Sen. Clinton Quiet About Past Wal-Mart Ties

Enoch · Mar 10, 2006

Clinton Quiet About Past Wal-Mart Ties

By BETH FOUHY
AP Political Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- With retail giant Wal-Mart under fire to improve its labor and health care policies, one Democrat with deep ties to the company - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton - has started feeling her share of the political heat.

Clinton served on Wal-Mart's board of directors for six years when her husband was governor of Arkansas. And the Rose Law Firm, where she was a partner, handled many of the Arkansas-based company's legal affairs.

Hillary Clinton had kind words for Wal-Mart as recently as 2004, when she told an audience at the convention of the National Retail Federation that her time on the board "was a great experience in every respect."

But in recent months, as the company has become a target for Democratic activists, she has largely steered clear of any mention of Wal-Mart. And late last year, Clinton's re-election campaign returned a $5,000 contribution from Wal-Mart, citing "serious differences with current company practices."

As Clinton sheds her Arkansas past and looks ahead to a possible 2008 presidential run, the Wal-Mart issue presents an exquisite dilemma: how to reconcile the political demands she faces today with her history at a company many American consumers depend upon but many Democratic activists revile.

"The interesting question is not just Hillary Clinton's history at Wal-Mart, but why it's delicate for her to talk about Wal-Mart," said Charles Fishman, author of "The Wal-Mart Effect," a book on the company's impact on the national economy. "Plenty of Democrats denounce Wal-Mart, but there are also plenty of people who need it, love it and rely on it."

In 1986, when Wal-Mart's founder, Sam Walton, tapped Clinton to be the company's first female board member, Wal-Mart was a fraction of its current size, with $11.9 billion in net sales.

Today, Wal-Mart is the world's largest retailer and largest private employer, with over $312 billion in sales last year and 1.3 million employees or "associates" in the U.S. alone. But recently, the company has drawn intense scrutiny for its labor practices - from its wages to the lack of affordable health coverage for employees, to its stiff resistance to unionization.

Throughout the 1980s, both Bill and Hillary Clinton nurtured relationships with Walton, a conservative Republican and by far Arkansas' most influential businessman.

Among other things, Hillary Clinton sought Walton's help in 1983 for Bill Clinton's so-called Blue Ribbon Commission on Education, a major effort to improve Arkansas' troubled public schools. The overhaul became a centerpiece of Clinton's governorship.

And Wal-Mart's Made in America campaign, which for years touted the company's sales of American products in its stores, was launched after Bill Clinton persuaded Walton to help save 200 jobs at an Arkansas shirt manufacturing plant. The Made in America campaign has virtually vanished in recent years, as the company's manufacturing has gradually moved overseas - another point of criticism by many anti-Wal-Mart activists.

The Clintons also benefited financially from Wal-Mart. Hillary Clinton was paid $18,000 each year she served on the board, plus $1,500 for each meeting she attended. By 1993 she had accumulated at least $100,000 in Wal-Mart stock, according to Bill Clinton's federal financial disclosure that year. The Clintons also flew for free on Wal-Mart corporate planes 14 times in 1990 and 1991 in preparation for Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential bid.

Wal-Mart has little to say about Hillary Clinton's board service, and will not release minutes of the company's board meetings during her tenure. Lorraine Voles, Clinton's communications director, turned down a request for an interview with the senator.

Still, details have come to light over the years.
Click to expand...

Continued…

AP

rsr · Mar 11, 2006

That's right. Evil Hillary, working hand in hand with evil Wal-Mart, which the majority of Americans hate.

Oops. The majority of Americans shop or work there and like the cheap Chinese goods they get.

Never mind.

Joseph_Botwinick · Mar 11, 2006

This isn't really a story. It is no secret that Sam Walton himself was quite a different person with different values than his hiers are. Sam is dead and the kids are now running the company. That was then, this is now.

Joseph Botwinick

KenH · Mar 11, 2006

Excellent point, Joseph.

SBGrace · Mar 14, 2006

Originally posted by Enoch:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr /> Clinton Quiet About Past Wal-Mart Ties

By BETH FOUHY
AP Political Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- With retail giant Wal-Mart under fire to improve its labor and health care policies, one Democrat with deep ties to the company - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton - has started feeling her share of the political heat.

