Mark Penn's PR firm hired by alleged predatory lender Countrywide; employees must sign pledge

[Bluebear]

"You can fool some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time. But, you cannot fool all of the people all of the time."--Abe Lincoln

Countrywide Financial (CFC) has decided to treat its remaining employees as if they were boobs and morons. The embattled mortgage company has hired PR operation Burson-Marsteller to begin "a PR blitz aimed at repairing its reputation. And it starts inside the company," according to The Wall Street Journal.

The people remaining at CountryWide are being asked to forget that their CEO has sold tens of millions of dollars in stock. A lot of that heppened just before the sub-prime disaster began. And, the 12,000 people who are likely to be fired. It's OK. Countrywide's remaining work force can wear wrist bands that say "Protect Our House".

Burson put together a transcript that was sent around the firm and says that employees are expected to sign a pledge to "demonstrate their commitment to our efforts," That is happening in the face of a New York Times article in which Senator Chuck Schumer is quoted as saying “Countrywide is trying to say they are doing workouts, but they are doing them with as little financial sacrifice for the company and as little effort as they can." The paper has also called into question the company's lending practices.

The remaining employees at Countrywide probably don't want management to spend a lot of mony on a PR firm. It would have been nicer if the cash had gone to protect a few more jobs.

Bad PR usually back-fires.

http://www.247wallst.com/2007/10/countrywides-cf.html

[havocmom]

1. They might scare employees into taking the veil

but CUSTOMERS who get poor service due to not enough employees will still find out the truth and THEY will speak volumes.

Business sucks because management thinks smoke and mirrors will substitute for product and service.

Hey, :think: isn't that the same propaganda fuckers, err firm HRC hired or am I confused about the name?

[Bluebear]

2. That's the one!

[havocmom]

4. Thanks, Bluebear. I love that you are always there to help an old woman

with failing memory ;)

Guess HRC has to resort to the top name in getting people to do what is so obviously NOT good for them.

Been over to the thread about convincing pregnant women to eat more mercury rich fish. :wtf:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1993136

Oct. 4, 2007 (Bloomberg) -- A nonprofit group backed by the seafood industry urged pregnant women and nursing mothers to eat more fish than recommended by U.S. officials concerned that mercury contamination can hurt babies.

The group, the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition, said women who avoid seafood to limit exposure to mercury deprive their babies and themselves of essential nutrients. Women should eat at least the 12 ounces a week suggested as a maximum by the government, the coalition said today at a briefing in Washington.

Child-development and nutrition specialists produced and promoted the report, with $74,000 from the seafood industry's advocacy arm, the National Fisheries Institute. That group is a client of Burson-Marsteller, a New York-based public-relations unit of WPP Group Plc in London. A Burson-Marsteller employee serves as vice-chairman of the coalition behind the study. The coalition said it was acting in the public's interest.

"It's our job to translate the science for people who need it most," said Judy Meehan, executive director of the Alexandria, Virginia-based coalition, in a telephone interview today. ``This is of critical importance. What happens during those nine months affects that individual's lifetime.''

Yep, a SWELL bunch of people Hillary has hired to sell herself to the people. Anybody who questions the contention that she is the business-as-usual candidate is just as far gone as the most ardent bushie.

Any candidate that uses that firm, those methods, is all ambition and no decency. Period.

[Whoa_Nelly]

3. More regarding CW, and a link to the pledge

'Protect our house' is lender's new motto

Rick Simon, a Countrywide spokesman, said the transcript was sent to employees Friday. It says that employees are expected to sign a pledge to "demonstrate their commitment to our efforts," and Simon says about 11,000 have signed. Each employee who signs up receives the Protect Our House wristband made of green rubber. "We believe there's a great story about the strength of the business," says Simon.

