Obama called hypocrite for wife's Wal-Mart link

[Tellurian]

Obama called hypocrite for wife's Wal-Mart link

By Philip Sherwell in New York, Sunday Telegraph

12/05/2007

As a fluent public speaker, independent-minded wife, devoted mother and professional woman, Michelle Obama has been hailed as an invaluable asset to her husband Barack's mission to capture the Democratic 2008 presidential nomination.

Yet, while her style and performance are winning plaudits on the campaign trail, a little-reported business interest of Mrs Obama's has opened her husband up to one of the criticisms that politicians fear most - the taint of hypocrisy.

Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, Obama called a hypocrite for wife's Wal-Mart link.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=QU1NORXD5CUZ5QFIQMGCFFOAVCBQUIV0?xml=/news/2007/05/13/wobama13.xml

...what a shame- Obama didn't disclose the connection before he submitted his Tax Returns for public viewing..

[Tellurian]

1. Oh well, people who live in Glass Houses...

The Horror of it all!

[Crazy Dave]

4. I agree

Wait till they find out that Hillary was once a Young Republican and a Wal-Mart board member. People are dying in an illegal war and in our own nation due to lack of adequate health by the tens of thousands and people are worrying about candidates and Wal-Mart :shrug:

[sellitman]

7. Hillary's Wal-Mart ties are conveniently absent.

I wonder why?

[Crazy Dave]

8. As are most democratic leaders stock portfolios....

that have enormous amounts of Halliburton stock. Looking for a candidate that's snow white and squeaky clean, they're only in movies and in fairy tales. Show me any presidential candidate, on either side and I'll show you their ties to some special interest group or big business.

[Tellurian]

9. read the article to the end..If the link isn't working..it's here

(cont..from original article)

She is taking a break from her main job, as a well-remunerated Chicago hospital executive, to campaign for her husband. But she has just been re-elected to the board of an Illinois food-processing company, a position she took up two years ago to gain experience of the private sector.

And the biggest customer for the pickles and peppers produced by Treehouse Foods is the retail giant Wal-Mart, the world's largest corporation and the bête noire of American liberals, including Sen Obama, for its employment practices, most notably its refusal to recognise trade unions.

As the Illinois senator prepared to join the presidential fray late last year, he threw his weight behind the union-backed campaign against Wal-Mart. He declared that there was a "moral responsibility to stand up and fight" the company and "force them to examine their own corporate values".

According to the couple's tax returns, Mrs Obama earned $51,200 (£25,700) for her work as a non-executive director on Treehouse's board last year, on top of the $271,618 salary she was paid as a vice-president of the University of Chicago Hospitals.
advertisement

She also received 7,500 Treehouse stock options, worth a further $72,375, as she did the previous year, when she banked a $45,000 salary from the company.

The apparent contradiction between Sen Obama's political calculation to join the Wal-Mart-bashing lobby, and his wife's profitable role with a company that makes money from Wal-Mart, is being closely scrutinised by "opposition" research teams working for rival White House candidates, The Sunday Telegraph has learnt.

They are collecting information about Mrs Obama's Treehouse ties, anticipating that - in a country where "going dirty" is a political way of life - the link may provide valuable ammunition in the election campaign.

Such attacks could be particularly damaging for Sen Obama, who has promised a change from politics as usual. Just last week, on her first foray to the crucial first primary state of New Hampshire, Mrs Obama praised her husband's "moral compass", reflecting a key message of his campaign.

Joe Novak, a Chicago political consultant who runs an anti-Obama website, said: "The Obamas would have us believe that, when it comes to money and ethics and compassion, he is a different kind of politician.

"What's different here is that they actually seem to believe it. That's the only way they can justify the contradictions between what they preach and what they practice. Defending Treehouse while attacking Wal-Mart is a blatant example of personal hypocrisy."

Sen Obama's campaign team and Mrs Obama's spokesman did not respond to requests by The Sunday Telegraph for comment. But the senator previously told Crain's Chicago Business magazine that, while his views on corporate reform and social justice remained the same regardless of what happens at Treehouse, "Michelle and I have to live in the world and pay taxes and pay for our kids and save for retirement".

Hillary Clinton, Sen Obama's main rival for the Democratic nomination, can testify to the political dangers in liberal America of being associated with Wal-Mart, even though the company's cost-cutting policy makes its goods more affordable for the low-paid. The New York senator and wife of the former President Bill Clinton still encounters flak for serving on the company's board from 1985 to 1992, before becoming First Lady.

According to Treehouse's financial filings, Wal-Mart accounted for 16.1 per cent of its sales last year, up from 11.7 per cent in 2005 (a 37 per cent increase), comfortably making it the company's biggest customer. Treehouse's annual operating profits rose from $28 million two years ago to $84 million (up 200 per cent) in 2006.

Mrs Obama, 43, was re-elected to the board last month for a further three years, a period that would overlap with her husband's time in the White House if he becomes America's first black president.

