dalton99a]

1. Home Depot sucks.

[Cha]

64. The stupid asshole doesn't care if he offends more

than 1/2 the country.

[dalton99a]

75. .

Link to tweet

[Cha]

78. OMG.. that's Perfect from Mrs Betty Bowers!

Link to tweet

Mahalo, Dalton! Love it!

[unc70]

2. Use my brain and thus boycott Home Depot

Have done this for years

[hlthe2b]

5. Loew's?

[Cirque du So-What]

9. Not much better, from what I've heard

especially where political contributions are concerned. Also, Menards' mgt is fairly vocal in their regressive views. I try to patronize locally owned businesses whenever possible, although there's always the possibility of doing business with someone who's just as bad.

[unc70]

19. Also Republican, maybe a bit less strident

The Lowe’s PAC gives 80+% GOP, but the rhetoric by corporate officers seems much more restrained. Over the years, the Lowe’s around here have a better reputation in how they treat their employees and customers.

[JHB]

25. Local hardware and other stores, as much as you can manage...

At least where the big box stores haven’t already put them out of business.

[Ernesto]

59. Over the years a number Lowe's employees......

have told me that think of Home Depot as the "Walmart" of their industr

PS.... I have a credit account at both stores

[SharonClark]

60. Yes, Home Deport is the Walmart and Lowe's is the Target

of their industries. I feel my IQ dropping from walking in Walmart or Home Depot.

[Takket]

66. Lowe's refused to advertise on a Muslim based TV show

https://www.cnn.com/2011/12/11/showbiz/all-american-muslim-lowes/index.html

[procon]

3. Since I'm so stupid, I can't remember where the Home Depot store is any more.

Guess I'll find some place else to shop. Boycotts work, as this idiot is going to learn about, first hand.

[shockey80]

4. Fuck off you rich scumbag.

All these rich fuckers have Trump on speed dial. They are conspiring together to fool the american people. Give them a little bonus and we can rob them blind.

Hitler gave the German people free cruise ship vacations.

[Stinky The Clown]

6. What an ugly fucking dickhead.

Home Depot is my LAST choice when I need the kinds of things they sell.

[NightWatcher]

7. I'm dumb, says the guy who builds his stores right next to Lowes, his main competitor

[DinahMoeHum]

8. Fuck HD anyway. I shop at True Value.

n/t

[LuckyCharms]

33. True Value is fantastic. n/t

[renate]

50. I love Ace

I'm not handy at all, and the staff have always been very helpful and patient with my dumb questions.

Edit: Oops! I replied in the wrong place. But I used to go to True Value before we moved... I liked them too.

[Hekate]

10. Easy -- Lowes can have our business

[janterry]

11. I guess I'll be shopping at Lowe's or Ace Hardware

Thanks for the reminder, Bernie

[CatWoman]

18. same here!!!!

[Lochloosa]

21. Ace is usually locally owned.

[janterry]

28. Several times, I've actually gotten things for less money there

I was surprised because our local Ace is right in the center of town. The owner is really nice and they have a full compliment of staff (they work hard and fast!)

[Lochloosa]

45. My Ace has cats. Very cool cats.

[Vinca]

12. All I know is a person with a brain wouldn't wear a rug like that.

It looks like the final resting place of a ferret.

[malaise]

61. ROFL

I was thinking that if he had a brain he'd be wearing a better rug

[leanforward]

13. It looks like it is time I quit using Home Depot.

I've given them the benefit of my doubt until now. Back on September 12, 2001, I saw a flat bed (Home Depot's big sign on it) parked at the edge of the search and rescue area at the Pentagon. The load, 2X4's for search & recovery operations. You could still smell the jetfuel the next day.

My goodwill for them has evaporated.

[crazycatlady]

14. I'm glad I'll never own a home

(Just don't want to). I grew up doing home renovations every weekend and with parents who always wanted to renovate something. I even got a Christmas gift of a book on kitchen design at the age of 7.

I've decided I want to have a life on weekends, not do various projects around the house.

I also don't have a line item in my budget for trips to Home Depot. Things like light bulbs can be purchased elsewhere.

[UTUSN]

15. Count my inconsequential personal boycott of HD, since before 2012, even if he doesn't own it

Even if Lowe's is about the same, at least my pennies aren't in *his* pocket.

[lunasun]

16. Which of the three big boxes are the lessor of 3 evils? Not everyone has good local choices

Loews
Menards
hd?
Any opinions ?
I know people that boycott HD but then walk into menards which I heard is even more RW

[nini]

20. I shop at Lowes for things I can't find at local place near me

A CEO being right wing isn't a surprise but I draw the line at the Home Depot type that say the crap he does.