<snip>
"I want employees to look down at their wristbands and remember our fundamental mission to help customers achieve the American Dream, and to help them withstand those malicious outward attacks and to motivate them to continue on our journey with unwavering conviction," the transcript quotes Gissinger as saying.

http://venturacountystar.com/news/2007/oct/04/protect-our-house-is-lenders-new-motto/


In this short article is the link to .pdf file of the transcripts sent to the employees:
http://www.prwatch.org/node/6514


And on this page the link to the actual pledge(but I can't get Firefox to open it...anyone?)
http://excwinsider.com/?p=10

(The text below as found down in the comments section of the short article found at above link)

We want Protect Our House to be more than just words; we want this to be a real commitment. So I’m also asking you to sign the Protect Our House pledge which is available online via this link http://chlweb/connect/communications/protect_our_house_form.aspx. The pledge underscores your commitment to fighting this fight and telling our story. In return for signing this pledge, you will get a Protect Our House wristband. This is a symbol of everything that Countrywide stands for. It represents what we’ve achieved since 1969, and what we will accomplish in the future. I want you to look down at your wristband and remember that our fundamental mission is to help our customers achieve the American dream. Let it give you strength and motivate you to continue on our journey with unwavering conviction.

[havocmom]

5. My fear that nations have been replaced by corporations is being proved correct

Put your pin on and take the pledge

God
Family
Country

Company
Company
Company

Then, when you get too old/infirm to be a productive cog, get out of the way and die.

[Bluebear]

6. 'get out of the way and die.' - with privatized Social Security & cheap or no health care.

What a sad state of affairs.

[havocmom]

7. And the longer the war in Iraq goes on, the less veterans benefits to be paid

All part of the plan.

When fuel oil gets high enough, they will be passing out (used) blankets to the poor. Everything old is new again.

[Yael]

8. But if they leave

they will lose their health insurance...

[havocmom]

10. And then they die

When a part wears out.... toss it.

[Whoa_Nelly]

9. havocmom, am believing the same thing

That's why there can be no more Constitution because it's been replaced with a Mission Statement

That's why there can be no more Bill of Rights because it's been replaced with an employee rules book subject to change at any time.

That's why there can be no more democracy because only the board of directors get to vote to facilitate change.



Now, my question.
Why do people like Hillary when she is already in bed with the corporates? :shrug:

[Bluebear]

11. 'there can be no more Constitution because it's been replaced with a Mission Statement'

:cry:

[Yael]

12. Mission, Vision and Core Values

to be determined. You will be notified in writing via a pledge card.

[Whoa_Nelly]

13. Once you sign the pledge card, you will receive and wear this red, white and blue wristband

that says, I AM A PATRIOT on one side, and SUPPORT THE FATHERLAND on the other.

Please snap it against your wrist regularly to remember that we own you.

Sample:

[Yael]

16. Wow! That looks so Patriotic!!!

Sign me right up. :patriot:

[earth mom]

17. The Constitution is to be shredded to make way for the North American Union

where people will have NO rights and will be turned into serfs to serve the rich elites for pennies on the dollar! :puke:

Timeline of the Progress Towards a North American Union
http://www.vivelecanada.ca/staticpages/index.php/20060830133702539

[Bluebear]

20. :nodding:

[havocmom]

18. Frankly, I have YET to meet a person in real life who likes her

Not one.

Lots of smoke. Oodles of mirrors. Dogs and ponies up a gum stump, but not one acquaintance in real life with any positive feelings for HRC.

[sandnsea]

22. Agree completely

We're in a hell of a mess and I don't see a lot of good options for Democrats, but I sure know Hillary is a bad one. The question is whether the media will cover any of this, or give her a pass the way they have been so far.

[cascadiance]

14. Hmm... My sister is one of those who survived the cuts there.

I'll have to find out from her if she's got to wear a green wrist band and what other nonsense like this is going on.

[Whoa_Nelly]

15. So many Du'ers. So many connections to truth.

Thanks! Will be looking for your post if you do get more info!

(If you remember, PM me for a heads up to read it :hi: )

[havocmom]

19. More truth, this time from Tucson and the First Magnus debacle

One of the owners was said to have blown off questions about all the workers who haven't been paid when he and his dad are at the head of the list of creditors for the company they helped run into the ground. It was reported young fat cat said that those workers' job was to make money for him and now that is over.

Now, I used to know him personally. He is a wanker. Saw him so fucking wasted at 9:30 one morning, he couldn't find the door of the place I was working just down the road from his office. Three family members and a few friends worked for him. He sat in the office playing cards for hours because that was all he could do at the computer. I know someone who he asked to teach him more to do on the computer. Yeah, so many connections to the truth.

Workers are there to make money for the fat cats. When the fat cats drive the business into the ground, well the workers' job is just over...

EAT THE RICH when they have that mind-set. They will eat us for sure.

[Forkboy]

21. Kick

:kick:

[Richard Steele]

23. Kick