Mrs Obama is Treehouse's senior non-executive director and sits on the company's audit and nominating and corporate governance committees. Her Treehouse connection is not the only awkward ethical question that has confronted Sen Obama as his past is dug over.

Earlier this year, in response to a newspaper investigation, he said he was unaware that his broker had bought $50,000 worth of stock in two speculative companies whose leading investors included some of his biggest political donors.

He has also apologised for his "boneheaded error" in striking a property deal with Tony Rezko, a Chicago Democrat operative facing a federal indictment.

[karynnj]

76. This is a pretty week connection

Michelle Obama sits on the board of directors of a company that makes pickles - some of which are sold to WalMart!!

Walmart is a huge company that sells an enormous amount of product. In addition to boycotting WallMart should we also boycott every company whose product is sold by Walmart.

[hughee99]

102. If this is the case, I guess we can write off Al Gore...

Since he's on the Apple board and Walmart sells a lot of iPods.

[karynnj]

109. OMG, Apple sells to Walmart

I guess that all political candidates need to make sure all their stock is sufficiently upscale so Walmart doesn't sell it. I guess Tiffany is ok. Is Godiva a public company?

You can't even have the telecommunications companies - Walmart sells phone cars. Can't have oil companies because they are oli companies. I guess they can have treasury bills.

[Telly Savalas]

122. Moreover, Wal Mart is well known for having adversarial relations with their suppliers.

The poster specializes in these sorts of inane attacks on candidates whose last name isn't Clinton. It's pretty pathetic.

[Ethelk2044]

105. So all companies should not do business with Walmart

Your in trouble if you shop at walmart. Have you ever shopped at walmart. You should be condemned then. Instead HILLARY CLINTON WAS ON THE ACTUAL BOARD OF WALMART. We should protest Proctor and Gamble, Sony, Samsung, all the farmers in america because they supply walmart. Not work for walmart, but supply walmart.

[Tellurian]

87. No it's in there .. just have to read a bit is all...

fixed link:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/05/13/wobama13.xml

[Tellurian]

11. The difference between Hillary and Obama is Hillary Leads 23 pts over Obama....

Because when she found out how Wal-Mart was treating their workers, she resigned. Obama's wife knew the company she worked for biggest client is Wal-Mart, she signed up! Besides, how can anyone believe that Obama is pro-union and cares about workers rights? He's got his.

[Crazy Dave]

14. I'm actually an Obama supporter along with Edwards

But you won't see me start or condone a "My candidate is better, yours sucks" thread.

[Tellurian]

23. The Obama supporters think that way..

I heard about the Wal-Mart connection again just last night.. And seeing we already know everything about Hillary. Whats good for the goose IS good for the gander, so they say.. And really, Obama is the "mystery" man.. We hardly know anything about him and people are running around blindly supporting someone we know nothing about. He hasn't been investigated by a special prosecutor for 8 yrs. So, to me, knowledge is power, our power. At this point, because of the last election, we know more about Edwards history than Obama. So far, Edwards mistakes are the ones he creates himself!

[Crazy Dave]

42. And I heard the expensive haircut gimmick used against....

...Bill Clinton in'96 (See #39)

I'm sorry, none of these people running are snow white, squeaky clean so it's going to take more than a haircut and Wal-Mart pickle conspiracies to even make me discuss issues that affect American (or the rest of the world's) lives, civil rights, security and the environment and be able to keep a straight face.

[Tellurian]

43. Haircuts? Ridiculous move on Edwards part..

should have asked the stylist to donate the proceeds to charity!

The publicity should have been enough for the upscale 'barber'.

[Crazy Dave]

47. I missed the Edwards one....no it wasn't significant enough

I think I missed it in between thousands of people being blow-up everywhere in Iraq, thousands of Americans losing their jobs and their health care, Katrina victims still being victimized, etc.

The facts are, for all candidates on the campaign trail: Most of the time when these candidates are on the road, and since appearance and hygiene seem to matter to voter's too, that they have to pay people to tag along or they have to snatch someone locally who can fit in a haircut between TV shows, radio shows and gatherings, or maybe to cut their hair at 2:00 am in the morning. Ask your hair stylist how much they'd charge if you asked them to do the same for you.

[Tellurian]

56. I don't have a problem with it. I never did..

Alls, I'm saying is Edwards should have known the consequences and how it would be played in the press.

Politics are like football and tennis. The only difference is you play offense and defense simultaneously.

[karynnj]

78. Didn't the same reports have a Hillary $1500 hair appointment?

[Forkboy]

97. Shhhh...that part would make the OP as hypocritical as he wants Obama to be.

[Jim Sagle]

77. You're everything I imagined a Hillary supporter would be.

[jefferson_dem]

22. Real fighter there, that Hillary. According to you, she find out how Wal-Mart treats workers

and resigns from her position as a Director. Yet, she remains cozy "behind the scenes." Ack.

