Georgia Pacific employees encouraged to support Romney
According to the pro-union website In These Times, tens of thousands of Georgia Pacific employees have been given voter information packets telling them that their jobs could depend on the results of the Nov. 6 presidential contest – and that the owners are big fans of Mitt Romney.
Georgia Pacific is headquartered in Atlanta and has 35,000 employees. State by state, Georgia has the largest cache of GP workers — about 7,000 at 20 facilities, according to the company website.
From the cover letter by Koch Industries President and Chief Operating Officer Dave Robertson:
While we are typically told before each Presidential election that it is important and historic, I believe the upcoming election will determine what kind of America future generations will inherit.
If we elect candidates who want to spend hundreds of billions in borrowed money on costly new subsidies for a few favored cronies, put unprecedented regulatory burdens on businesses, prevent or delay important new construction projects, and excessively hinder free trade, then many of our more than 50,000 U.S. employees and contractors may suffer the consequences, including higher gasoline prices, runaway inflation, and other ills.
The packet included an anti-Obama editorial by Charles Koch, a pro-Romney editorial by David Koch, and a list of candidates, apparently different for each state, “that have been supported by Koch companies or by KOCHPAC, our employee political action committee,” according to the Robertson letter.
Before your underwear is twisted beyond all recognition, keep in mind that, outside Georgia, the GP workforce in every state numbers 1,500 or less.
Inside Georgia, remember that metro Atlanta businesses this summer attempted to show their clout by encouraging their traffic-delayed employees to support the one-cent TSPLOST.
It didn’t seem to work.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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142 comments Add your comment
Ostrich Racer
October 15th, 2012
9:14 am
Scare tactics with employees. Charming.
Just Wait
October 15th, 2012
9:14 am
Obviously Koch Industries is not one of the “favored cronies.”
East Cobb RINO, Inc. (LLC)
October 15th, 2012
9:14 am
So now I can add GP (in addition to Westgate Resorts) to the list of companies for which I will never send a resume to.
td
October 15th, 2012
9:21 am
East Cobb RINO, Inc. (LLC)
October 15th, 2012
9:14 am
So now I can add GP (in addition to Westgate Resorts) to the list of companies for which I will never send a resume to.
I guess you should open your own business or work in the tech industry, become a lawyer or work for the Federal government because all other companies in Georgia support Romney.
td
October 15th, 2012
9:22 am
East Cobb RINO, Inc. (LLC)
October 15th, 2012
9:14 am
BTW: I told my employees a similar thing last week and I own a small business.
Matlock
October 15th, 2012
9:27 am
I, too, own a construction company and I pretty much laid it out there. If you vote for Obama, you are killing yourself and small businesses. You’d be surprised to know tat many of my low skilled workerd don’t even know who Joe Biden is. I could have said that Sarah Palin was Obama’s VP and they would support her. Typical Obama voter.
Cherokee
October 15th, 2012
9:30 am
I do too, td, own a small business that is.
If you think that a Romney election will benefit small businesses, I have some swampland in Florida that you might be interested in looking at.
The Koch Brothers? Sure Romney will help them.
Small mom and pop businesses? No way no how…
Road Scholar
October 15th, 2012
9:33 am
td: What did you threaten them with? Force them to reading your posts?
And just what will you do in retribution?
sharon
October 15th, 2012
9:35 am
I thought that an individual voter was just that……….they vote for and by themselves.
Nice to know about this pressure just as early vote is getting under way.
Is GP going to be investigated for this attempt on voters?
no one has the right to tell / force another person how to vote. NO ONE !
JoeP
October 15th, 2012
9:36 am
Typical Republicans. Uninformed and arrogant.
MANGLER
October 15th, 2012
9:38 am
So it’s starting to look like the threats of job losses from Obama winning a 2nd term will become true. Only it won’t be from the economic regulations that are in place and that will be in place, since those are actually helping. It will be from GOP business owners firing people to make their point. Things are getting better and the GOP blocking every single attempt by the administration to pass anything isn’t working, nor is threatening that the sky will fall should he win again. So the next step is to make the sky fall by actually hurting your business to then blame it on Obama. Sound silly? That’s what these “job creators” are threatening.
mini mimi
October 15th, 2012
9:39 am
Yep
Big Hat
October 15th, 2012
9:45 am
To paraphrase that famous National Lampoon cover, “Buy this candidate or we’ll shoot this dog!”
joe
October 15th, 2012
9:45 am
Obama hates capitalism, so if you are a business owner or even a business worker, why would you vote for him? GP is right, a vote for obama is a vote for losing jobs.
carlosgvv
October 15th, 2012
9:46 am
When Big Business talks, frightened employees listen.
Jai
October 15th, 2012
9:49 am
BS
td
October 15th, 2012
9:57 am
sharon
October 15th, 2012
9:35 am
I thought that an individual voter was just that……….they vote for and by themselves.
Nice to know about this pressure just as early vote is getting under way.
Is GP going to be investigated for this attempt on voters?
no one has the right to tell / force another person how to vote. NO ONE !
Should unions be investigated for telling their members how to vote? Should churches? How about college professors?
Why should a business not be able to tell their employees how important their vote is and how it may effect their future? Is this not why everyone is voting in the first place for their future?
JackThrock
October 15th, 2012
10:04 am
It’s simple: a second Obama term will mean higher taxes, higher healthcare costs, excessive regulation, more debt, higher energy costs and a diminished role in the world. The impact of this on my small business will be clear and compelling, requiring me to slow or stop hiring and, possibly, to let people go. The choice is clear. I want to grow my small business, but having an anti-capitalist in the White House will make that very difficult, if not impossible. I have never seen a president more overtly opposed to private sector growth, both in words and deeds. I built this business by working 24/7 and risked everything I had to make it successful. All of my employees are good and decent people who deserve to KNOW what will likely happen if Obama is re-elected. These are facts, not scare tactics or intimidation. Just facts. Do what you want. Vote for whom you believe will serve the country and you best. But understand and KNOW up front, based on a detailed analysis and review of the policies and proposals, a second Obama term will hurt our business and thus hurt your job prospects.
