Wal-Mart a big giver to 2004 U.S. election

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4363393/

Wal-Mart, the largest company in the U.S., looks set to pass a new milestone this year: It is well on its way to becoming the biggest business contributor to the 2004 election campaign.

After years of little involvement in federal politics, the Arkansas-based retail giant is currently the largest corporate donor through its political action committee (PAC), having doled out nearly $1.3 million to federal candidates until the end of January, according to Politicalmoneyline.com.

<snip>

In late 1999, Senate majority leader Trent Lott, then-Arkansas congressman Jay Dickey and others sat down with the company's management in Bentonville and warned that they needed to find a way to play the Washington game. "We told them they should become a participant in the process before the crises hit," says Mr. Dickey, who lost his bid for re-election in 2002.

<snip>

Wal-Mart's political contributions have been spread widely in Congress, with more than 220 members of the House and Senate receiving checks of $1,000 to $17,500 so far this election cycle. About 85 per cent of the money has gone to Republicans.

[rockymountaindem]

1. Yet another reason not to shop at Wal-Mart.

As if we needed more.

[DuctapeFatwa]

2. There's really no need for any other stores, as demand for consumer goods

drops off, companies are right to transition to arms and energy related products and services and let's get the odds and ends consolidated into a company that will be able to meet demand and still make a profit!

[madrchsod]

3. it`s amazing how a

small the amount of money can buy such huge benefits. congress can be bought cheaper than a high priced escort.

[pscot]

13. "they should become a participant in the process"

When the mob does shit like that it's called extortion and racketeering. When a congressman does it, it's "how the game is played". Jail is too good for these elected scumbags.

[stevebreeze]

4. no doubt 100% of 'right to work" candidates

or more accurately right to work for less.
:kick:

[Badger1]

5. We refuse

to shop at the Evil Empire.

[Raster]

6. This tells the entire story...

"About 85 per cent of the money has gone to Republicans."

[AZCat]

7. I regret that I have but one wallet...

with which to boycott these bastards- and to save my country.

[camero]

8. We should call campaign contributions for what they are

Bribery. Legalized bribery.

[bvar22]

9. This quote says it all!

"In late 1999, Senate majority leader Trent Lott, then-Arkansas congressman Jay Dickey and others sat down with the company's management in Bentonville and warned that they needed to find a way to play the Washington game. "We told them they should become a participant in the process before the crises hit," says Mr. Dickey,"

This is worse than the script from a bad
B grade gangster movie.

Lott & Dickey: Bagmen for bush*.
The last sentence is a not so thinly veiled threat.

Can you say EXTORTION !!!

[rfkrocks]

11. GallMart

Play the game, great civics lessons-while we are banning peoples civil rights in the constitution lets add "i solemly swear to play the Washington Game" to the Presidents oath of office. BTW its time to unionize the smilie faces working there :grr:

[I AM SPARTACUS]

10. Wal-Mart has "dead-peasant" policies on their rented rePubs...

...well, maybe not, but is it beyond the imagination?


http://www.workdayminnesota.org/view_article.php?id=4fcadcacaed04b00c3addfd78860641b

Court slams Walmart's use of 'dead peasant' insurance
January 19, 2004

NEW ORLEANS — One of Wal-Mart's long list of worker abuses--"dead peasants" insurance where it takes out life insurance policies on its low-level workers and collects the cash when they die--got a kick in the head in federal court.

That's because the estate of one dead worker, Douglas Sims, sued for damages, saying Wal-Mart robbed his heirs of money that was rightfully theirs. Lower federal courts agreed and, on Jan. 5, so did the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans.

It sent the case back down to lower courts to determine how much money Sims' widow, Deborah, should get.

[PartyPooper]

12. "Helping the community"...from the cradle to the grave?

:grr:

[I AM SPARTACUS]

16. well, for Congressmen, it's a way to "give back to their constituency"...

[Tank in Texas]

14. Wal Martization continues unchecked

How long is it going to take before we find people to stand up to this slow takeover of our country?

Why can't liberals organize well enough to form gigantic PACs of our own to rival the big corporations (or at least contribute well enough to compete?)

[Hotler]

17. I'll tell you what it's gong to take.

Tank in Texas,"How long is it going to take before we find people to stand up to this slow takeover of our country?" Right here, it starts with us. What's it going to take? It's going to take marching in the streets the like history has never seen before. A combination of labor and civil rights marches of the past all rolled into one. It's time to force Ashcrofts hand and meet the neo-cons head to head. It's time for the American worker unite, union and non-union together. Marching in the streets will get our voices heard. Some of us will have to take a hit for the team. (labeled enemy combatant and hauled off for the Bush crime family never to be heard from again)I'm willing to take that first hit.

[Zhade]

18. Right there with you, my friend.

NT!

[Tank in Texas]

22. With you all the way

I knew the answer when I asked. Marching in the streets is great but groups can be diverted into "safe" areas where pols won't have to see them. Also, any march is subject to the whims of media coverage.

I am interested in putting together concentrated media campaigns utilizing Big Corporate's own infrastructure against them.

[newyawker99]

27. Hi Hotler!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[fishnfla]

15. I hear their sponsorship of NPR's Morning Edition now

some bullshit blurb, how well they take care of their associates. they are on a soft sell PR campaign. 85% GOP donations huh? Crap.

[fearnobush]

19. Been Boycotting Puke-Mart for 6 month now.

Wal-Mart will not see me this camping season. Christmas, I also convinced my wife not to shop their. BOYCOTT WAL-MART!!!!!!

[notbush]

20. Better ask the boss for a raise

It sounds good to say "I won't buy anything from Wal-mart", but you better have some bucks in your pocket to shop other places.
You better check out Target, Cosco,K-Mart........and other alternatives. They play the same game, unfortunately because Americans want the cheapest prices, even if they're cuttin' their neighbors neck.

[dawn]

21. You can also just buy less stuff.

That works for me.

I've never shopped at Wal-Mart. Never will.

I do pay more for stuff when I buy it, and it doesn't bother me because you get what you pay for.

And no, hubby and I aren't doing well in this economy. So we just buy less.

[llmart]

26. Hubby and I

do the same thing. There isn't anything at Wal-Mart that you cannot do without. I'm willing to pay a little more, buy less. Have never set foot in a Wal-Mart and never will. Stop rationalizing that you "can't afford to shop elsewhere". What you can't afford to do is subsidize these places at the expense of others. Read Barbara Ehrenreich's book "Nickel and Dimed". Educate yourself.

[llmart]

25. Costco

donates mostly to Dems.

[revree]

23. BOYCOTT THE BASTARDS

Their jobs suck and their products are cheap exports.

[callous taoboy]

24. Have not set foot

in Wally World in over two years, have convinced my relatives to stay out as well.

[bushisanidiot]

28. Cheap Labor Repukes Strike Again!

anti-labor, anti-human rights, cheap-labor repukes! they condone slave labor in the sweat shops too by looking the other way..

The repukes know how Wal-Mart keep it's prices low and they are just happier than hell to take hush money from that horrible ANTI-AMERICAN organization!