[Tellurian]

24. Provide the proof..put up or ....nm

[jefferson_dem]

27. Chill. What are you talking about? I was responding to your post just above mine.

Then there's this from the recent NYT article --

Despite her criticism, Mrs. Clinton maintains close ties to Wal-Mart executives through the Democratic Party and the tightly knit Arkansas business community. Her husband, former President Bill Clinton, speaks frequently to Wal-Mart’s current chief executive, H. Lee Scott Jr., about issues like health care and even played host to Mr. Scott at the Clintons’ home in New York last July for a private dinner.

And several months ago, Mrs. Clinton helped broker a secret meeting between a top Wal-Mart executive and former Democratic operative, Leslie Dach, and leaders of the retailer’s longtime adversary at the United Food and Commercial Workers union, according to several people briefed on the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to do so publicly.

The goal of the meeting was to tamp down the rancor between the company and the union, which has set up a group, WakeUpWalMart.com, that has harshly criticized the chain and leaked embarrassing internal documents to the news media, though an accord has not yet been reached.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/20/us/politics/20walmart.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[Tellurian]

31. Hillary most likely was telling them they are in a loser position..

and they could turn things around if they either give their workers a decent pay and benefits or face a Union boycott..

That how things are done my friend. Wal-Mart has been losing money since the beginning of 07'..Greed never succeeds..So they've had to learn the hard way. Hillary is very smart to see if she can fix whats been broken for far too long at Wal-Mart. Just think- If she negotiates a deal for Wal-Mart workers throughout the country to receive a good living wage and benefits...What a plus for her White House bid-

[draft_mario_cuomo]

36. "Most likely was telling them"

This is another faith-based initiative from HRC supporters...

[Tellurian]

44. Teh Clintons are out to save America , daft_mario_cuomo...

[RufusTFirefly]

49. Clintons to save America? Personally, I'm waiting for Jeebus

NAFTA, welfare reform, and the Telecommunications Act. And that's from the "liberal" member of that couple. Gee, I can hardly wait to see what the Goldwater Girl has in store for us.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

72. Ok...looks like you could use a drink

[Capn Sunshine]

62. well, according to the Board, Hillary had full knowledge of their anti-union efforts

Although the details of Wal-Mart's anti-union efforts were rarely broached during board meetings, Tate said recently, Clinton "clearly knew the company's reputation." Tate said that when he "made presentations on what we were doing" during board meetings, Clinton did not raise objections.

Soderquist agreed, saying there was "no sign that she had any criticism."

Source: LA Times, but there are many more.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

35. That is a myth

==When she found out how Wal-Mart was treating their workers,==

It is well-established that they knew about Wal-Mart's aggressive anti-union policies but--as is consistently the case with HRC--did not show any leadership and stand up against it let alone even make a comment or two opposed it publicly.

[Tellurian]

46. What are you blubbering about? Hillary has a Recommendation from the NY AFL-CIO

http://www.nysaflcio.org/press_releases/2007/clinton_candidacy.htm

[GirlinContempt]

51. The AFL-CIO recommendation makes me dislike her more.

Any union that supports the CTV, undermines unions all over the world, and is a neo-liberal pro-capitalist shit pile should be drowned for what it has done to the US labour movement.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

71. See post 62

[SOS]

70. Completely false

"Because when she found out how Wal-Mart was treating their workers, she resigned"

She resigned in 1992, after six years on the board. She couldn't figure out how the workers were treated in six years?
Today's New York Times has a front page article on how Hillary did nothing to assist unions or workers at Wal-Mart:

"Fellow board members and company executives, who have not spoken publicly about her role at Wal-Mart, say Mrs. Clinton used her position to champion personal causes...on other topics, like Wal-Mart’s vehement anti-unionism, for example, she was largely silent, they said."

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/20/us/politics/20walmart.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

Mrs. Obama is on the board of a pickle company that has nothing to do with Wal-Mart other than selling them pickles.

The right-wing Telegraph seems to dislike Obama. A search of their site reveals these "fair and balanced" articles about Obama:

Friends reunited: drug dealer haunts Obama
Goatherd's son is rising star of the Senate
Strain is showing on Barack Obama
Hollywood's glitterati line up for Obama
Obama mocks Bush in president's home state
White House hopeful admits he 'inhaled'

What a load of right-wing BS!

[Ethelk2044]

106. She does not lead

Obama by 23 points.

[laugle]

126. Didn't Hillary serve on the board in the 70's before Wal-Mart was

the monster store that it is now? Hell, Walton was from Arkansas and Bill Clinton was govenor and they were good friends then. Of course he is long good now.

I could be wrong, but I don't believe Hillary served on the board in recent years.

[Brassballs]

57. Is it because Hillary's W-M link is ancient history, Obama's is Current?

[karynnj]

80. The link is very very weak

I bet that almost every major food processor that sells to groceries sells a high % to Walmart. Walmart has a huge % of the market.

[amandabeech]

114. Wal-Mart employs many.

Few have health insurance.

Google they're abusive labor practices and you'll see the connection.

[Pushed To The Left]

123. And Obama opposed the illegal Iraq war from the beginning!

I don't know why Demcoratic candidates continue to be smeared here on DU. All that does is help the Republicans. I can't think of any of the Democratic candidates running that wouldn't make a terrific President. My favorite happens to be Obama, but like Barack said on the Letterman show, "We're all on the same team!"