To those on this board who find these admonitions incredulous, let me ask this: would you rather people like me NOT advise their employees of the likely consequences of this election? Would you rather I reduce the workforce or lower their pay without any notice at all? What, exactly, would you suggest small business owners like me do if we are convinced, as we are, that a second Obama term will hurt our business?
cc
October 15th, 2012
10:06 am
An employee of a business would be foolish indeed to cast his/her vote for Obama. Unless ObamaCare is repealed, you are going to see many, many employees of larger companies become part-time employees rather the full-time employees, and that will occur very soon. Some businesses will elect to either close or move from the U.S. Voters should be aware of the consequences of their actions and how it will directly impact them as employees. If anything, Georgia Pacific’s action was an effort to educate their employees.
Employees are certainly free to vote as they choose. In this presidential election, their vote not only affects fiscal and foreign policy of the nation and whether we will survive as a nation, it will also determine their immediate financial future as well.
The power of choice should always be used wisely . . .
Mary
October 15th, 2012
10:08 am
Matlock, Your comment makes no sense?? Guess that makes you typical Romney voter!
td
October 15th, 2012
10:10 am
Road Scholar
October 15th, 2012
9:33 am
No threats just an education session where we talked about which President would be better for our business and if our business decreases then what will be the ramifications.
whitec477
October 15th, 2012
10:11 am
…and they’ve obviously done some research into what a Romney Presidency will do to the country as well, huh? Sometimes we are our own worst enemy…
mehlman rings twice
October 15th, 2012
10:15 am
I’m supporting Obama but I don’t see anything wrong with business owners offering their opinions to their employees on the state of their businesses. In fact, isn’t that what defense contractors have done over the years? Boeing emploees are told to support candidates who support projects that will benefit the Boeing workforce while Gruman employees are told to support candidates who support project that will benefit the Gruman workforce. A lot of times the these employees are of the same ideological persuasion.
Brosephus™
October 15th, 2012
10:16 am
Should unions be investigated for telling their members how to vote? Should churches?
I belong to a union, and while they have made their own endorsements, they have not sent me a letter telling me to support their decision or else. They have a separate form in which you can contribute to their PAC if you want to, since dues can’t be used for political purposes.
As for churches, I’m sure you got your panties twisted when the Black clergy started telling their congregations to stay home and not vote at all, right?
DJ Sniper
October 15th, 2012
10:23 am
These corporations are out of control.. They have no business telling people who they should and should not vote for. Same thing goes for churches and any other entity. Educating voters on both choices is perfectly fine, but telling people who they should vote for, or implying that their jobs and what not will be in jeopardy is just flat out wrong.
mehlman rings twice
October 15th, 2012
10:25 am
Joe @ 9:45 AM
Exactly jobs were we adding the previous 18 months before Obama took office?
Also, why would businesses want to add jobs when all the statistics I see show that productivity is up 14%.
JR
October 15th, 2012
10:32 am
Educate my arse. You guys are hypocrits of the highest order. Coersion of your employees is taking away their rights. A church, a professor and union can plead for me to vote for their candidate. Neither can take away my job. You guys are more Facist than anything.
Denying your employees their freedom of speech and association goes against the First Amendment. Saying you are making them an educated voter is no different than what Mao Zedong did to the peasants of China. Re-education camps for those that don’t follow your doctrine.
You breed discontent and contempt for your party and your business by doing such things.
Darwin
October 15th, 2012
10:33 am
Yes, GP is for lower taxes, unless it benefits them.
mehlman rings twice
October 15th, 2012
10:37 am
Jack Throck @ 10:04 AM
What do you mean by a diminished role in the world? If that means Europe building up and improving the capability of their military to help contain threats closer to their backyard then I’m all for it. These countries continually want to be thought of as First World countries but don’t want to shoulder the burden of First World leadership.
Scott Fresno
October 15th, 2012
10:41 am
Yes, all that Obama over-regulation the last 4 years has really put a hurt on the Koch brothers. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/19/us-usa-billionaires-forbes-idUSBRE88I0WA20120919
Greg Guest
October 15th, 2012
10:41 am
Hi, it’s Greg from Georgia-Pacific. Here’s our response to the mischaracterizations in the In These Times story. http://bit.ly/V0FCtl
mehlman rings twice
October 15th, 2012
10:44 am
Scott Fresno @ 10:41
Would you please stop busting the GOP’s bubble?
Georgia
October 15th, 2012
10:48 am
Sixty Million people are expected to watch BaRocky 2. (If you remember the movie, Rocky won in the rematch, so expect the same with BaRocky 2.)
I get though campaigns by saying to myself over and over, “It’s only another Rocky Movie.”
ARIANNA!!!!!
woody
October 15th, 2012
10:51 am
It’s why we have secret voting. Thank God for the Constitution of the United States. I seems to weather these sporadic totalitarian influences OK, through the centuries.
Buckhead Boy
October 15th, 2012
10:51 am
Charles’ and David’s wealth has doubled since President Obama took office — from $25 to $50 billion. Four more years of just that will indubitably be catastrophic for them.
Jim, NO violation
October 15th, 2012
10:51 am
Jim,
Unlike some members of the Obama Regime, (HHS Secretary for example), the owners of Ga Pacific have not violated any law. See Hatch Act.
td
October 15th, 2012
10:52 am
Brosephus™
October 15th, 2012
10:16 am
The letter Jim posted above was not even an endorsement but rather a education effort.
td
October 15th, 2012
10:55 am
DJ Sniper
October 15th, 2012
10:23 am
“These corporations are out of control.. They have no business telling people who they should and should not vote for.”
It appears that your ranting is BS. There is nothing but education going on in the information that was posted by Jim.
Partisay
October 15th, 2012
11:00 am
Matlock
October 15th, 2012
9:27 am
I, too, own a construction company and I pretty much laid it out there. If you vote for Obama, you are killing yourself and small businesses. You’d be surprised to know tat many of my low skilled workerd don’t even know who Joe Biden is. I could have said that Sarah Palin was Obama’s VP and they would support her. Typical Obama voter.
_______________________________________________________________________________
If your dumb employees didn’t even know who the vice president is, then i doubt very much they know who Ryan is, or very much if anything about the election process. Typical Obama voter? So they were all going to vote for Obama before you had your little talk with them? So what are they now? Typical dumb Romney supporters?
I call BS on this one
October 15th, 2012
11:00 am
GP and the Koch brothers are basically disclosing that for its best interests for Romney to be elected since the company has donated millions and would benefit post-election.
