Clinton Remained Silent As Wal-Mart Fought Unions

[eridani]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/31/clinton-remained-silent-a_n_84246.html

An ABC News analysis of the videotapes of at least four stockholder meetings where Clinton appeared shows she never once rose to defend the role of American labor unions.

The tapes, broadcast this morning on "Good Morning America," were provided to ABC News from the archives of Flagler Productions, a Lenexa, Kan., company hired by Wal-Mart to record its meetings and events.

A former board member told ABCNews.com that he had no recollection of Clinton defending unions during more than 20 board meetings held in private.

The tapes show Clinton in the role of a loyal company woman. "I'm always proud of Wal-Mart and what we do and the way we do it better than anybody else," she said at a June 1990 stockholders meeting.

Clinton would not agree to be interviewed on the subject but now says she no longer shares Wal-Mart's values and believes unions "have been essential to our nation's success."

The videotapes do show that Clinton used her role to push for more environmentally friendly policies and better treatment of women.

"We've got a very strong-willed young woman on our board now; her name is Hillary," said Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton at a 1987 stockholders meeting in describing Clinton's role in pushing for more women to be hired in management positions.

Critics say Clinton's efforts produced few tangible results, and Wal-Mart is now defending itself in a lawsuit brought by 16 current and former female employees.

[Cobalt Violet]

1. She was always there to support the poor getting poorer and/or incarcerated

And now she want to called a progressive. She doesn't even know the meaning of the word.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

4. At least the poor will always have an opportunity to be employed in Hillary's wars.

That's something, isn't it?

[TheUndecider]

6. Maybe she just likes underwear 4 pair for 5 bucks

Who doesn't?

[Betty Karlson]

2. Come on: it's not like those who stay silent give their consent!

Oh wait...

[TheUndecider]

8. Where's the like button

I have nothing to say, just that I like your post

[Betty Karlson]

18. Glad to hear you like it.

And welcome to DU.

[Wilms]

3. Low wages.

Always.

[Smarmie Doofus]

5. Utterly in character.

And "few tangible results" is about the best one can expect from a first term Clinton presidency.

Foreign policy aside. She can.... and most likely will.... do a lot of damage there.

[Barack_America]

7. This was posted in 2008. It would be interesting to compare responses....

....as there are certainly a few posters on the side in this primary. I wonder what they will say in 2016?

[eridani]

10. It came in one of my email newsfeeds, and I didn't actually check the date n/t

[Vinca]

9. Hillary knows which side her bread is buttered on.

[forjusticethunders]

11. "but but she advocated for progressive stuff within the system!!!111"

and that's why Wal-Mart is a shining example of how corporations can help poor people, women and minorities advance up the economic ladder.

/s

[nationalize the fed]

12. GMA: Hillary Clinton Wal-Mart years

Uploaded on Jan 31, 2008: ABC's investigative report on Hillary Clinton's years as a board member for Wal-Mart.

[bigwillq]

13. Kick (nt)

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

14. This is a tough one because unions are endorsing her

:/

[Snarkoleptic]

16. Out of a blend of Stockholm Syndrome and fear of retribution.

IMHO

[Snarkoleptic]

15. Video re: Walmart and "a very corporate Hillary Clinton"

[PonyUp]

17. kick (nt)

[BernieforPres2016]

19. Fellow Wal-Mart Director with Hillary: "labor unions are nothing but blood-sucking parasites"

http://investmentwatchblog.com/in-six-years-as-a-member-of-the-wal-mart-board-of-directors-between-1986-and-1992-hillary-clinton-remained-silent-as-the-worlds-largest-retailer-waged-a-major-campaign-against-labor-unions-seeking/

Wal-Mart’s anti-union efforts were headed by one of Clinton’s fellow board members, John Tate, a Wal-Mart executive vice president who also served on the board with Clinton for four of her six years.


Tate was fond of repeating, as he did at a managers meeting in 2004 after his retirement, what he said was his favorite phrase, “Labor unions are nothing but blood-sucking parasites living off the productive labor of people who work for a living.”

Wal-Mart says Tate’s comments “were his own and do not reflect Wal-Mart’s views.”

But Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton and other company officials often recounted how they relied on Tate to lead the company’s successful anti-union efforts.

An ABC News analysis of the videotapes of at least four stockholder meetings where Clinton appeared shows she never once rose to defend the role of American labor unions.