Hillary on the Wal-Mart Board, huh.

[fencesitter]

I didn't know. Probably old news to most here, but how about that.

Clinton Is Quiet on Her Past Role With Wal-Mart

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/20/us/politics/20walmart.html?hp

Mrs. Clinton’s six-year tenure as a director of Wal-Mart, the nation’s largest company, remains a little known chapter in her closely scrutinized career. And it is little known for a reason. Mrs. Clinton rarely, if ever, discusses it, leaving her board membership out of her speeches and off her campaign Web site.

[rodeodance]

1. it ws a long time ago before WM became what it is today!!

[still_one]

2. How long have WalMart policies been in place? /nt

[Midlodemocrat]

9. The company started to become what it is today after Sam Walton died.

in 1992. The year Hillary resigned from the BOD.

[Igel]

23. It was morphing while HRC was on its Board.

The company was aghast at the Tien Anmen business (1989) because it has started to ramp up trade with China, and had extensive trade with S. Korea from the early '80s.

The ramp-up in Chinese trade was ticklish because it was during the Buy American campaign. :-)

However, her being on the board says little about her--one of those little facts that supporters seldom point out, but detractors love to be ignorant of. There's no word on how often she attended or how she argued and voted; there's little word on exactly how much control the Board had over day-to-day operations. Moreover, some people are appointed and are basically no-shows (she, allegedly, was one). Some do it for the money, for the clout, or because they want to beef up their resume. Some do it because they like the company.

[TheDebbieDee]

8. I thought all First Ladies of Arkansas..........

were invited to serve on the Board of Directors at WalMart as some sort of ceremonial thing............

After all, the WalMart National Headquarters is in the state of Arkansas, in Bentonville.

[fencesitter]

10. True. Once upon a time,

Wal mart was almost a benevolent company. Sam had a very different vision for his company.

[Raven]

3. Wow! I didn't know that. That alone would be a reason I won't

support her in the primaries. Flame me all you want but that company abuses workers, undermines US made products and is, in my opinion, killing off small local businesses everywhere it locates.

[Deja Q]

6. That's the flip side. Walmart has done all that too...

And it's sad she's a part of that slant.

Man, more details of her involvement have got to be made known.

[mcscajun]

12. It's notable that Hillary's stint on the board ended when Sam Walton

shuffled off this mortal coil. Many observers note that Wal-Mart's truly ugly practices came into play after Sam died.

[MaineDem]

19. She sat on the Board before it became the blood sucking scum company it is now

I can't fault her on this one.

She resigned in 1992.

[SaveOurDemocracy]

36. Did you read anything other than the OP title?

...just wondering, because maybe you should learn a little more before reacting.

[The Magistrate]

4. Twenty Years Old, In Fact, Sir

And put up almost daily here, for all that....

[Deja Q]

5. So THAT is why the repubs now her; I thought there'd be a jolly good reason!

:D

In 1994, they hated her. Called her ideas of altering the medical field 'socialism', ad nauseum...

Of course, Wal-mart is trying to go green and all these other "pro-community" things and for some of them, I have applauded the company and their efforts.

The real question is: How much of that is based on her? And is it due to genuine concern, or another political showpiece? Al Gore may not be running (as we currently know things), but SHE clearly is. And as I had said some time ago, a politician has to rely on their actions more than their words.

This makes Hillary very interesting indeed, I must say.

I don't know where she would attempt to take health care, but regardless I'd put more faith in her than I would Mr. Gore in terms of a do-something President.

My money's still on Obama for his discussion of unity and to work together AS Americans (regardless of political and racial backgrounds, he's made a hell of a lot of good common sense), but I fear he will have to drop out at some point.

Time will tell.

[JTFrog]

16. Oh puhleeze

:eyes:

[Midlodemocrat]

7. From 1986-1992. Sam Walton died in 1992. The company THEN became what it is now.

You do the math.