This should not be news to anyone and no great surprise. All businesses work upon the fact that revenue justifies fixed costs such as labor.
This practice is common of projecting revenues to crash post-election if an unfavorable candidate is elected. Unfortunately this is usually total baloney. I would like GP or anyone to show that they are projecting a major crash in revenues on the contingency of Obama being elected.
This is a farcical showing of strength just as having masked hooded men standing at the voting booths was. Old tactics new methods but still the same goal to keep people disenfranchised and vote against their economics.
Any business man that thinks that the US needs to subsidize or bend regulations for them to work in this country should think about doing business somewhere else. There are factories all over the world that allow slave labor. Please go f them over not us.
So GP or any other business that believes that government is doing too much to help people and we have turned to an entitlement society can go to China or Cambodia and take advantage of the disenfranchised people over there. Here in America we vote our heart and guts and not a corporate line fed to us by BS spin masters..
"Educate" your employees?
October 15th, 2012
11:01 am
You mean coerce, intimidate, or otherwise pressure? Because they’re what, too stupid to make decisions outside of the workplace on their own? I suppose you should also “educate” them on how to raise their kids, what religion to practice, etc because there are just some things other people need “help with”.
Right. Imagine if the Koch brothers spent their vast wealth building hospitals and schools instead of trying to play king-maker in our democratic republic. 1 man 1 vote? Nah, that’s soooo 1782. To the rich go the spoils! More tax cuts please!
phil
October 15th, 2012
11:01 am
It’s a no brainer people. Regardless of how many Georgia ceo’s endorse Williard Romney, Georgia is still going with Williard. That determination was made some time ago. Republicans will always carry Georgia, even if the nominee is a cult member.
Brosephus™
October 15th, 2012
11:03 am
td
Sure…. Accompanying the “educational” information with an anti-Obama and pro-Romney editorial… I guess that was for educational purposes too. I love it how conservatives love to claim the status of defender of freedoms until those freedoms run counter to their perceptions. Then, they have no problem with stomping on a freedom or two.
td
October 15th, 2012
11:04 am
I call BS on this one
October 15th, 2012
11:00 am
“Any business man that thinks that the US needs to subsidize or bend regulations for them to work in this country should think about doing business somewhere else”
They have been going overseas for many years now and this is the reason all these uneducated libs do not have jobs now and live off the government. You libs are cutting your own throats.
Partisay
October 15th, 2012
11:05 am
td – Should unions be investigated for telling their members how to vote? Should churches? How about college professors?
They aren’t employed by the unions. They aren’t employed by the churches. They aren’t employed by their college professors. Your pastor doesn’t affect the money you bring home to buy your groceries. Your college professor doesn’t supply the money you that you need to pay your electric bill with.
Try to stay on topic and bring some worthwhile comparisons please.
Dina
October 15th, 2012
11:05 am
“What, exactly, would you suggest small business owners like me do if we are convinced, as we are, that a second Obama term will hurt our business?”
Who convinced you? … Yourself or talking points?
Stop listening to others and start thinking for youself. Actually think about where we were 4 years ago….and how we got there. Stop complaining and start thinking positively…work with what is happening and not against.
What is wrong with all the grown-ups (?) around me? This used to be a country of big ideas ….The glass can be have full…..if you choose to see it that way. Stop the small thinking….it’s hurting us all.
Retired Soldier
October 15th, 2012
11:05 am
I wonder how many unions will send out pro-Obama voter education packages? Just wonderin.
td
October 15th, 2012
11:07 am
Brosephus™
October 15th, 2012
11:03 am
Bogus BS. I once worked at Lockheed and heard them tell us over and over again in 1984 that we had to vote for Mondale because he supported the union while at the same time he was stating he would cut the aircraft that we built.
How stupid was that at cutting your own throats?
Bob Loblaw
October 15th, 2012
11:08 am
Why are we surprised that the Koch Bros. did this? Every employee of theirs knows where they stand and where millions of their employers’ dollars go. Nothing to see here. Move on.
Buckhead Boy
October 15th, 2012
11:12 am
“Jim, No violation,” if I had one-tenth of the fines paid by Koch Industries for violating laws here and abroad, I’d be about the richest person in Georgia. And, that’s not even including the illegal sales made to Iran.
td
October 15th, 2012
11:12 am
Dina
October 15th, 2012
11:05 am
“What, exactly, would you suggest small business owners like me do if we are convinced, as we are, that a second Obama term will hurt our business?”
Who convinced you? … Yourself or talking points?
Stop listening to others and start thinking for youself. Actually think about where we were 4 years ago….and how we got there. Stop complaining and start thinking positively…work with what is happening and not against.
What is wrong with all the grown-ups (?) around me? This used to be a country of big ideas ….The glass can be have full…..if you choose to see it that way. Stop the small thinking….it’s hurting us all.
It is called education. Econ 101 tells you that you can not continue deficit spending at $1 trillion per year. Education teaches you that raising taxes on the top 1% back to the Clinton years only raises $80 billion per year is not going to balance the budget.
Yes, Educate yourself and learn that these policies are wrong for our nation.
Partisay
October 15th, 2012
11:14 am
Also just wondering. When you told your employees that this or that will happen if Obama is elected for a 2nd term, was it like telling everyone before he was elected the 1st term that if he was elected, he would take all of our guns away?
Brosephus™
October 15th, 2012
11:19 am
td
You had one experience in 1984, and I’ve gone through the elections of 2006, 2008, 2010, and now 2012 with the same union. Not once have they done anything to that level. As to the union and work that I do, it’s fairly easy to eductate yourself on who’s for you vs who’s against you. Also, we can’t use union dues for political purposes, so our union has it’s own PAC that takes voluntary contributions. Therefore, I don’t give to political purposes unless I explicitly choose to do so. Also, we have people with enough education and common sense to realize that our colleagues run the political spectrum of political ideology, so a one-size fits all model would never work. Unlike the people you support, our leaders understand that their thinking may not be the same as others, nor do they feel that they have to force others to think and act as they do.
As to cutting your own throats, the very people we vote on decided we needed to be responsible for paying down the debt on our own without help from anybody else. I’m willing to bet that will be on the mind of many of my colleagues when it’s time to cast that vote.
DJ Sniper
October 15th, 2012
11:21 am
If the Kochs were sending out info on both candidates, then that may not be such a big deal. As it stands, we pretty much know what they are trying to do.