[Solo_in_MD]

38. Except journalists who are a paragon of virtue

and the least inury to them while they are in a war zone is a major international crime:sarcasm:

[acmavm]

2. Where the hell in all that mess is the damn article?

[baldguy]

3. What about Hillary's WalMart link?

[Crazy Dave]

5. #4 n/t

[RufusTFirefly]

12. This is supposed to confuse you about that. Did it work?

This is a hit piece. It's guilt by association and misdirection. Obama's wife is on the board of a company that has Wal-Mart as a customer.

Wow! That's a scathing indictment! :sarcasm:

Compare that with HRC, who actually sat on the board of Wal-Mart.

See a difference?

By the way, this is what the Treehouse Foods' annual report filed with the SEC says about labor policies.

Employee and Labor Relations
As of December 31, 2005, our work force consisted of 1,727 full-time employees. Of these, 1,583 were engaged in manufacturing, 47 were engaged in marketing and sales and 97 were engaged in administration.

We employ temporary and contract labor for cucumber procurement and pickle processing during the harvest season. Seasonal labor needs normally peak at approximately 1,050 additional workers during the cucumber harvest period in the summer.

Currently, approximately 58% of our full time distribution, production and maintenance employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements with locals of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters or the United Food and Commercial Workers Union.

We currently have good labor and employee relations.

[Tellurian]

18. Hillary Left the over 10 yrs ago. Obama's wife just signed up with them...

and Obama's promoting backing unions..duh.

[RufusTFirefly]

19. Uh, Hillary is U.S. Senator. Michelle Obama is not. ..Yet. n/t

[Tellurian]

25. Missing some facts are you?

she worked for them before President Clinton was elected in 1985..

Google is your friend..

[SOS]

75. Wrong on both points in one sentence

Clinton was elected governor of Arkansas in 1978.
He lost in 1982, but won again in 1986 and served until he won the Presidency in 1992.

Hillary was on the Wal-Mart board from 1986-1992.

Google is your friend.

[DemDem07]

135. thanks for that

:)

[NYCGirl]

26. And they selll pickles to Walmart! Oh, the humanity!

:rofl:

[draft_mario_cuomo]

37. HRC was on Wal-Mart's board, Michelle Obama never has been

Don't cleverly try to insinuate otherwise.

What did HRC do for Wal-Mart workers during her much touted 8 year "experience" in the White House?

[zulchzulu]

48. Can you point out where Michelle Obama's Presidential web site is...

I guess she's running for President...as well as a company she is on a board of does...horror of horrors...business with Walmart...

:rofl:

[Tellurian]

55. no, and I can't find Hillary's presidential website from 1986 either..

[zulchzulu]

58. OK, so you attack a candidate's wife as an issue in the 2008 race...

...and expect us not to see through the absolutely pathetic, desparate sliming of a candidate's wife that is NOT running for President, let alone the fact that what board she serves on is an issue anyway. OK, the company she goes to meetings for sells pickles to Walmart AND other companies. This certainly is a HUGE issue that people are looking at for the 2008 race, and I'm glad as hell that you brought it up for all of us to add to the pile.

Michelle Obama is not running for President, as you might be aware of. But if you have issues with pickles, there might be some deeper issues to work on.

:rofl:

[Tellurian]

90. Moi? I'm just posting a conciliatory article that's calling Obama a HYPOCRITE

I didn't write the article. It's in the news.

[zulchzulu]

117. I'm embarrassed for you because you seem so desperate to make it an issue

Is that what you want to project to people about your devout shilling for Senator Clinton...bringing up a fairly pointless issue about Obama's wife?

You do the Clinton candidacy more harm than good with your wonderful posts. Keep it up.

:rofl:

[Capn Sunshine]

66. She signed up with a company that numbers Wal Mart among their customers

Not likely she can influence anything the Waltons do is there?
Oh I forgot that's not the point.

We need to disguise Hillary's past.
AGAIN.

[jefferson_dem]

20. Obvious hit piece. Check out the sleazy anti-Obama mouthpiece they reference - "Low Blow Joe"

Yes, there's a history. I guess the anti-Obama folks here at DU will go with what they got. Wonder if they'll be bookmarking this seedy link --> http://www.obamatruth.org/

The Smear-Machine Continues to Target Obama
January 24, 2007 at 4:25 PM

In the wake of the Fox News Madrassa Scandal comes the latest shady broadside against Sen. Obama's credibility.

A new, and apparently NOT ironically named website, ObamaTruth.com, has launched to bring people the "truth" about the Illinois Senator via the magic of poorly edited video clips with ominous background music.

Evan Derkacz at Alternet had one of the first looks at who might be behind these attacks against Senator Obama:

"Turns out the site is registered to one "Joe Novak," who's known, according to the Chicago Sun Times, as "Low Blow Joe" for his dirty tactics."