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

15. You know you make a very good point, Midlodemocrat.

The first Wal-Mart I was ever in opened in Bridgeview, IL in 1992. I loved the place when it first opened. Their prices were better for things like laundry soap, dishwashing liquid, toothpaste, etc.

They also had a nice selection of bedroom and bath linens that were made in the USA at a reasonable price. The clothing wasn't bad either. In fact I used to buy all of Mr. Wonderful's work clothes, boots, et al at Walmart and I even bought shirts and jeans for him there. I'll admit I even bought clothes for myself.

I try not to shop at Walmart now for anything, unless I'm in a real bind and that means I ran out of laundry soap or something along those lines when I'm in the middle of doing something.

The place is a real shithole now. The only products that they carry anymore that are made in the USA is the stuff like laundry soap, dishwashing liquid, toothpaste, and the food items this particular store carries.

As for clothing or bedroom or bath linens, forget about it. Everything in the store is pure dung from China, India, Korea, and Vietnam.

I'd venture to say that Sam Walton is probably literally rolling in his grave watching what his "heirs" have done to what he started.

[Midlodemocrat]

18. Not only is the quality inferior

the treatment of their employees is horrific. As well as their treatment of vendors. The vendor policy is unbelievable. You have to be willing to take back ANYTHING at any time, in any condition.

Now, LLBean has the same type of customer service, but the quality is there to back up the products.

Wal Mart is a shit hole. I am lucky enough that I have other choices here, but it's not right to pick on someone who doesn't have an alternative.

In fact, not too far from me, we're getting a Super Wal Mart :eyes: designed to be more upscale than the current one. :rofl:

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

22. Like I said I very rarely buy anything at Walmart anymore.

I finally talked Mr. Wonderful into getting a membership at Costco in 2004 and I love that place. They've got Walmart and Sam's Club beat hands down.

[w4rma]

24. In other words, *while* her husband was president and when he began signing 'free' trade agreements

and other laws, while ignoring Wal-Mart's anti-union busting, that were all so beneficial to Wal-Mart that Wal-Mart because the most powerful retailer in the world during Clinton's period of oversight.

[MaineDem]

26. I don't think Clinton became President until 1993.

Edited because I got the wrong decade. Duhhhhh

[Midlodemocrat]

27. Um, Bill Clinton didn't take office until 1993.

Sam Walton died in April 1992. Not sure of the exact month Hillary resigned from the board, but it was in 1992 at some point. :shrug:

[w4rma]

28. Wal-Mart didn't explode in the couple of years after Walton died. It was a period that lasted

throughout the Clinton Presidency and into the Bush residency.

[MaineDem]

29. But Clinton wasn't signing free trade agreements in '92 as you suggested.

:shrug:

[w4rma]

30. I looked very hard at my post for a mistake like that and I never said anything about 1992.

Clinton ratified it in November 1993.

[Midlodemocrat]

33. Your post states

In other words, *while* her husband was president and when he began signing 'free' trade agreements

which is a reply to my post that she served on the board from 1986-1992. :shrug:

[w4rma]

35. Yes... And your point is? What are you trying to show? That Wal-Mart instantly became bad in 1993?

That Clinton, as President of the United States, could not do anything to help get unions into the growing corporation?

[Midlodemocrat]

37. My point is that you are trying to blame Bill Clinton

for Wal Mart becoming the entity it is today. You indicated that his signing of free trade agreements helped cause it.

I'm merely pointing out that the dates don't even come close. Hillary was on the board between 1986-1992. Bill took office in 1993. How does her being on the board during those years jive with his Presidency?

:shrug:

[Midlodemocrat]

38. Additionally, this article from the aflcio.org site might be of interest

especially this passage, which in a nut shell sums up what I am saying.