Clinton served on Wal-Mart's board of directors for six years when her husband was governor of Arkansas. And the Rose Law Firm, where she was a partner, handled many of the Arkansas-based company's legal affairs.

Hillary Clinton had kind words for Wal-Mart as recently as 2004, when she told an audience at the convention of the National Retail Federation that her time on the board "was a great experience in every respect."

But in recent months, as the company has become a target for Democratic activists, she has largely steered clear of any mention of Wal-Mart. And late last year, Clinton's re-election campaign returned a $5,000 contribution from Wal-Mart, citing "serious differences with current company practices."

As Clinton sheds her Arkansas past and looks ahead to a possible 2008 presidential run, the Wal-Mart issue presents an exquisite dilemma: how to reconcile the political demands she faces today with her history at a company many American consumers depend upon but many Democratic activists revile.

"The interesting question is not just Hillary Clinton's history at Wal-Mart, but why it's delicate for her to talk about Wal-Mart," said Charles Fishman, author of "The Wal-Mart Effect," a book on the company's impact on the national economy. "Plenty of Democrats denounce Wal-Mart, but there are also plenty of people who need it, love it and rely on it."

In 1986, when Wal-Mart's founder, Sam Walton, tapped Clinton to be the company's first female board member, Wal-Mart was a fraction of its current size, with $11.9 billion in net sales.

Today, Wal-Mart is the world's largest retailer and largest private employer, with over $312 billion in sales last year and 1.3 million employees or "associates" in the U.S. alone. But recently, the company has drawn intense scrutiny for its labor practices - from its wages to the lack of affordable health coverage for employees, to its stiff resistance to unionization.

Throughout the 1980s, both Bill and Hillary Clinton nurtured relationships with Walton, a conservative Republican and by far Arkansas' most influential businessman.

Among other things, Hillary Clinton sought Walton's help in 1983 for Bill Clinton's so-called Blue Ribbon Commission on Education, a major effort to improve Arkansas' troubled public schools. The overhaul became a centerpiece of Clinton's governorship.

And Wal-Mart's Made in America campaign, which for years touted the company's sales of American products in its stores, was launched after Bill Clinton persuaded Walton to help save 200 jobs at an Arkansas shirt manufacturing plant. The Made in America campaign has virtually vanished in recent years, as the company's manufacturing has gradually moved overseas - another point of criticism by many anti-Wal-Mart activists.

The Clintons also benefited financially from Wal-Mart. Hillary Clinton was paid $18,000 each year she served on the board, plus $1,500 for each meeting she attended. By 1993 she had accumulated at least $100,000 in Wal-Mart stock, according to Bill Clinton's federal financial disclosure that year. The Clintons also flew for free on Wal-Mart corporate planes 14 times in 1990 and 1991 in preparation for Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential bid.

Wal-Mart has little to say about Hillary Clinton's board service, and will not release minutes of the company's board meetings during her tenure. Lorraine Voles, Clinton's communications director, turned down a request for an interview with the senator.

Still, details have come to light over the years.
Click to expand...

Continued…

AP </font>[/QUOTE]I never knew this... Very Interesting and I think it does have connections to Hillary, if she decides to run for President....

If Hillary thought, that was then and this is now, then she would not have returned the money... So clearly she's trying to distance herself from Wal-Mart....

Joseph_Botwinick · Mar 14, 2006

Your logic is lacking greatly.

Joseph Botwinick

Bible Believing Bill · Mar 14, 2006

There are alot of things I don't like about Hillary Clinton, but being connected to Wal Mart is not something I would even give a second thought.

Lets be realistic people, millions of people shop at Wallyworld everyday. Thoes millions of people keep Wal Mart in business, therefore using your logic I should shun them since they are helping the evil empire. (BTW The Evil Empire of Retail is really Best Buy.)

Bill

RockRambler · Mar 16, 2006

Wal-Mart is the best friend the working man and woman has ever had.

Bismarck · Mar 18, 2006

Originally posted by rsr:
That's right. Evil Hillary, working hand in hand with evil Wal-Mart, which the majority of Americans hate.

Oops. The majority of Americans shop or work there and like the cheap Chinese goods they get.