Actually the full Chicago Sun-Times description of that Joe Novak (assuming he's the same one behind ObamaTruth) was much less flattering:

Just say the name "Joe Novak" to anyone in Illinois politics and before they can utter a single word, you will hear them emit a low and wary laugh.

Joe Novak is to campaign dirty tricks what Donald Segretti was to the Watergate, what Stradivarius was to the violin, what Al Capone was to the mob. He once told the Sun-Times' Scott Fornek, "What some people consider a dirty trick, I would argue is many times the legitimate dispersal of information." If dirty tricks were an art form, Fornek observed in 2002, Novak would be Renoir.

Edward "Fast Eddie" Vrdolyak, the Dark Lord of the 10th Ward, gave Novak an admiring nickname years ago. "Low Blow Joe" was what Vrdolyak dubbed his one-time partner in crime, a fond thank you to Novak for his race-based hatchet jobs back in the 1980s after Harold Washington's election spawned Council Wars.

And Illinois Senior Senator Dick Durbin has called Novak a 'hired gun' for his work in causes that include forcing the DC schools to accept vouchers. And lets not forget his work smearing Teresa Heinz Kerry under the banner of the Republican funded group "People of Color United:"

Chicago political consultant Joe Novak worked with the Washington, D.C., group that has produced broadcast and print ads hitting Teresa Heinz Kerry. The ads, aimed at black voters, are running in the battleground states and slam Heinz Kerry by alleging she is trying to capitalize on her African roots. She was born in Mozambique, a former Portuguese colony. Novak has worked for Pat Rooney, founder of Golden Rule Insurance and a major Republican donor. Rooney is helping to bankroll the ads run by an outfit called People of Color United .

http://www.runobama.com/blog/comments.cfm?entry_id=195

[Tellurian]

33. Wrong again...the OP was written by Sewell, not Novak..

and it's a legitimate critique..

[jefferson_dem]

40. Geesh. Did you even read the article? It *references* slimeball Novak.

:shrug:

Joe Novak, a Chicago political consultant who runs an anti-Obama website, said: "The Obamas would have us believe that, when it comes to money and ethics and compassion, he is a different kind of politician.

"What's different here is that they actually seem to believe it. That's the only way they can justify the contradictions between what they preach and what they practice. Defending Treehouse while attacking Wal-Mart is a blatant example of personal hypocrisy."

NOVAK is the one the author, Philip Sherwell, is referring to in the title "...called a hypocrite."

[Tellurian]

54. Novak's opinion doesn't alter another foolish mis-step by the inexperienced Obamas..

[jefferson_dem]

103. Please. You posted a bogus Obama hit piece which quotes a sleazy politico of major proportions...

only to deny it then, when confronted with evidence, resort right back to the bogus charge.

Whatever.

[Ethelk2044]

111. You are grasping at straws

your logic does not work. Hillary actually was associated with Walmart. Michelle is not associated with Walmart. Have you every purchased anything at Walmart. If so you are guilty of what you are trying to accuse Michelle of. She is not associated with Walmart. She is associated with another company. However you and Hillary are both associated with Walmart.

[rufus dog]

63. Come on

His wife is A non executive member of the board. Likely shows up for quarterly meetings and that is it. So are we to eliminate anyone with ties to a supplier of Walmart?

Come on, this is a hit piece meant to be used by righties and it shows up at the DU used by a Hillary supporter. You of all people should understand the tactic and not fall for it. You are playing into the hands of the Hannity's and Limbaugh's, to discuss this is a victory for them, it should be dismissed as ridiculous along with those presenting it as an issue.

[thoughtcrime1984]

113. She doesn't care, she is threatened by Obama

He very likely will be our nominee.

[NYCGirl]

6. The link is tenuous at best:

"She is taking a break from her main job, as a well-remunerated Chicago hospital executive, to campaign for her husband. But she has just been re-elected to the board of an Illinois food-processing company, a position she took up two years ago to gain experience of the private sector.

And the biggest customer for the pickles and peppers produced by Treehouse Foods is the retail giant Wal-Mart, the world's largest corporation and the bête noire of American liberals, including Sen Obama, for its employment practices, most notably its refusal to recognise trade unions."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/05/13/wobama13.xml

Wow. Pickles and peppers.

:eyes:

Edited to add: It's not like she was on the Board of Directors of Walmart or something.

[Missy M]

10. It's amazing to me that when it was Hillary....

who was the candidates independent minded wife, devoted mother and professional woman she was criticised and reviled. Now Michelle Obama is an invaluable asset to her husband.

[Crazy Dave]

13. It's laughable enough to be on the Daily Show isn't it?

I wouldn't believe it if I wasn't reading it myself. People are dying by the tens of thousands every year because of the wars and piss-poor health care, even for 9/11 victims, the environment is going to shit, etc. BUT WAIT!!! Now the main issue for Americans should be Wal-Mart :sarcasm: :rofl:

[Missy M]

17. Wal-Mart 15 years ago no less.....

wonder how many people criticizing Hillary for this actually shop at Wal-Mart, bet it's a lot. They shop at Wal-Mart so they can save money to be able to fill their gas tanks or pay for high cost pharmaceuticals. None of this surprises me because another big issue is a candidates haircut.