[LuckyCharms]

36. Do you have any locally owned hardware stores near you?

When I have a perplexing problem, I go to my local True Value. Very knowledgeable employees that can fix you up with what you need, and get you on your way quickly.

I know a lot of areas do not of smaller stores like this. But, if there is one even within 15 miles or so, it is usually worth visiting one, because more often than not, you will get home quicker because you won't have to wander around looking for something, and you probably won't have to return a part because you bought the wrong one.

If this is not do-able for you, then in my opinion. all of the big boxes are the same, because unfortunately, it is very hit and miss on whether you can find an employee who is actually able to help you.

[NJCher]

85. local hardware stores know more

because more often than not, you will get home quicker because you won't have to wander around looking for something, and you probably won't have to return a part because you bought the wrong one.


You are on the money with that one. I keep close track of my time because a lot of the time I'm doing it for one of the school gardens I work with. Home Depot is a huge time sink. My local hardware stores are terrific because not only do I get the benefit of their expertise, I get in and out faster. Prices? One of the hardware stores is consistently lower than an HD or Lowes.

I also like Ace and True Value.

[nini]

17. I'm amazed at how many people didn't seem to know this already

I've been boycotting them for years because of that guy and in general. This is nothing new.

[smirkymonkey]

22. STFU Bernie, you moron! $1000 is chump change for most families.

Hell, I could piss that away in 15 minutes. I know you like to think that is huge windfall for the average person, and it's better than nothing, but mostly it will go toward paying down debt.

What a sickening piece of shit!

[Cha]

67. Teach it, smirky! Stupid Asshole Insulting more than 1/2 of America

[smirkymonkey]

81. Thanks Cha!

Most people have way more debt than that and it's not going to get them very far. Combine that with the things that they need to upgrade or replace and it's not much of a bonus at all.

Mahalo Cha! Hope all is well with you!

[Cha]

82. Check out Mrs Betty Bowers Perfect Tweet!

Link to tweet

Doing ok, smirky.. you?

dalton

[smirkymonkey]

83. Great comments!

Doing ok Cha! Still nursing this cold, but otherwise ok! Thanks!

[Baconator]

72. That sounds snobby as hell...

I'm pulling six figures and $1000 isn't chump change.

It certainly isn't chump change for a family at or below the median income of 56k.

I swear... It's like Sideshow Bob...

If someone puts a rake on the ground some folks go out of their way to step on it.

[smirkymonkey]

79. They act like it is a miraculous gift from god and it's not.

Most people have more than $1,000 in debt at least. There goes the bonus. That is what I meant. It is amazing how quickly $1,000 can go when you are living on a shoe-string and everything needs to be replaced.

[kacekwl]

84. At best it may give you 48 hours

of breathing time before the next bill due.

[Baconator]

86. Peachy for you...

"$1000 is chump change for most families." is a textbook "coastal liberal elite" response and something to beat you over the head with that you have graciously provided.

There are smarter and better ways to explain what is going on here...

[Lochloosa]

23. Ace Hardware is locally owned. I try to shop there as much as possible.

[Clarity2]

24. Who's he calling Elitist?

So damn tired of that word being flung around by the GOP. That word is being weaponized with their voters who don't even understand the truth. Talk about STUPID BRAINS.

This is the richest administration by far of any other, and the Dems represent "the little guy". Whereas the GOP represent the rich.

So take your elitist crap and shove it.

[Jake Stern]

26. Despite his toddleresque delivery, this guy has a small point

Folks will be seeing bigger paychecks for at least the next few years and, PR stunt or not, many are getting bonuses and pay raises and will credit the GOP for it.

Just like they did with the Bush tax cuts, the GOP are gearing up to paint the Dems as wanting to take all that extra cash out of Joe and Jane Smith's pocket.

We need to be extremely careful in our messaging about this or else this could blow up in our faces.

[Ms. Toad]

48. Agreed. And I would be shocked if these bonuses

weren't a coordinated PR stunt - that will be remembered long after the reality of job cuts kick in.

[underpants]

27. So we're supposed to use brains that we don't have?

[aikoaiko]

29. Calling $1000 "crumbs" was a mistake that they will use against us.

Over and over and over.

Nevertheless Bernie Marcus, Mr. HomeDepot, is a scumbag.

[Mariana]

39. Very few people are getting $1000.

The people who need it most are getting much less.

[aikoaiko]

47. I get that and that message is out there somewhat.

I've been impressed with CNN bringing that point up as much as they did.

Most people are happy to hear about the "$1000 on average refund increase" and calling it crumbs wasn't ever going to play well with the masses.

Remember George W's $300 rebate. People loved that even though it wasn't actually $300 more since your tax refund shrunk by $300.

Bread and circus. $1000 on average is bread. Trump's tweets are the circus.

