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http://apnews.excite.com/article/20060718/D8IUK1100.htmlWal-Mart, Critics Slam Each Other on Web
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Jul 18, 4:10 PM (ET)
By MARCUS KABEL
BENTONVILLE, Ark. (AP) - The brawl between Wal-Mart and its union critics is escalating as groups on both sides, fighting over whether the world's largest retailer is good or bad, launched attack-style Web sites maligning each other's motives and politics.
More than a year after unions launched two political-style campaign groups attacking Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) for what they say are low wages and skimpy benefits, the language is turning meaner and more personal.
Chris Kofinis poses for a photo as his colleagues work on materials, in a file photo Nov. 22, 2005, at WakeUpWalMart.com offices in Washington. The gloves are coming off as Wal-Mart Stores Inc. battles back at union-funded campaigns maligning the world's largest retailer. The brawl is escalating as both sides launch political-style attack Web sites attacking the others' motives and political pasts. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari, File)
Paidcritics.com was started last week by Working Families for Wal-Mart, a group funded primarily by Wal-Mart, to reveal what it described as "the real motives of the union leaders behind the campaign against Wal-Mart."
It characterized one of its leading critics, Andrew Grossman of union-backed Wal-Mart Watch, as "a political operative with a checkered past" in a section called "Paid Critic of the Week" that also lambasted Wayne Hanley, head of the Canadian chapter of the United Food and Commercial Workers union.
The site is part of Wal-Mart's aggressive defense since last year against its increasingly organized critics. Wal-Mart won't say how much it is spending, but it has set up a political campaign-style "war room" staffed by consultants, hired Washington D.C. lobbyists, formed the Working Families group and created another Web site called Wal-Mart Facts.
In response to the new site, union-funded WakeUpWalMart.com started its own Web site Tuesday, , which attacks the retailer's public relations and lobbying figures.
http://www.abunchofgreedyrightwingliarswhoworkforwalmart.com"These great guys who love to stretch the truth (or what mom called liars) honed their special Wal-Mart skills on an array of right wing political campaigns," the Web site reads.
(Omaha's City Council today voted 5-1-1 to allow a new Super Wal-mart to be built in a 50 year old neighborhood against the objections of the neighbors. Last week it looked like the proposal would fail on a 3-3-1 vote, with a councilman that owns stock in Wal-mart abstaining.)