[Tellurian]

21. Some people choose to look the other way because it's pickles and peppers...

Good point, Missy M.. but it doesn't matter because it's Michelle and not Hillary!

[Missy M]

28. When it's nonsense written about Hillary it's the gospel truth....

when something is written about the Obama's it's a hit piece, according to some. Go figure!!

[Dawgs]

30. So, you don't like it when they do it to Hillary, but you want payback, or..

something, so you do it another candidates wife.

Yeah, that makes a lot of sense.

[Tellurian]

32. It's not payback, friend...It's EQUAL time spent checking out Candidates..

[Missy M]

96. I didn't do anything to another candidates wife......

some on DU do nothing but use right wing talking points against Hillary. Did you see how many threads were started regarding Hillary and Wal-Mart alone. I just made an observation and in my opinion a correct one.

[laugle]

127. Franky, I don't give a damn if she does sell pickles to

Wal-Mart!! What infuriates me more is her quote that "it's his time" which I find very arrogant!!

I think that should lose a few million vote's in itself!

I also think "it's time we had a woman for president!"

[rufus dog]

65. who was criticizing?

Not the left it was the right. So are you taking on thier tactics?

[karynnj]

82. Not totally true - Hillary was also considered an asset

Don't you remember the "Two for the Price of One" line. Also, Hillary was credited with saving Clinton by her performance on 60 minutes speaking of standing behind Bill in spite of Gennifer Flowers. There was also a NYT magazine cover article on Hillary's strong methodist religion - clearly intended to help Bill indirectly. The first major article I remember about Bill Clinton was a 1990 (or 1991) NYT magazine cover story that praised both Clintons immensely.

Of course the RW demonized Hillary - as they have Bill, Chelsea, Al and tipper Gore, John and Teresa Kerry, They will do the same with both Edwards and Obamas. You could actually make the case that the media treated Hillary far better in 1992 than it treated Tipper in 2000 or definately Teresa in 2004.

[KurtNYC]

15. This is standard phase 1 GOP attack - fraud and hypocrisy

This is the part where the MSM defines the Dem candidates in unflattering terms. Let us turn to page 10 of the GOP/MSM playbook:



The MSM/GOP playbook:

Phase 1: during the primaries, define each of the Democratic candidates as some version of a phony or hypocrit or both. Basic goal: whittle away the candidates base(s), suppress loyalty among supporters.

Phase 2: when the front runner is established, tailor and concentrate the framing efforts on them. Swiftboating used the alleged peers of Kerry to slander his name -- it was very specific and was aimed at Kerry supporters. The goal of phase 2 is to separate the candidate from their base...

American politics are all about who stays home versus who comes out and votes. Converting people from GOP to Dem or vice-versa just doesn't happen.

The goal therefore is to separate each candidate from their natural base to suppress their support and turnout.

[Tellurian]

29. In the Mid-West, they call it..Cutting the cat away from the kittens..:)

[karynnj]

84. Nice analogy

[RufusTFirefly]

16. Hey! What about Obama's really expensive haircuts??!!! n/t

[Crazy Dave]

39. Same rw-playbook strategy during Bill Clinton's re-electtion

Somebody cut his hair on an airplane and charged him $200 to do so. Not only did he not know how much it was going to cost, he was wearing a $20 watch at the time.
Wars, the economy, health care, education, Katrina victims, etc. now we find out the REAL ISSUES are Wal-Mart and haircuts :rofl:

[draft_mario_cuomo]

34. Lame excuse by Obama

=="Michelle and I have to live in the world and pay taxes and pay for our kids and save for retirement".==

This coming from someone who made almost a million dollars last year...

The link is tenuous, but we should remember Obama's own words: ==He declared that there was a "moral responsibility to stand up and fight" the company and "force them to examine their own corporate values".==

Apparently, that moral responsibility to "stand up and fight" does not extend to Treehouse and his wife.

[Tellurian]

41. Here is a viable link..

nycgirl provided it..

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/05/13/wobama13.xml

[zulchzulu]

59. Two things...dear Edwards fan...

So Edwards working for a hedge fund and making a lot of money and his excuse is to "learn more about the poor"?

As for retirement and raising kids, a million dollars is about what it takes now to do a decent job...oh, and dear Edwards fan, do you have an issue with people making millions of dollars? How utterly hypocritical.

But if you want to pick on Obama's wife and try to make it an issue, that shows where your priorities lie...and by lie, I mean both definitions. If you're in a pickle about how and who Treehouse sells pickles to and Michelle Obama is on the board, then certainly you must be focusing on the real issues people care about.