DJ Sniper
October 15th, 2012
11:25 am
Good point Partisay. The wing nuts have been singing that song ever since Obama got elected. The VP of the NRA even went so far as to say that Obama is planning on repealing the 2nd Amendment. Sadly, there are plenty of low information voters who bought that lie hook, line, and sinker.
curious
October 15th, 2012
11:26 am
Hopefully, when GP gets into financial trouble, Obama won’t pull a Romney and say: “Let’em go bankrupt.”
the cat
October 15th, 2012
11:28 am
td-do you proudly display your certificate from the Newt Fan Club in your office? Do you think your phantom employees take you seriously? Maybe to your face but I’m sure they are laughing at you behind your back. Do you plan on going into the voting booth with them? LOL!
Republicans are cutting off the nose to spite the face
October 15th, 2012
11:30 am
CONS ARE needlessly self-destructive and over-reacting.
CONS are acting out and pursuing revenge in a way that
would damage other CONS more than the object of their anger.
Marie
October 15th, 2012
11:33 am
Matlock
“I, too, own a construction company… If you vote for Obama, you are killing yourself and small businesses. You’d be surprised to know that many of my low skilled workerd don’t even know who Joe Biden is. I could have said that Sarah Palin was Obama’s VP and they would support her. Typical Obama voter.”
Nope, typical illegal alien. Be honest, if you are a construction boss here in Georgia, your low wage workers aren’t even in the country legally. And that is the way you like it so that you can get away with less than minimum wage. It is people like you who hire non-legal workers who put the American worker out of work. How many of them actually speak English?
Retired Soldier
October 15th, 2012
11:35 am
Curious-
Did you know GM did go bankrupt? Did you know the money still hasn’t been repaid? They did with public money what Romney suggested be done with private money.
Laurie
October 15th, 2012
11:36 am
Thanks! Cause I needed just one more reason to vote for Obama. Unfortunately, Phil is right. To many ignorant folks living in Georgia, Romney is sure to win the state.
Republicans are cutting off the nose to spite the face
October 15th, 2012
11:38 am
@Retired Soldier
October 15th, 2012
11:05 am
I wonder how many unions will send out pro-Obama voter education packages? Just wonderin.
*******
There is a difference between sending out pro-Obama packages
and ORDERING people to vote for HIM.
This country has GONE TO THE DOGS.
Mary Elizabeth
October 15th, 2012
11:44 am
Citizens are much more likely to have their voices stifled under a Romney as President than under an Obama. This latest coercion toward workers by Georgia Pacific and the Koch Brothers is simply another reflection of that the stifling of the voices of ordinary citizens. In my opinion, Mitt Romney and the CEOS of companies who practice this type of coercion of employees do not respect average working class citizen. That fact has shown forth not only in Romney’s “47%” remarks, but in how his former employees have been treated. (See the video below to listen to Romney’s former employees voices.)
Romney is a Republican. We have Republican leadership in Georgia who, in my opinion, likewise do not respect the average state worker in Georgia, including public school teachers, and that shows in their present attempt to supplant traditional public schools with quasi-private public charter schools, that will be managed by private corporations for profit. Since this type of coercion can now happen to employees in Georgia Pacific, think of the later possiblities that will probably manifest to curb dissent in schools that are privatized. UnAmerican.
I want to elect a President (and leadership in Georgia) who understand, and have commitment to, average citizens and to the common good, not simply to the wealthier, more elite who are interconnected through their contacts and their mutual self-interests.
I am very concerned about the average American having his or her voice being stifled under Romney as President. Did you see the faces on the coal miners who were ordered, in this past week, to stand behind Romney in a recent photo event, without pay, by the coal miners’ boss who was highly praised by Romney at that event? Those coal miners’ faces were not committed to Romney – they were expressionless – and their eyes were vacant. To keep their jobs, workers have simply done what they were told to do, and what they have been told to do, in some cases, has been – through subtle coercion – to vote for Romney in November. (See the David Siegel thread on Jay Bookman’s blog in the past 10 days for one more example of this coercion of “lowly” employees by the CEOs of their companies).
If you think that there is a dichotomy between the classes now, just wait until Romney takes away Social Security and Medicare by privatizing these benefits for workers, and also creates a worker class that is far below the management class in status, income, and self-determination. Ordinary citizens will have even less voice then than they do now because they will be essentially “owned” by their higher eschelon bosses. This is not what our nation was designed to be about.
Journalist Chris Hayes has said that the thinking is wrong to believe that Republicans want less government and Democrats want more government. Hayes said that that is only a slogan that some of the Right-wing have tried to perpetuate. He said that Republicans want big government, also, but that they want government to serve their interests and the interests of the more wealthy of this nation.
The propaganda against President Obama has been deliberate and stealthy in order to cause average Americans to vote against their own best interests.
Don’t be fooled.
http://www.youtube.com/steelworkers
honested
October 15th, 2012
11:47 am
Here’s the on place you get to ‘vote twice’.
Vote for President Obama’s Re-Election….
Then buy products made by manufacturers other than GA Pacific.
It takes enough changes in purchasing to get their attention.
Retired Soldier
October 15th, 2012
11:48 am
REP-
You need to read again Galloway’s post. GP hasn’t “ordered” their employees to vote Romney, he has told them of the possible consequences if Obama is re-elected. If I was an employee I would be glad to know that information.
Jon Lester
October 15th, 2012
11:49 am
What do the Koch brothers care about higher gas prices? They’re in that business, too.
Neal Summers
October 15th, 2012
11:50 am
No company should try to coerce employees into voting one way or another. It is reprehensible. What worries me more is people like Jack Throck who have zero understanding of tne economy and yet parrots the GOP line about the President. None of it is true but Jack lacks the ability to know that or think for himself.
Brosephus™
October 15th, 2012
11:52 am
Did you know the money still hasn’t been repaid? They did with public money what Romney suggested be done with private money.
One only has to remember that, at the time of GM’s troubles, there were no private money sources lining up to aid GM. As is the case in other instances, the lender of last resort (the US government) came in to the rescue.
Retired Soldier
October 15th, 2012
11:54 am
ME-
I wrote Obama three times the first year he was in office. He never answered. Was my voice surpressed?