Never mind.
Click to expand...

Please view the FREE ONLINE PBS documentary, "Is Wal-Mart Good for America?"

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/

It clearly shows the links between COMMUNIST CHINA and WAL-MART.

I ask that the following connection be considered:

A) Bill Clinton is strongly suspected of having taken millions of dollars from RED CHINA for BOTH of his campaigns ('92, '96). (The only reason we don't have proof is because the FBI men assigned to the case wound up sleeping with Chinese women, later revealed to be Chinese Ministry of Intelligence agents.)

B) Hillary Clinton has strong ties to WAL-MART, which is, de facto, naught but the North American DISTRIBUTION FRONT for the COMMUNIST CHINESE economy. (Please note: Communist China DUMPS their cheap goods on us... exactly as European Imperialist powers DUMPED cheap goods on the Third World, to destroy THEIR economies... Red China views itself as "getting the Evil Capitalist Imperialists back"... They have so undermined our economy that I invite you to check the tags of all the clothes you got for Christmas... they will read, "Manufactured in Honduras / Dominican Republic from American fibers"... And those textile businesses are largely owned by CHINA... That is, America is now nothing more than a COLONY good for NOTHING but the production of RAW MATERIALS... he he he he ha ha ha ha he ha ha he he... I would be good for Americans to at least hear their enemies laughing at them, because indeed they are...)

Bismarck · Mar 18, 2006

Originally posted by Bible Believing Bill:
There are alot of things I don't like about Hillary Clinton, but being connected to Wal Mart is not something I would even give a second thought.

Lets be realistic people, millions of people shop at Wallyworld everyday. Thoes millions of people keep Wal Mart in business, therefore using your logic I should shun them since they are helping the evil empire. (BTW The Evil Empire of Retail is really Best Buy.)

Bill
Click to expand...

You SHOULD shun them AND Wal-Mart...

Do you cavort with those whose directly FUND YOUR ENEMIES?

If your neighbor was a KNOWN SOVIET AGENT during the Cold War, would you invite him over for your BBQs?

One reason why Wal-Mart has "low low prices" is because their Chinese wares are manufactured by Chinese Political Dissidents in Chinese Communist Gulags.

So anyone who buys from Wal-Mart...

Is helping imprison non-Communists, Christians, and other Freedom Loving Chinese who don't like their nation being ruled by the REDS.

If your neighbor helps keep Chinese Christians in Labor Gulags, is your neighbor HELPING or HARMING the cause?

Daisy · Mar 18, 2006

If I used to wear Walmart ties, I'd be quiet about it, too.

Bible Believing Bill · Mar 18, 2006

Originally posted by Daisy:
If I used to wear Walmart ties, I'd be quiet about it, too.
Click to expand...

ROFL!!!!!!!!!!

Jim1999 · Mar 18, 2006

Could I wear a Walmart tie with my clerical collar?

Cheers,

Jim

mcdirector · Mar 18, 2006

Originally posted by Jim1999:
Could I wear a Walmart tie with my clerical collar?

Cheers,

Jim
Click to expand...

Don't you dare!

Jim1999 · Mar 18, 2006

Wouldn't go over well at Sears anyway....

Cheers,

Jim

mcdirector · Mar 18, 2006

Jim1999 · Mar 18, 2006

Could get them to rubberstamp the little white portion that hides under my beard. Only the little old ladies sitting in the very front pew would see it....We could subsidize our income with clergy billboards.

Cheers,

Jim

Pssst...Can you tell there is a lull in the basketball games for me?

mcdirector · Mar 18, 2006

Oh, come on Jim -- I'm watching and posting. Reading during commercials. I'm trying to finish the Chronicles of Narnia before I have to go back to school.

(all right -- I'm probably not doing any of it very well Go Hoosiers!)

mcdirector · Mar 18, 2006

I've got some rubber stamps at school. I could send you a selection next week to try out. Of course they say things like:

Parent signature required.
Put your name on your paper.

But it might give you a feel for whether it would work or not

Jim1999 · Mar 18, 2006

I am following Gonzaga, but it is a tight game. Right now my chart reads Duke and Gonzaga facing off,,and then Duke playing UConn for the Final.

Cheers,

Jim

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