:rofl:

[draft_mario_cuomo]

69. Edwards' excuse was equally as lame

This thread is not about Edwards, though. The fact that Obama supporters are bringing up HRC and Edwards in this thread to divert attention from the Obamas on this is disturbing. We should be examining the records of our candidates with a fine tooth comb (I hear Edwards knows where we could find some great combs ;) ). This should especially be the case with Obama, who is running a personality-driven campaign. If the campaign is about the person we should delve into the details about the individual. If we don't the Republicans certainly will. This is why I was glad that all the fluff about Edwards came out this spring and not in the fall of 2008.

Obama made it seem as if he is an average Joe who needs every dollar he can make to raise his kids. That was lame. The guy made about 900K last year. Why not admit that they just want to make more money?

It does not take a million dollars a year to raise kids--as the bulk of our population shows.

Where did I criticize him for making money? It is great that Obama has been able to come from modest means, become a wealthy man, a U.S. Senator, and perhaps a future president. My criticism was of the excuse, not his wealth and great story.

[zulchzulu]

115. I see you have a problem with people being successful...

Ferchrissakes, if Obama makes $900K a year, are you at issue with that? I mean, really?

I'm not even sure that number is correct; I'm just befuddled by someone who makes that an issue about a presidential candidate in the first place.

[Ethelk2044]

118. There is nothing Wrong with Michelle on the other hand

Hillary actually worked for the Board of Walmart. She has a big problem and people are going to want answers. Did you purchase something at walmart. You are in trouble too.

[rinsd]

139. I do believe Edwards also has stock in Walmart. (nt)

[noamnety]

61. That comment bothers me more than the connection itself

At some point people become rich enough that "living in the world and paying taxes and paying for kids and saving for retirement" isn't the reason for taking a paid position. I'd like to see a more honest answer there that doesn't have him pretending to be one of the common working class people making hard ethical choices because they are struggling to get by.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

74. Exactly

[karynnj]

88. Except there is not even an accusation that Treehouse did anything wrong

They sold their pickles to Walmart. If you were an employee or a stockholder would you think it a good idea to refuse to sell to Walmart?

[zulchzulu]

45. HillShills picking on Obama's wife! Yay! A new low!

Disgusting...

[RufusTFirefly]

50. Anti-Obama Web site attacks Obama, gets quoted in conservative paper

This is news?

[Bullet1987]

52. It happened with the Madrassa thing too...

Anti-Obama Web site attacks Obama, gets quoted in conservative paper...this is news?

That's how the madrassa story got started. An anti-Obama chain email that got picked up by a conservative website.

[Forkboy]

100. Just file it away.

The people who post this stuff like to peddle the very thing they claim to hate,Right-wing attacks on a Democratic candidate.It's very,very easy to remember which ones,and to keep that in mind in any future posts from said people.

[Deja Q]

53. I wonder if the writer also knows of Hillary's connection like the rest of us hadn't...

Still, a politician is a politician in the end.

[zulchzulu]

60. Isn't it a little early to already be picking on an opponent's wife?

Usually that's in the mid-season of a very dirty campaign...not 8 months out of the Iowa caucus... the degree of pathetic mudslinging is indeed indicative of fear and desperation.

[Capn Sunshine]

64. Let's revue: Mrs. Obama works for a company that sells to Wal Mart

HOW can they have any influence on what their customer does?
It's not like she sat on the Board of Directors of WalMart where she could influenec things.
No wonder Hill's people released this in England: there's no there there.

[ripple]

67. Oh yeah? Well, I've heard the Obamas

actually have to drive past a Wal-Mart to get home.

Oh, the audacity!

:rofl:

[jgraz]

68. Hmm...I guess this is what you talk about if your own candidate has no core values

aside from getting herself elected, of course.

[karynnj]

73. There's nothing on your link that I can find on Obama

There's a story on Gore and a story on Paul McCartney - and many others.

If you've been to England, you know that this is one of their right most papers. Also, the UK papers are, if anything, more gossipy than the American ones. Of course, you could look to the "News of the World" next time.

[Jim Sagle]

79. This thread ain't nuthin' but shit.

[Tellurian]

83. piddlin..from

the "eat shit and die" crow magnum..

[Tellurian]

81. The Link for the Research Challenged..

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/05/13/wobama13.xml

[NYCGirl]

85. Good. You finally put up the real link so everyone can see what a load of crap the

article is.

[Tellurian]

92. It's was put up 3 or 4 X already..some are too lazy to read the thread..

whatever it is...Obama says one thing and does another...whether you like it or not.

doesn't take money from Lobbyists, but will take donations from their wives...puh, sneaky, what hypocrisy!

[karynnj]

112. Maybe the OP should have had the right link

Wrong link, right link, this is not a problem for Obama. Rather odd that you scream when people refer to real Hillary issues, then put up something like this. I bet most people who have stocks have stock in companies that do sell to Walmart. Unless they are as upscale as Tiffany's then they likely sell to Walmart.

[laugle]

128. Why is it that everytime someone posts

something unflattering but true about Obama, it always becomes about Hillary?

I don't think that will help to elect Obama. I'm still looking for the substance.

[thoughtcrime1984]

91. sic' em, stay on the attack

just like your candidate- tear down the rest of the party, way to go.