Neal Summers
October 15th, 2012
11:55 am
Retired Soldier – Its not information. Its propaganda. Shame that someone who served our country with honor cant see that.
Retired Soldier
October 15th, 2012
11:56 am
Brosephus-
Your opinion, not fact.
Emily
October 15th, 2012
11:57 am
Scare tactics/intimidation is exactly what you guys are doing. I’d hate to be one of your employers…I’d tell you all to kiss my ass…I’m voting for Obama…because he’s the better choice. If you think Romney will save your small business—you’re wrong…..small business owners are still considered middle class to Romney and he’s not interested in helping you. He lies non-stop, has no apparent clear plan in how to grow the economy. Unless he’s pulling 12 million jobs from his ass…its not going to happen. What he’ll do is he’ll blame the Obama administration if he gets elected of how he couldn’t create 12 million jobs in one term, and ask people for another 4 years to “get it right”. Meanwhile the economy is starting to pick up, and Romney will try to take credit for it…..Wake the hell up! If you have to threaten your workers by underlining it as “keeping them informed”…..you are really doing them an injustice cause you, yourself are not informed. Besides if you have to threaten your employees….then your business isn’t probably thriving to begin with anyhow.
Retired Soldier
October 15th, 2012
11:58 am
I can see what Galloway wrote, that is what I am commenting on, not what I think Galloway might or might not have meant. Shame on you for not sticking to the facts.
DJ Sniper
October 15th, 2012
12:00 pm
Retired, do you really think that the Koch brothers are sending out truthful information about Obama? We all know they are the driving force behind the effort to get Obama out of office, and we all know that the right is not above spreading lies and general misinformation about this administration.
Retired Soldier
October 15th, 2012
12:00 pm
Emily-
Two points:
1. What is Obama’s plan? Please don’t tell me more of what he is doing now.
2. Isn’t that what Obama has been doing for 4 years, blaming Bush?
Retired Soldier
October 15th, 2012
12:03 pm
DJ-
Do you think labor unions are sending out correct information about Romney? Your side hasn’t spread any lies or misinformation? I refer you to Libya.
Brosephus™
October 15th, 2012
12:05 pm
Your opinion, not fact.
If it’s opinion and not fact, I’m sure you can provide evidence to prove me wrong, right? Or is that your opinion masquerading as fact?
Partisay
October 15th, 2012
12:09 pm
Yes, he should tell us just what private money sources were lining up to help GM. Facts, right? Should be easy to do then.
Mary Elizabeth
October 15th, 2012
12:16 pm
Retired Soldier, you have your government pension, already, and so you are secure.
I would urge you to think more about the plight of the average American worker and what he or she would face in a Republican dominated government, with their policies that support the wealthy elite, and not the average America. Most Republican leaders want to use the average American (and their votes) to benefit themselves financially, imo. They are not looking after the common good of all, as I see it.
Emily
October 15th, 2012
12:18 pm
Besides Making Home affordable for helping people stay in their homes and modifying their loans, besides making prescription drugs more affordable than ever for the elderly, besides creating more jobs in this economy than Bush did in 8 years, besides helping students out by allowing them to stay on their parents insurance until 26, besides recovering most of the bail out money from Wall Street, and the Banks, beisdes creating a platform for SMALL BUSINESSES to barter/collaborate with other small business across the country to help them grow…….I guess he’s done nothing.
Douglas
October 15th, 2012
12:23 pm
I wonder what happens to employees if Romney is elected and they are still laid off?
Emily
October 15th, 2012
12:24 pm
Right Douglas….cause then who will they have to blame? They will still blame Obama.
Douglas
October 15th, 2012
12:25 pm
What is Romney’s plan all we are hearing is what he can do but no details
Retired Soldier
October 15th, 2012
12:33 pm
Emily-
You are oh so wrong. Jobs, less employed today than when Obama entered office. The major drug reform plan was passed under Bush, Obama;s is part of Obamacare, the same health plan that took 716 billion aware from Medicare. The mortgage program as been a failure by all accounts. Small business will tell you they are worse off today than 4 years ago, I know, I own one.
Mary Elizabeth
October 15th, 2012
12:34 pm
“Retired, do you really think that the Koch brothers are sending out truthful information about Obama? We all know they are the driving force behind the effort to get Obama out of office, and we all know that the right is not above spreading lies and general misinformation about this administration.”
===============================================
And, this effort to unseat President Obama has been going on by the Koch Brothers since 2010 (and before). Please read “The New Yorker” article, entitled, “Covert Operations: The billionaire brothers who are waging a war against Obama,” by Jayne Mayer – to learn of the many details that support this – in the August 30, 2010 edition of that magazine. Link provided, below:
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/08/30/100830fa_fact_mayer
Retired Soldier
October 15th, 2012
12:36 pm
M.E.
I am the average guy M.E. not wealthly, heck I spent the majority of my adult life in the military, not a place to become “wealthly”. I want LESS government and more personal responsibility.
Mary Elizabeth
October 15th, 2012
12:38 pm
When you get to The New Yorker article, hit “view as a single page” at the bottom of the first page for easier reading.
Retired Soldier
October 15th, 2012
12:41 pm
M.E.-
That is the American way, it’s called the 1st amendment. From day one if Obama was going to do what he said he would do in the primary, when he ran to the left of Clinton, then I wanted him to fail. That is because he espoused almost everything I am opposed to.
Is that anything different than liberals when a republican is president?
Mary Elizabeth
October 15th, 2012
12:42 pm
Retired Soldier, I am for personal responsibility, too, and that is why I worked 42 years of my life, before I retired. I simply think you have been mislead by propaganda.
Please reread the following which I had posted at the bottom of my long post, above.
“Journalist Chris Hayes has said that the thinking is wrong to believe that Republicans want less government and Democrats want more government. Hayes said that that is only a slogan that some of the right-wing have tried to perpetuate. He said that Republicans want big government, also, but that they want government to serve their interests and the interests of the more wealthy of this nation.
The propaganda against President Obama has been deliberate and stealthy in order to cause average Americans to vote against their own best interests.
Don’t be fooled.”
DJ Sniper
October 15th, 2012
12:45 pm
Hasn’t that line about $716 million being taken away from Medicare already been debunked?
Retired Soldier
October 15th, 2012
12:47 pm
I agree with you ME that some, even many Reps want to much govt. That is why I have been critical of Bush and particularly the Rep House, as they go along with Obama’s massive deficit spending.