I don't know what we should have called it, but crumbs wasn't good.

[MichMan]

65. See Post #22

Proves your point

[Historic NY]

30. Yeah we did

Less than 2 years: $200 bonus less than 4% of employees
2 to 4 years: $250 bonus 48% of all employees $4.80 pr week
5 to 9 years: $300 bonus 20% of all employees
10 to 14 years: $400 bonus 20% of all employees
15 to 19 years: $750 bonus 20% of all employees
20+ years: $1,000 bonus 8% of all employees 19.25 pr wk
50 bucks a yr for an hourly worker cuts out managers or supervisors

Home Depot declined to comment on these amounts.

Depending who is reviewing and when they have between 331000 - 405000 employees.

Its hourly employee's on salary too bad, part time I wonder.

[link:https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/25/home-depot-bonuses-heres-what-workers-will-receive.html|]

[link:https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Employer=The_Home_Depot_Inc./Hourly_Rate/Page-5|]

[whathehell]

31. Whatever his I.Q., his Emotional Intelligence is Zero.

Flunked out of that Dale Carnegie Course, I guess.

[Stuart G]

32. He has something totally in common with Trump...He cannot shut the f**k up.

These comments are just as stupid as anything Trump says.....Why? This fellow has a business or is connected to one...A business he helped to set up. Original owner and all that bs

So why does he say things that can hurt his business?..Hurt his business a whole lot!!
I have read that he is generous and contributes to charities. It says over one billion $$ given to charities.
So, Why does he want to hurt himself and his reputations?

this line says it all: Democrats, use your stupid brains. You don’t have any brains!”

This is not a smart thing for an owner of a business to say. Democrats buy stuff at hardware stores. So many of us will never go into Home Depot again...never...

Further, Bernie saying something like this on network TV, in the age of instant communication shows he like Trump....doesn't have a clue So, Home Depot stock will lose 10 -20 percent of its value tomorrow.
Bernie doesn't give a sh*t, neither does Trump.

[LuckyCharms]

38. His comments kind of remind me of conservatives on Facebook...

who bash the hell out of liberals, without giving a second thought to the fact that the majority of their Facebook "friends" are liberals.

[Cha]

68. Exactly, SG! He's one stupid asshole.

[tanyev]

34. Guess he doesnt want us to use our wallets at his stores, either.

I certainly don’t.

[milestogo]

35. My stupid brain is telling me never to shop there again.

[MFM008]

40. My son works at Lowes

And has since 2003.
Go there.

[Baconator]

74. I sold my last jeep to a trio of nerds from Lowe's ..

They ran back end tech and thanked me for purchasing a Lowe's brand axe I had lying around.

Nice kids...

[hatrack]

41. Have occasionally shopped there in the past 10 years . . . .

No longer.

Welcome to the Wal-Mart list, HD.

[Initech]

42. Fuck you and your stupid brain, Marcus!

[hatrack]

46. . . .

[muntrv]

43. Explain this....

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-25/wal-mart-is-cutting-up-to-500-corporate-jobs-in-latest-shake-up

[KY_EnviroGuy]

44. Their inverted pyramid just flipped upside-down.

See: https://corporate.homedepot.com/about

What happened to "customer first"? I'm now seeing that pyramid with the CEO on top! We'll be avoiding HD like the plague and I intend to close my on-line account.

Evidently, no one told Marcus that Hillary won the popular vote and that he's probably just insulted well over half of his customers. I also wonder if he's told all his employees that most of their bonuses will be gobbled up by increased taxes and by inflation in just a few years?

Let's all find a way to send these elitist billionaires a message: https://corporate.homedepot.com/contact-us
(snip)
From the investor's page:
Contact Us
Email: [e-mail]
IR Coordinator: 770-384-2871

For all other inquiries including Customer Care issues please call The Home Depot Store Support Center at 1-770-433-8211, or toll free 1-800-654-0688.

--------------------

.................. ..................

[Doodley]

49. Remember the kind of man that Bernie Marcus is really is. He boasts that they used to send

competitor stores black wreaths when a new Home Depot would open to tell the owners of those stores that they would have to close down. A man devoid of compassion.

[renate]

53. wow. How unnecessarily cruel

What would possess him to do something like that other than sheer sociopathy?

[Cha]

69. And, brains evidently. He was projecting

on fox "news"

[oasis]

51. Crumbs for the masses. Shitheads like Marcus and Orrin Hatch believe

the average American should be thankful for crumbs while the GOP loots the U.S. Treasury.

[Eliot Rosewater]

52. Eliot Spitzer went after many corrupt business practices in NY including Home Depot so this pile

of human filth had him framed in the prostitute thing, to destroy him.

I will never walk in to a Home Depot.