[Forkboy]

98. They complain about the ugliness of the attacks on Hillary but engage in the exact same thing.

This is how GDPolitics turns into a Palestinian/Israel type thing,where both sides shit all over each while claiming the others started it.

Both sides need to be spanked with a rolled up magazine. ;)

[Tellurian]

99. And come here to entertain yourself..too frightened to declare for a candidate..

but prefer to sit in judgment, while you stoke the flames on both sides. Easier to be a voyeur with no dog in our future......

[Forkboy]

101. I've declared Kucinich from all the way back in '04

[quinnox]

86. further evidence Obama is all smoke and mirrors

Obama is going to be like Howard Dean - a lot of hype but come election time not much real support.

[NYCGirl]

89. Yeah, you gotta watch those close ties with pickle companies.

:eyes:

[zulchzulu]

119. Michelle Obama's links with Pickles From A New American Cucumber!

:rofl:

Looks like the HillShillers got jack...

[Imagevision]

93. Walmart's-Schmalmarts- all I know is Oprah supports Obama 100%...

this I find significant being so far from the last leg of the primary's...

[Tellurian]

94. Hopefully, Oprah and Obama will support Hillary in the GE..nm

[Ethelk2044]

108. She will not be there

She will have to support Obama along with Oprah.

:woohoo:

[karynnj]

110. Is she threathening a third party run?

[sellitman]

116. I hope everyone on this web site supports Hillary in the GE

I also just hope to heck she never makes it that far.

It's her pro war statements and vote that won't let me support her plus her strong DNC ties.

[Forkboy]

95. I don't really care about this or Hillary's connections to Wal-Mart

But it's funny to see trading "Gotchas" between two candidates I don't like.

[Ethelk2044]

104. You had me thinking she was on the board of walmart

She is not on the board of walmart. I could care less if she works for another company. It is not like she was on the board of walmart.

[Ethelk2044]

107. If any of you every purchased anything at Walmart

you are just as guilty as Michelle is.

[zulchzulu]

120. I bought a copy of Fahrenheit 9/11 from a Walmart robot ATM...once...

Hey, it was $9.11... what a bargain.

[karynnj]

131. That means Michael Moore sells to Walmart

what a hypocrite. This is one degree closer than Obama who merely works for someone who does this.

I bet Walmart still sells Bill and Hillary Clinton's autobiographies - how do they explain this!

[hughee99]

137. They absolutely do still sell the Clintons' books. n/t

[zulchzulu]

121. Picking on a candidate's wife is ALWAYS a sign of utter, complete desperation

This post does wonders for the Clinton candidacy... real wonders... someone even knows how to use the bold text feature to take the desperate, pathetic non-issue "over the top". And worse, it brings the Walmart link in her campaign up even more. Nice job!

Keep posting threads like this while keeping the Clinton avatar and tagline. It only hurts the campaign.

[Telly Savalas]

124. I think most posters are aware that Senator Clinton isn't sleazy enough to support

the idiocy pushed by the OP. However it does elevate Obama when it becomes clear that the most substantive attacks on him are this weak.

[illinoisprogressive]

125. And the point is???? Michelle is intellegent and interesting and classy, unlike some 1st ladies

[hughee99]

129. So because Walmart is selling Obama's wife's product

there's hypocrisy going on here? I just don't see it.

[Lord Helmet]

130. neener-neener-neener

who cares

[zulchzulu]

132. I bet everyone here has a computer whose company sells to Walmart

Apple does. HP does. Dell does. I'm sure the list is long on other brands.

So I propose that anyone who thinks this is an issue to please throw their evil Walmart-backed computer out of a window, which probably is made by a company that also sells to Walmart.

:sarcasm:

[NYCGirl]

133. No, Apple does not sell computers at Walmart. They do have iPods —

online only, though.

[zulchzulu]

134. I know that...just playin' the issue tangle a bit

I mean, iPods are computers yunno...

[mckeown1128]

136. This is weak!!

This attack on Obama is stupid. Does anyone actually fall for this propaganda? No, really??

[Forkboy]

138. I don't even think the people who post this stuff really believe it.

It's just childish games of "gotcha" on message board.I thought I was cynical,but these games are really the bottom of the barrel in politics,and people play them willingly.That is cynicism at it's worst to me.

[rinsd]

140. Maybe I am missing something but Obama hasn't exactly been anti-Walmart

Not that he has been pro-Walmart but did he make some speech against Walmart or something?

Did he attack Hillary for her 15 year old membership on the board?

Because otherwise how can he be called a hypocrite?

[porque no]

141. Hillary supporter pantload.

Snoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooze. You Hillary waterboys otta tell us if her vote on the war was willfully ignorant or just blood on the hands political ooportunism.

[illinoisprogressive]

142. She is not on the board of Walmart, unlike a hypocritical candidate was....

You'd have to fault every single brand that sells to walmart to make this sound evil. she is on a board of a company that happens to have their products carried by Walmart.
She is not on the board of Walmart, like a certain hypocritical corporate loving anti union candidate is