But in general. Reps are for less govt.
Retired Soldier
October 15th, 2012
12:48 pm
DJ-
Nope, it was taken out to pay for Obamacare, ask the guys that work for Obama.
Jawbone
October 15th, 2012
12:53 pm
GP is owned by Koch Brothers one the largest private oil companies in the world. Big friends with Dick Chaney. Also responsible for most of the funding that went into the Wisconsin governors win and attack against Wisconsin collective bargining. Clearly not part of Mitt’s 45% govenment dependents (if you ignore corporate welfare…tax breaks). Closing factories in the US and importing from China is their game. Lay you off and hire labor for 35 cents an hour is how they operate. Then try to scare us into voting for their cronie (partner).
Jawbone
October 15th, 2012
1:02 pm
Talking points: Balance budget prior to 8 years of Bush/Cheny/Koch. Grand Theft America resulting in largest financial failure in history, again paid for by American public though TARP started by Bush. 8 years of Bush set us back 25 years. Obama is sucessfully turn things around but everyone is going to have to pay for it include Koch and GP. Claming to be patriots but truly only crooks.
DJ Sniper
October 15th, 2012
1:04 pm
Yea, the GOP is for smaller government except when it comes to stuff like women’s reproductive health. At that point, they want as much government intervention as possible.
Carol
October 15th, 2012
1:12 pm
What’s interesting to me is the GOP always wants to cite the New Black Panthers and Acorn. Do either of those groups wield the power of having your job/livelihood in their hands? But I’m sure all of our GOP friends will find absolutely NOTHING wrong with this letter.
Carol
October 15th, 2012
1:23 pm
Retired Soldier – I’ve written the President twice in the past two years and gotten a reply.
Retired Soldier
October 15th, 2012
1:23 pm
DJ-
Glad you are a spokesman for women. Who is the spokesman for the unborn child?
Retired Soldier
October 15th, 2012
1:25 pm
Carol-
Guess he had the FBI to investigate and they found out I was a republican. No need to talk to republicans, Obama has that down pat.
DJ Sniper
October 15th, 2012
1:40 pm
Retired, I’ll repeat what I’ve said before: Each individual woman should have the choice of what she wants to do when it comes to her reproductive healthcare. It’s too bad that a lot of conservatives can’t comprehend this. It’s perfectly fine for you to be personally opposed to abortion, but your choice shouldn’t be the default choice for everybody. Everybody’s situation isn’t the same.
Carol
October 15th, 2012
1:43 pm
Retired Soldier
Carol-
Guess he had the FBI to investigate and they found out I was a republican. No need to talk to republicans, Obama has that down pat.
++++++++
I bet you believe he’s a Muslim that went to a Christian Church for 20 years too, right? And I know, the birth certificate is a fake.
Retired Soldier
October 15th, 2012
1:44 pm
DJ-
This is the second or third we have “discussed” this, you have never answered who is the advocate for the unborn baby?
Retired Soldier
October 15th, 2012
1:47 pm
Nope and nope, never have those words been written or spoken by me.
I am concerned with trillion dollar deficits.
I am concerned why we are still in Afghanstan.
I am still concerned with national health insurance.
I am still concerned with a 50% increase of people on food stamps under Obama.
I am still concerned with the number of unemployed, under employed and those that have quit looking for work.
Retired Soldier
October 15th, 2012
1:49 pm
Carol-
Forgot this one, I am concerned with truthfulness about Libya.
DJ Sniper
October 15th, 2012
2:04 pm
Retired, it’s true that there are more people on food stamps now, but to place the blame for that strictly at Obama’s feet is not the answer. Also, blame your party for stifling dang near everything Obama has tried to do for the economy. I’m in agreement with you on our continued involvement in Afghanistan.
The unborn baby’s advocate is the woman who is carrying the child. I know it’s hard for you to comprehend the fact that not everybody is opposed to abortion, but that’s just the way it is. A lot of conservatives seem to think that the only reason a woman seeks an abortion is because she simply just doesn’t want to be a parent, but there are many other reasons as to why a woman chooses that route.
honested
October 15th, 2012
2:04 pm
RS,
Here’s the ‘truth’ about Libya…
It is a very dangerous place without a real, functional government or any real security apparatus.
Operating in such a situation is quite dangerous, of course not operating there until it becomes safe makes the US look as if it is shirking a responsibility.
In any case, I don’t want darryl issa wasting another penny of Taxpayer money ‘investigating’ the issue to no valid conclusion.
And, I really hope you are more comfortable with the Second Obama Administration. You would just look silly continuing to parrot the same falsehoods day after day.
Retired Soldier
October 15th, 2012
2:10 pm
DJ-
Which are what reasons? Please don’t say health of the Mother, got that one. The mother is advocating for the unborn child when she chooses an abortion? I suggest the unborn child would prefer a different advocate.
Obama hs tried to work with republicans? Please, no one believes that. Besides you are wrong, look at the spending by Obama, the House republicans have gone along with it the past two years.
Republicans are cutting off the nose to spite the face
October 15th, 2012
2:11 pm
@Retired Soldier
October 15th, 2012
11:35 am
Curious-
Did you know GM did go bankrupt? Did you know the money still hasn’t been repaid? They did with public money what Romney suggested be done with private money.
*************
GM is not without its challenges and problems: name me a company where you can’t make that statement. But GM is a design, engineering, manufacturing and marketing powerhouse. The company is gaining strength. It remembers the lessons of the past. It does not shy from its well-documented problems, such as GM Europe; instead, it addresses them head-on.
To suggest that a cash-rich, profitable company with these characteristics is about to go under is, to me, “fatuous twaddle”.
Village Idiot
October 15th, 2012
2:13 pm
I think the Koch brothers have a right to say what they want about what will happen if Obama is reelected. Just like I have a right to say that if Romney is elected global warming will cause 2/3 of the USA to be underwater, doctors will refuse to treat anyone who makes less than $1,000,000.00 a year, the wealthiest 1% of the population will pay less than 1% in income taxes, and Big Bird will be the next featured item on the Chick Filet menu. There, I guess we’re even Georgia pacific.
Retired Soldier
October 15th, 2012
2:15 pm
honested-
Libya, it appears to be a cover up and yes it should be investigated. Glad you don’t care about finding out the truth.