[RKP5637]

54. And he has the audacity to call others elitists. WTF. Oh, he's just a poor working stiff. n/t

[duforsure]

55. Democrats needs to tell him back

we'll take our business elsewhere because you're to stupid to keep your mouth shut. What a dumb thing to say.

[Doodley]

56. Link to Home Depot Twitter:

https://twitter.com/HomeDepot?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

[Hassin Bin Sober]

57. This is the same jagoff who said anyone not fighting the Employee Free Choice Act "should be shot"

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Marcus

Marcus opposed the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). He has also suggested that clients send donations to groups and Senate Republicans also against the EFCA. He views the legislation as hindrance to American capitalism, calling it "the demise of a civilization" and suggesting that any retailer who does not fight it "should be shot; should be thrown out of their goddamn jobs." [6][7][8][9] Marcus has also been an opponent of the Occupy Wall Street movement.[10] In 2015, Marcus donated $1.5 million to Super PACs supporting Jeb Bush and Scott Walker.[11] On June 1, 2016, Bernard Marcus wrote: "I now stand in support of Donald Trump because the fate of this nation depends upon sending him, and not Hillary Clinton, to the White House."[12]

[sharedvalues]

58. Fox News Lies!!! All you need to know here. and another business to avoid

[onethatcares]

62. my personal reason for not shopping there.

wehn they first opened their store in west central florida it was a good thing but they put a few other lumber yards out of business. This was back before they called them "home improvement stores".

I had many friends that worked there and as they got close to retirement it seemed they got screwed with more and more. Split schedules, schedules that weren't the same every week and the one that really pissed me off was a woman I knew that went from cashier to the electrical department that had a special needs child. She was scheduled to come in at 6 a.m as a regular start to her shift, then it was come in at 9 work til 1, return at 3 to finish her eight hours. And it varied every day. some days start at 8, others 10, sometimes 4 hours or 6 hours then a break and return 3 hours later.

I quit shopping there and although I'm a small contractor guy I hope I hurt their sales as much as I could. I would not recommend them to anyone. Their stores are like a third world country or perhaps a third world walmart of building goods.

So fuck bernie marcus. I hope his laxatives kick into overdrive some day.

[louis-t]

63. Hey moron, GWbush drained the treasury, too.

We all know how that turned out. STFU, ignorant asshole. Suddenly, repugs don't care about deficits.

[Cha]

70. Good point!

[Skittles]

76. yup - remember those $300 checks?

remember what came later?

[louis-t]

95. He gave me $600 but cost me $100,000 in income.

Not a very good trade.

[Baconator]

71. Half right...

Crumbs and scraps sounds elitist... Even if it's true...

Bait and switch is better...

[Skittles]

73. I bet it really bugs these corporate stiffs that they have to give ANYTHING to employees

could it BE any more obvious it's just a dog and pony show?

[displacedtexan]

77. Well, I guess he doesn't need any more money.

Too bad he's screwing his employees by pulling a stunt like this that alienates the vast majority of the country.

[ileus]

80. Jokes going to be on him when we take our money (and much more) back

Following the sweeping election and take back of both houses. Forget pre-trump, we're going to shoot for pre-ronnie tax rates. They better make money while they can, because when enough of the old gopers die and we finally take over for good, they're gonna pay. Social Justice will finally be served....No more will companies be allowed profits, we will all benefit from generated wealth.

[nolabels]

87. It was a little bit of work but I found this address

I sure they would like to know what we really think of them too

[e-mail]

[47of74]

97. Done.

[raven mad]

88. Which might explain why I refuse to shop there.

AND am willing to pay more elsewhere!

[lpbk2713]

89. As a businessman he is a bumbling dumbass.

Why else would he alienate such a large segment of the buying public?

[UCmeNdc]

90. Home Depot must not value Democratic customers.

So they do not want or need my money.

[TomSlick]

91. Yet another business on my list of where I cannot do business.

It's unfortunate, there are two few options for large hardware stores in the area. Nevertheless, I've now shopped there.

[Stuart G]

92. Another jerk who cannot shut the f**k up..This will easily cost his company 10 percent of sales..

At least 10 percent...maybe more...I heard rumors that there is competition in this field.

Here are 4 more: .. Lowes, Menards, Ace, and local hardware stores...

Cross this jerk and his business off the list.

[MichMan]

93. He retired from the company 15 years ago

[ProfessorGAC]

94. Somebody Tell This "Genius" That He Ran A Store

I know, a large chain, but he ran a store. That does not require a special kind of brightness. It's a store.

[Lanius]

96. LOL. Cool down, grandpa.

Unemployment is relatively low (thanks, Obama), so many of these companies are raising wages to attract (i.e. poach) workers from other employers. The tax cuts have nothing to do with this.