Says Fowler Jr.: "I believe Wal-Mart once was an honorable company when Sam Walton was alive, but since his death, a corporate attitude of greed has turned Wal-Mart into a bad neighbor who seems content to trash communities for the sake of fat profits."



http://www.aflcio.org/aboutus/thisistheaflcio/publications/magazine/walmart.cfm

[w4rma]

41. Clinton ignored Wal-Mart's anti-union busting during his 8 years.

(and during his time as governor of Arkansas.) Clinton allowed this company to run rampant in the U.S. destroying small businesses without doing anything. Clinton signed many 'free' trade agreements, all of which helped Wal-Mart's profit margin at the expense of Americans. Wal-Mart grew into the monstrosity that it is now while the Clintons were in power.

[Midlodemocrat]

31. Dupe, sorry.

[Midlodemocrat]

32. I disagree. Even most Wall Street analysts will

state that the store that Sam Walton founded isn't the entity in existence today. Especially when you consider that 20 years ago, the quality of items purchased from Wal Mart was actually pretty decent.

[w4rma]

34. His kids own and "run" it. I see no difference. He raised them and taught them their ethics. (nt)

[asjr]

11. If she did say anything about it the NYT

would accuse her of making commercials for Walmart! They dig up something that happened yesteryear for Sen. CLinton but do not bother to dig up anything on the AWOL president we have.

[NoPasaran]

13. Old news because it was a long time ago

Other news items you may have missed:

Man walks on the Moon

Lindberg lands in Paris

Battleship "Maine" explodes in Havana Harbor

[SaveOurDemocracy]

40. LOL ... thanks for the update ;o)

:hi:

[Nite Owl]

14. Of all the reasons not to

vote for Hillary this one doesn't even hit the radar. Walmart was a different company then and she lived in the state. Maybe if she had stayed on the board it could have helped to have a dissenting voice. Just another way to look at it, this is old, old news and in light of the problems we have at home and in the world if this was the worse of it we would be lucky. I'm more interested in how she would handle Iraq and health care than her past relationship with Walmart.

[Ethelk2044]

17. It will matter to some voters in the end.

Not all but some will see it as a problem.

[surfermaw]

20. Mrs. Clinton & Walmart

Have you ever heard Mrs.Clinton say that Walmart was a good thing and bad thing? I have and she went on to say that when she was in Arkansas, that Walmart was a good thing because some places didn't have stores with the variety that Walmart had and that was a good thing, then she went on to discuss the bad things.. I thought everyone in the United States would have known about her time on the board.

[w4rma]

21. "On other topics, like Wal-Mart’s vehement anti-unionism, for example, she was largely silent" (nt)

[draft_mario_cuomo]

25. She showed leadership even then!

[SaveOurDemocracy]

44. I'm one of those uncommitted voters still hanging onto

a thin sliver of hope that Gore will accept that his country needs him and that it's his destiny to lead us to a safe place where we can recover and restore our country and it's Constitution. I've stepped in and questioned the Edwards bashers who just can't accept that they do the work of the RW by their obsessive and incessant attacks ... repeating the same old GOP talking points day after day. I've seen you complain of this very thing in support of your chosen candidate. I suggest you question your own actions when it comes to other candidates.

[w4rma]

45. Because haircuts are more important that corporate corruption and anti-union busting? Whatever. (nt)

[SaveOurDemocracy]

46. Moving another pot to the kettle column. n/t

[enough already]

39. Many of us DO know that she's in bed with Walmart

And we won't support her...ever.

[ElizabethDC]

43. She's not exactly in bed with them anymore

the article notes that she recently returned a $5000 contribution from them, because she disagrees with their current policies.

[unlawflcombatnt]

42. Thanks for posting this

Thanks for posting this. Below are some excerpts from the article.

"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....

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...."

That's just what we need, someone who'll "tamp down" the rancor between a union and the company that's trying to destroy the union.

You've gotta really like the following passage:

"In Mrs. Clinton’s complex relationship with Wal-Mart, there are....familiar themes... the trailblazing woman....willing to accept policies she did not agree with to achieve her ends...."

Just lovely. Another of the "ends justify the means" crowd. And what are Hillary's "ends"?
Winning an election.

Economic Populist Forum