I write what I believe is true and correct, I assume you do also. It’s only our view of what the federal govt. should do is 180 degrees differnt. You believe womb to tomb govt, I believe in individual responsibility. You believe the constitution can mean whatever you want it to mean, I believe the constitution means the same thing today as in 1788.
Retired Soldier
October 15th, 2012
2:16 pm
Rep-
Never suggested GM was about to go under.
Republicans are cutting off the nose to spite the face and cutting their own throats
October 15th, 2012
2:20 pm
@Retired Soldier
October 15th, 2012
11:48 am
REP-
You need to read again Galloway’s post. GP hasn’t “ordered” their employees to vote Romney, he has told them of the possible consequences if Obama is re-elected. If I was an employee I would be glad to know that information
******************************
The headline says, Georgia Pacific employees ENCOURAGED to support Romney
You say ENCOURAGED
I say ORDERED
Retired Soldier
October 15th, 2012
2:21 pm
Rep-
Always glad when someone takes responsibility for their mistakes. Good job.
JBarrett
October 15th, 2012
2:24 pm
I, too, own a small business. Although I am not, personally, a supporter of President Obama, I would like it to be noted that I had to lay off my entire workforce in August of 2008- prior to the November election and while the government was under Republican control. In the past three months, we have begun to be able to re-hire a good portion of our employees- many of whom had been unable to find employment in that four years. Do I believe that Obama did everything in his power to revive the economy? Probably not. But I do know that the Republicans policies and oversight landed me in the tank and I’d prefer not to be there again any time soon.
Republicans are cutting off the nose to spite the face and cutting their own throats
October 15th, 2012
2:26 pm
@Retired Soldier
October 15th, 2012
2:16 pm
Rep-
Never suggested GM was about to go under.
**************************************
YOU SAY, Did you know GM did go bankrupt?
I SAY, To suggest that a cash-rich, profitable company is about to go under is,
to me, “fatuous twaddle”.
BANKRUPT?………go under?
You say TOMATOE
I say….(you know the rest)
Retired Soldier
October 15th, 2012
2:27 pm
JBarrett-
One point of correction, we had a republican president and a democrat Congress.
Policies I understand, but oversight? You have me very curious about what type of business that wold be affected by oversight.
Retired Soldier
October 15th, 2012
2:29 pm
REP-
The fact is GM did go bankrupt and was restructed with taxpayer dollars that have not been repaid. Do you dispute that?
Republicans are cutting off the nose to spite the face and cutting their own throats
October 15th, 2012
2:35 pm
@Retired Soldier
October 15th, 2012
2:21 pm
Rep-
Always glad when someone takes responsibility for their mistakes. Good job.
**********************************
ORDER – a command or direction.
ENCOURAGE – to stimulate (something or someone to do something)
by approval or help; support
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?
Retired Soldier
October 15th, 2012
2:36 pm
Rep-
If I have to tell you, you won’t understand.
Republicans are cutting off the nose to spite the face and cutting their own throats
October 15th, 2012
2:50 pm
@Retired Soldier
October 15th, 2012
2:29 pm
REP-
The fact is GM did go bankrupt and was restructed with taxpayer dollars that have not been repaid. Do you dispute that?
*********************************************
What I cannot dispute is…………..
It took a black president to uncover, to reveal, to disclose,
to bring out, to unveil, to expose and to unmask the belief that most
Republicans believe that a particular race is superior to others.
I see it in my city and neighborhood.
THAT I CANNOT DISPUTE.
Until you have WALKED in my shoes you cannot tell anything different.
Republicans are cutting off the nose to spite the face and cutting their own throats
October 15th, 2012
2:50 pm
CORRECTION:
Until you have WALKED in my shoes you cannot tell me anything different.
Retired Soldier
October 15th, 2012
2:54 pm
Rep-
When you can’t dispute the facts, then play the race card? Are you kidding me?
If race is what is driving your political beliefs, then you are in for a very long and difficult life. By mere virture of the fact Obama was elected negates your point. Sad, very very sad.
No need to respond, I’m not playing your game.
CommonSenseIsUseful
October 15th, 2012
3:14 pm
I too own a small business and have been educating my employees on the choice before them.
Are you liberals figured out yet how soundly Obama is going to be defeated?
DJ Sniper
October 15th, 2012
3:49 pm
I just love how everybody is so sure of their candidate winning this thing. I would advise against predicting anything until the day of the election. This goes for Obama and Romney. Neither one is a slam dunk at this point.
CommonSenseIsUseful
October 15th, 2012
3:52 pm
DJ, step back and look at the big picture. This is a referendum on Obama and he has failed miserably by any objective measure. My dog could beat him at this point. It will be a 100 pt. electoral loss, mark my words.
chas holman
October 15th, 2012
4:50 pm
Sure.. vote our way, or lose your job.
Get used to it America.. if this doesn’t illustrate the issue of WHO is fighting for WHAT this year.. if you simply don’t get it yet.. then step right up, vote for Mr Romney.
Retired Soldier
October 15th, 2012
4:58 pm
Chas-
Do you think who is elected president might affect what a particular business does or doesn’t do? If the answer is yes, wouldn’t you be interested in what candidate might allow the business you work for prosper or not? I sure would.
And if you think the owner shouldn’t communicate with his workers which candidate might be better for the business, the worker can aleays leave. We know unemployment is low, the president promised it would be because of his stimulus.
another comment
October 15th, 2012
6:55 pm
Some of you Romney Bots are showing your ignorance, The Hatch Act only applies to Federal Employees. Then it excludes them in the Greater Washington D.C. are where they are the majority of the population.
Now, I have never figured out how Max Beacon was allowed to be the Postmaster of Smyrna, Ga. and the Mayor of Smyrna at the Same time as I would have thought that was a conflict.
The whole purpose of the Federal Hatch Act was so the SES, which is made up of primarly political appointees could not pressure the career federal employees to vote their way. So they can keep their job.
It amazes me to this day though how many people will ignorantly vote for someone who campaigns that he is going to Outsource Gov’t jobs. and then complain when they outsource their job or their employees.
