Thursday, October 18, 2012

Romney caught again – SuperPac-Backed CEO’s told to pressure employees’ votes!

An article at addictinginfor.org, recently,  revealed another Romney tape where Romney is caught telling members of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)  to pressure their employees to vote for Romney.   NFIB has “$3.7 million ties in contributions from Karl Rove’s GPS SuperPac”! 


Here’s what Romney said on the tape…

“I hope you make it very clear to your employees what you believe is in the best interestof your enterprise and therefore their job and their future in the upcoming elections.And whether you agree with me or you agree with President Obama, or whatever your political view, I hope — I hope you pass those along to your employees. Nothing illegal about you talking to your employees about what you believe is best for the business, because I think that will figure into their election decision, their voting decision.”


Here’s what Romney’s SuperPac-Backed CEO’s are doing:

Charles and David Koch are “trying to control the political process through hundreds of millions of dollars in donations to right-wing causes and candidates.  An In Times investigation reveals that the billionaires have broken out another tactic to influence the 2012 elections”.  (beyondchron.com)

The Koch Industries corporate leadership” sent “voter information packets” to 45,000 employees stating that that they “support Mitt Romney for president” and other “Koch-endorsed candidates”. (beyondchron.com)  a copy of pro-Romney editorial written by David Koch and an anti-Obama editorial written by Charles Koch are included in the packet. The anti-Obama editorial reads – “If Obama is reelected then many of our more than 50,000 U.S. employees and contractors may suffer the consequences, including higher gasoline prices, runaway inflation and other ills.” (AP)

Dave Robertson, President and COO of Koch Industries sent employees a letter “warning them of consequences if Obama is re-elected,” (wokv.com)

David Siegel, the founder and CEO of Westgate Resorts sent an email to his workers “railing against one-percent bashing and arguing that the president’s reelection would threaten their jobs”. (stripersonline,com)

Arthur Allen, the founder, president and CEO of ASG Software Solutions recently emailed his employees “asking them to vote for Mitt Romney for the sake of the company – and their jobs.” (theblaze.com)  

Robert Lacks of Lacks Enterprises, a Michigan auto-parts company, “told employees in a recent email that they should “vote to improve your standard of living by opposing Obama.” (stripersonline.com)

Robert Murray of Murray Enterprises in Ohio “forced miners to attend a Mitt Romney rally without pay, some miners have charged.”” (leanforward.msnbc.com)


Is it Legal?
After hours of searching, I couldn’t find a definitive answer. There appears to be a lot of grey areas as you will find in the related links below.


The bottom line is…

On the one hand, employers have the right to freedom of speech.  On the other hand, when an employee goes in a voting booth, his/her choice is out of the employer’s hands!


Spread the Word!


Sources:
The Koch Brothers Sent Employees a List of People to Vote For

Koch Sends Pro-Romney Mailing to 45,000 Employees While Stifling Workplace Political Speech

 VIDEO: CEO’s pressuring workers to vote for Romney

Company heads threatens employees with consequences if Obama is re-elected

Yet another CEO asks employees to vote Romney for sake of the company (and their jobs)

Threatening employees to vote against O
http://www.stripersonline.com/t/866795/threatening-employees-to-vote-against-o


LEGALITY LINKS
Coercion (Legal Information Institute)

 Prohibition of Coercion (Legal Information Institute)

MESSAGE BOARD: Can an employer suggest how employees should vote?



GOTTA VOTE
Get Registered > Check Status > Report Abuse > Vote!
http://vote-usa.org/ (ballot info)


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