Allen's "Listening Tour" of Big Corporations

By: Lowell
Published On: 8/8/2006 12:26:32 PM

From the Webb campaign...it's nice to see that George Allen has his priorities straight:  big corporations first, lobbyists second, running for President third, kissing up to the people of Iowa (where he wishes he had been born) fourth, getting the hell out of the US Senate (where he's bored out of his mind) fifth, dressing up as a "cowboy" or "Confederate officer" (despite having no cowboy or Confederate heritage) sixth, and somewhere far FAR down the list, the PEOPLE of Virginia.  Just the kind of guy we want representing us, eh?

(Richmond, VA) +óGé¼GÇ£ George Felix Allen continued his +óGé¼+ôlistening tour+óGé¼-¥ today by attending events where he listened to the needs of corporations, not people.  George Allen+óGé¼Gäós so called +óGé¼+ôlistening tour+óGé¼-¥ is packed full of events where he stops at major corporations +óGé¼GÇ£ many of whom have generously donated to his campaign.

+óGé¼+ôWe can see who George Allen considers worthy of +óGé¼-£listening+óGé¼Gäó to,+óGé¼-¥ said Webb spokesperson Kristian Denny Todd.  +óGé¼+ôWorking class Virginians are clearly not George Allen+óGé¼Gäós priority.  George Allen has proved time after time that it+óGé¼Gäós corporations and big-money special interests that deserve his attention +óGé¼GÇ£ not everyday Virginians.+óGé¼-¥

In the first two days of his +óGé¼+ôlistening tour,+óGé¼-¥ Allen visited five major corporations.  He has taken a total of $46,000 in campaign contributions from these corporations.

General Electric PAC - $14,000
Coca-Cola  - $ 5,500
UPS PAC  - $15,500
DuPont PAC  - $10,000
Honeywell  - $ 1,000

+óGé¼+ôThis is more like the George Allen donor tour than a listening tour,+óGé¼-¥ said Denny Todd.  +óGé¼+ôFor Allen, it seems you+óGé¼Gäóre only worth listening to after you sign the check.+óGé¼-¥

George Allen: man of the big corporations.
Jim Webb: man of the people.

Which do you prefer?

Lowell Feld is Netroots Coordinator for the Jim Webb for US Senate Campaign.  The ideas expressed here belong to Lowell Feld alone, and do not necessarily represent those of Jim Webb, his advisors, staff, or supporters.

Comments



I'd like to email those companies. (phriendlyjaime - 8/8/2006 12:38:30 PM)
It'd be interesting to see if they will match Webb with donations.  Unless they prefer being known as Republican backers, bc hey-I can switch to diet Pepsi. 


Handy place to look- I have not looked into fact checking this group (Doug Garnett-Deakin - 8/8/2006 12:57:20 PM)
I think most of this is consolidated from the public domain:

Diet Coke
http://www.buyblue.o...

Diet Pepsi
http://www.buyblue.o...

I'd switch to Nantucket Nectars if I were you. :) No plug there honest! The rest of the drink manufacturers are so small there is no information listed here.



More information on the above companies (Doug Garnett-Deakin - 8/8/2006 1:00:34 PM)
UPS is a huge contributor to Republicans:

http://www.buyblue.o...

but then, so is FEDEX.



no switching (hrconservative - 8/8/2006 1:28:28 PM)
Hess Oil is a huge contributor to Democrats, but I buy from them all the time. Switching companies you buy from for political reasons is a bit silly.


Mr. 42 hits strikes again (DukieDem - 8/8/2006 1:32:38 PM)
If how you live your life and how you spend your free time are reflect your personal beleifs (and in turn your political values), why shouldn't how you spend your money be the same?


Tarheels (hrconservative - 8/8/2006 2:31:06 PM)
Just to give you one more reason not to like me. . . .I'm a Tarheel fan too. Go Tarheels! We are going to be championship contenders once again this year.


oh yes, thank you, I listen to everything conservatives tell me (Doug Garnett-Deakin - 8/8/2006 1:38:12 PM)
(walking like zombie, monotone)your advice is so important to me... thank you... especially since you post to a liberal/progressive blog and watch over us... I see.. must buy UPS...

Heh- just good fun.



money (hrconservative - 8/8/2006 2:26:30 PM)
ok, but you will waste your money not just buying what you want and where you want instead of looking up politics before you go. I'm going for a quick burgur, oh wait, let me look up what they gave. Burger King gave a $100 contribution to a Democrat?! What???!!! That does it, no Burger King forever!!!!!

What a way to live life.



You're absolutely right!! My goodness!! (Doug Garnett-Deakin - 8/8/2006 2:43:50 PM)
Look, I actually sign up for AFA and other email lists from the far right to see what they have to say. They constantly send out- don't buy GM! They are gay friendly! Don't watch Sponge Bob or you'll go gay! Etc., etc. Really, I am not making that up. I also get emails from Dave Sirota talking about companies that have poor hiring practices, don't support unions, etc. etc. Completely different agendas, but you get the point, right?

So, I actually have this thing called a brain, that has a memory, and I remember things like- COSTCO is great for employees- living wage, gives to progressive candidates, has health care. I know Walmart does none of this- but they are actually showing signs they may in the future or be forced into it. So, what do I do? I prefer to shop at COSTCO if I can. And I know from what I read how good companies like choice and hyatt hotels are, how bad hilton is, etc. in agree with me politically, so I will prefer to stay at the former not the latter (also my points for free rooms are all in choice hotels!).

Of course I don't go look up companies when I need a burger, but I also don't eat crap like Burger King and have no idea where they are on buy blue. Ha! Charbroil ick. Plus my wife won't let me eat those.

My point- and it is a point- is why not learn about companies that support and like what you do? The right does it like crazy and so does the left. Plus, when you look at the list you'll find, really, objectively, the places that sell higher quality stuff are generally more blue than red. Ok, I can't back that claim up with fact, but, as Colbert would say, I feel it in my gut, so it must be true.



Can't Beleive I Ommited This (DukieDem - 8/8/2006 1:41:39 PM)
"Switching companies you buy from for political reasons is a bit silly"

But crafting legislation based on companies that donate to you is reasonable?



Citgo (seveneasypeaces - 8/8/2006 1:47:01 PM)
Support Venezuelan Democracy, Buy CITGO


This chain is great, but... (Doug Garnett-Deakin - 8/8/2006 1:53:49 PM)
CITGO also gives mostly to Republicans. Yes! Believe it or not.

Also, I have a huge problem with a democratically elected government like Ven that has turned around and made it a crime to criticize their president. Be careful who you idolize and get comfortable with- authoritarian jerks can be left or right on the political scale.



You've put it in a nut shell Lowell... (mosquitopest - 8/8/2006 3:03:11 PM)
Loweell you've managed to get it down to two sentneces the reasons I oppsoe Allen and support Webb.

Allen is the man of the corporations
Webb is the man of the people....

Perfect and also true!

BTW, I also shop at Costco b/c they pay their employees with living wages and give them insurance, retirement and vacation benefits....

M



COMMENT HIDDEN (demo925 - 8/8/2006 9:02:11 PM)