Burwell Pick A Coup For Walmart....Walmart Foundation Nothing but a PR Wing of Walmart Corp.

[Teamster Jeff]

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Recent reports suggest that President Obama is about to nominate Sylvia Mathews Burwell, the president of the Walmart Foundation, as director of the Office of Management and Budget. Her nomination would be a coup for Walmart and its foundation, which under Burwell’s watch has wielded its massive budget to expand the retail giant’s influence at all levels of government and to pave the way for store expansions.
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The most recent tax disclosure from the Walmart Foundation, obtained by The Nation, shows that between February 2011 and January 2012, the company gave over $175.68 million in grants to charities, municipalities, churches and various community groups across the country, from the Environmental Defense Fund to Friends of NRA to Puppies Behind Bars. Our review of the foundation’s giving reveals that it has donated considerable cash to groups that have gone on the record to support Walmart during its most contentious political disputes, including the ongoing effort to open stores in New York City. The foundation also donates directly to municipalities, funds groups tied to powerful elected officials and instructs grantees to publicize Walmart’s generosity.
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Leslie Dach, who oversees the foundation as Walmart’s most senior executive devoted to political affairs, touted the benefits of the company’s philanthropy during a presentation to investors in October 2010. According to a transcript, Dach described “our reputation” as “a lever” in pursuing the company’s goals, which he said include “new markets,” among them “urban America.”
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Activists allege that Walmart’s charitable outreach is part of a bid to co-opt potential critics and isolate workers demanding changes to Walmart’s labor practices. “They are very clear about the fact that they’re trying to use their political giving as a lever to pry open these markets,” said Russ Davis, the executive director of Massachusetts Jobs With Justice and a leader of the coalition Massachusetts Stands Up to Walmart.
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More at : http://www.thenation.com/article/172952/obamas-top-choice-omb-led-walmart-foundations-targeted-giving#

Walmart uses the Walmart Foundation to further their corporate goals. Any "feeding of the hungry" happens in places where Walmart is facing public resistance to opening new stores. Sylvia Burwell can't be separated from the sleazy anti worker policies of Walmart.
This choice by the president is a slap in the face to all who protest against Walmart's policies or strike for better wages and benefits.

[demwing]

1. and another thread bites the dust

[Vincardog]

2. What a surprise. The company that epitomizes the worst capitalistic traits should use "Charity" for

Its' own ends.

[PDJane]

3. I don't understand why anyone would believe that charitable donations will replace taxation.

They won't, they can't, and they will allow money to be placed where the ideology can be skewed to support the donors.

[MotherPetrie]

4. Interesting how Obama always gravitates to corporate whores

[ananda]

5. Obama is a corporatebot.

It's so sad.

[donnasgirl]

14. Someday

Everybody will wake up to the fact that all politicians are no F ing good.

[ProSense]

6. How exactly is this a "coup" for Wal-Mart?

Burwell, a former deputy chief of staff to President Clinton, joined the Walmart Foundation in late 2011, after about a decade of working with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. A Walmart press release announcing Burwell’s hire stated that she would report to Dach. At the time, Walmart was in a protracted lobbying effort to expand into major US cities, including New York, where efforts to build the first Walmart within city limits had become a controversial flashpoint. Faced with community opposition, Walmart failed to reach a deal with a developer to open a store in East New York.

She worked for the foundation for a couple of years. The article is a slam against Wal-Mart's practices, but I don't see anything that suggests her appointment is a "coup."

The previous OMB head was Jack Lew, who was just confirmed to Treasury.

Still, in 2010 he was confirmed to OMB:

<...>

Nominated by Obama in July, Lew was confirmed by voice vote in the Senate. He had previously served as OMB director in the Clinton administration, and has been credited by the current administration for helping usher in an era of budget surpluses at the end of the decade.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1110/45390.html#ixzz2MhInimS4

It's likely Obama is picking up people from the Clinton administration as they're already familiar with these positions.

[Teamster Jeff]

8. Because Burwell/Walmart would have direct access to the White House

Also, when Obama was running in 2008 he said that he no longer would shop at Walmart. Can you imagine him saying that now? Walmart has been money whipping progressive organizations and Democrats in order to undercut resistance to their practices and now they are close to getting one of their executives in the presidents cabinet.

[BrotherIvan]

7. Oh puke

[HiPointDem]

9. kr

[forestpath]

10. K&R Walmart's "philanthropy" begins and ends with the rich. No wonder Obama chose her.

[WillyT]

11. K & R !!!

[Richardo]

12. money to "Puppies Behind Bars"!?!

Those monsters.

[Teamster Jeff]

13. Walmart likes puppies!!!!

Almost makes you forget about low wages, poor working conditions, anti union activities, predatory pricing, sweat shops, overseas corruption, wage theft etc...

[donnasgirl]

15. HAHA

LMAO HA HA HA The chickens are coming home to roost.