For all those so called Contractors, look at history, This Slash and Burn of Federal, State and Local, governments by those who don’t want to pay for anything, is what is hurting Contractors the most. I do understand that most Contractors in Georgia are Bubba’s and doen’t understand the whole science of Construction Engineering. The whole statistics on bidding in a fair and open market. The whole concept that the Union’s provided you with a trained work force, though helper, apprenticeship, programs. The Republican Contractors have imported the illegals, then they complain about their kids being in the public schools. After all they all have their kids in the private schools.
We need to pay to take care of our infrastructure the problem is the stimulous wasn’t big enough. It was started under Bush, and he aimed it to the Banks to big to fail. It should have went directly to projects that could come out of the ground. The projects should have had tough buy American and Davis Bacon Clauses, everyone should have been e-verified no matter how many tiers down, the chain. By the way despite the BS that Turner Construction puts out the General Contractor is responsible for all of their subs and all of thier tiers. That is why you either make money or loose it in Construction. Too many of the Good olde boys spent like they were rich when they weren’t.
If you can’t afford to buy two $50,000 tickets to a Mitt Romney fundraiser he is not really interested in you. The video he got caught with is like watch the Good Olde Boys at the Private School auctions when they are all drunk and try to impress each other bidding on “Steve Penley Paintings” or the Salt Water Fishing trip the donor insists he’s going on too. I once was on one of the committees for one of these Auctions and they were trying to keep the Auction ticket prices down. I dared suggest to make it a cash bar, instead of open bar. They said we can’t do that we make Thousands and Thousands of dollars on the drunk men trying to out bid themselves.
another comment
October 15th, 2012
6:57 pm
Why is retired soldier being allowed to spout his right wing crap and responses to him are being deleted?
td
October 15th, 2012
9:18 pm
another comment
October 15th, 2012
6:57 pm
Why is retired soldier being allowed to spout his right wing crap and responses to him are being deleted?
Maybe because he/she is classy in his post and you are not? Maybe it is because he is right and you are wrong?
SueEllenEwing
October 15th, 2012
9:23 pm
You poor, poor, pitiful, pathetic repubs. Waaaa, sniff, sniff (rubbing my eyes). Nobody cares about us!
William
October 15th, 2012
9:27 pm
Companies across the country are ready to layoff up to half of their staff if O’Bumble is re-elected.
Barry is actually ecstatic at the thought of all those additional governmental droogs that will join the Obamanation…
Can’t wait to see the results.
Kris
October 15th, 2012
9:29 pm
Enter your comments here
Joe
October 15th, 2012
10:02 pm
Boy you repubs want to be just don’t get it, if you’re not making 10 million a year Romney don’t care about you.
td
October 15th, 2012
10:10 pm
Joe
October 15th, 2012
10:02 pm
They give us crumbs like tax cuts and lower cap gains taxes for starters and then they allow us to set the social agenda. Way better then what the Dem elites give their plantation followers.
2DPointAtlanta
October 15th, 2012
10:15 pm
The election system is very political runs deeper into the blood of America than religion ever could. In the election system is massive amount of money and power….the two primary elements that decided in Early America who got to vote and who did not. GP does little different than the armed forces on this subject. With the GOP in office, America will surely have a war which keeps the troops employed. Been there….seen it!
As long as Governor Deal gives a nod and wink…..this act by GP is not a violation at all; it’s a privilege of being able to do assume the power to do it in Georgia.
td
October 15th, 2012
10:20 pm
2DPointAtlanta
October 15th, 2012
10:15 pm
What in the heck could this possibly be a violation of? Please, please explain?
Catfish
October 15th, 2012
10:57 pm
It didn’t sound like GP was sugesting who to vote for. It sounded like a threat. That is not right
S
October 15th, 2012
11:09 pm
Is this America or Russia? This is Blackmail, plain and simple. All employees take note. These Greedy employers can’t go into the voting booth with you, vote for who you want. These greedy Blackmailers will fire you no matter what if they think they can make a dime by firing you. If they get their Man, Mitt Romney in, you can count on reduced wages and benefits or no job at all if you won’t work for slave wages, because they will send your jobs offshore anyway, it’s happening right now!
A Vote for Mitt Romney is a Vote for these Power Hungry, Greedy, Morally corrupt, Corporate crooks who need to be sent back to the Alien planet from which they came, these people aren’t Americans.
God, Guns and Greed that’s the Republican way. Republican’s can’t win on their failed policies, so they lie, cheat, suppress the vote, commit voter fraud and now blackmail. Who needs enemies when we have Greedy Billionaires dictating, making threats to their employees to do such as this to get their Man into office. They make $billions now by paying low wages with some having no benefits! What kind of moral Republican, American, would vote for candidates such as Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan that condone the lying, cheating, corruption, and now blackmailing in their party and in fact do some of the same. The Republican/Tea Party has sunk to new lows, as if they couldn’t get any lower. Totally disgusting!
Morning Reads for Tuesday, October 16th — Peach Pundit
October 16th, 2012
8:00 am
[...] and in a non-surprise, Georgia Pacific tells its employees how to vote (AJC-Galloway) [...]
Conservative and proud of it
October 16th, 2012
9:45 am
Amazing that the unions are able to send out support letters to their employees and this is okay but a successful leader does it and it is wrong. Just shows you what the world has come to. Goodbye middle class if Obama is elected.
JackThrock
October 16th, 2012
10:31 am
Mehlman:
Regarding the diminished view comments: I was referring to the current administration’s approach to foreign policy overall. Like you, I think it’s high time Europe assumed a larger responsibility in its own theater. We agree on that. But I suspect we disagree on the level of active engagement required within the mid east theater, specifically as it relates to Iran, Syria, Israel, etc. I fundamentally and unequivocally do not understand or agree with the politically infused concept of “leading from behind.” To me, this simply shows weakness and hesitation. It does not show strength. And in my view, the absence of strength is the presence of weakness. We must contain radical elements over there. We cannot accomplish this if we’re back on our heels without a strategy.
Dina:
You will be glad to know that I read everything before I come to a conclusion on political things. Newspapers, research reports, think tank studies, etc. While my world view informs my understanding, I am a realist and a pragmatist. And as such, I view what’s happening as it is and take it for what it is. I do believe we are a country of big ideas, but I think our leaders are small. That goes for both sides of the aisle. It’s not an issue of looking at the positive side of things so much as it is dealing with the issues now. Our elected officials are so enthralled with reelection that they fail to address the most pressing issues.