Koch Industries, the multi-billion-dollar company owned by conservative brothers Charles and David Koch, sent a mailing to its 50,000 employees earlier this month offering guidance on how to vote in this year's presidential election. The documents were obtained by In These Times magazine and provided to Up w/ Chris before publishing their report.
The packet sent to employees includes a letter, dated October 1st, from Koch Industries president and Chief Operating Officer David Robertson. Robertson writes:
Dear co-worker,
While we are typically told before each Presidential election that it is important and historic, I believe the upcoming election will determine what kind of America future generations will inherit. If we elect candidates who want to spend hundreds of billions in borrowed money on costly new subsidies for a few favored cronies, put unprecedented regulatory burdens on businesses, prevent or delay important new construction projects and excessively hinder free trade, then many of our more than 50,000 U.S. employees and contractors may suffer the consequences. ... It is essential that we are all informed and educated voters. Our future depends on it.
The packet includes editorials blasting the Obama administration, written by Charles and David Koch for newspapers like The Wall Street Journal and The New York Post. And then there's the flier it includes, containing information on early voting options and voter registration deadlines. The flier contains this passage:
The following candidates in your state are among the candidates who have received support from a Koch company or KOCHPAC, the employee political action committee of Koch companies.
Just beneath that passage, the document lists the Koch brothers' favored candidates for president and vice president: Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan.
Rob Tappan, Koch Companies director of external relations, sent Up w/ Chris the following statement:
To encourage employees to be informed about and engaged in the political process, Koch mailed a letter in early October to its 50,000 U.S.-based employees. It is also important to note that many companies, as well as organizations such as labor unions, also provide similar information to their members and fellow employees. Indeed, unions and newspapers go further than this and actually endorse candidates to their readers and members.
The communication to our employees makes clear that decisions about which political candidates to support are up to each employee and should be based on factors most important to him or her. In addition to the letter, employees were given information they often request – voter registration deadlines, early voting options for various states, and a list of candidates supported by Koch companies and KOCHPAC, Koch’s employee political action committee.
Because inaccurate and false stories were written about a similar letter we sent to Koch employees in 2010, we are posting the complete text of the letter below so that readers can see for themselves the true intent of the mailing:
And here is the full text of the letter from Robertson to Koch Industries employees:
Dear co-worker,
While we are typically told before each Presidential election that it is important and historic, I believe the upcoming election will determine what kind of America future generations will inherit.
If we elect candidates who want to spend hundreds of billions in borrowed money on costly new subsidies for a few favored cronies, put unprecedented regulatory burdens on businesses, prevent or delay important new construction projects and excessively hinder free trade, 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. This is true regardless of what your political affiliation might be.
To help you engage in the political process, we have enclosed several items in this packet. For most of you, this includes information about voter registration deadlines and early voting options for your state. At the request of many employees, we have also provided a list of candidates in your state that have been supported by Koch companies or by KOCHPAC, our employee political action committee.
I want to emphasize two things about these lists. First, and most important, we believe any decision about which candidates to support is – as always – yours and yours alone, based on the factors that are most important to you. Second, we do not support candidates based on their political affiliation. We evaluate them based on who is the most market-based and willing to support economic freedom for the benefit of society as a whole.
If you are concerned about our economy, our future and enhancing the quality of life for all Americans, then I encourage you to consider the principles of your candidates and not just their party affiliation. It is essential that we are all informed and educated voters. Our future depends on it.
Also included in this mailing are wallet cards to use as you shop for some of the most popular brands made by your co-workers, information about our newly updated MBM® Guiding Principles and some thoughtful editorials by Charles Koch, David Koch and others.
Sincerely,
Dave Robertson
President and COO
Koch Industries, Inc.
:: Sal Gentile (@salgentile) is a segment & digital producer for Up w/ Chris Hayes ::
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During the 2010 elections it was thought the Senate race in my home state of Nevada's results did not reflect earlier polls or how close the race really was. The local news attributed this to Harry Reid's ability to get out the vote. We personally have acquaintances that work for large gaming corporations, specifically MGM. While at work these employees were tapped on the shoulder by management, told to board the bus out front and they better vote for Reid.
Of course, once in the privacy of a voting booth no one will know how anyone actually voted, but it feels over the line.
Who, in their right mind, would have voted for Angle?
Just asking,,,,
Regardless of what you think of Reid's opponent this is the same issue. And if this story is true than than those of us who are critical of the corporate/political interferience with workers voting rights should find MGM and Reid's actions even more reprehensible than Koch's actions to date because rather than send out a mass letter MGM coerced individual workers to get on their bus to go to the polls, pressure and threats much more difficult resist.
I think this was an important segment, and it reinforces the statement made by Louis Brandeis that "We can either have democracy in this country or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both."
The point that was too briefly touched on was the genuine problem of limiting the speech of those with wealth and power, even as that free speech is inherently unequal to a degree that is not just free but coercive speech.
Everyone seemed uncomfortable drawing the only obvious conclusion, namely that having a class of people who are so wealthy that they can effectively control the political process is inherently a thing that inevitably overthrows democracy. For our own survival as a society, the only option is to prevent the creation of such a class (as there is no reasonable way to control the actions of such a class). That conclusion will no doubt be distasteful to many, and not just those among or approaching being part of the elites, but the alternative is already clear and not merely theoretical. Both may be "bad" choices, but one is certainly far worse than the other.
I think that, ultimately, our reluctance to take this issue head on means that our society is almost certainly doomed to follow the dreadful and oft-repeated lesson of history.
Well said Outis!
WHAT IF ... employees are "strong-armed" to attend rallies for a specific candidate (and not necessarily their choice) with or without pay, can these employees legally/constitutionally push back by wearing "brown shirts" with a "stylized cross" - or any other "Norma Rae" subtle reaction?
WHAT IF ... after employees are "strong-armed" into attending political rallies with/without pay, can the employees legally/constitutionally show up wearing "brown shirts" and a "stylized cross" - as a push back in a "Norma Rae" subtle reaction?
Of course, this is a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" reaction. But is there any other CHOICE?
I really wish I had one of those wallet cards, so I could be up-to-date on what NOT to buy and whom not to support while shopping. I already am very careful not to buy any Georgia Pacific products.
It would have to be a pretty big card Heather,,,,,
Koch Industry Gasoline:
Chevron
Union
Union 76
Conoco
Koch Industry/Georgia-Pacific Products:
Angel Soft toilet paper
Brawny paper towels
Dixie plates, bowls, napkins and cups
Mardi Gras napkins and towels
Quilted Northern toilet paper
Soft ‘n Gentle toilet paper
Sparkle napkins
Vanity fair napkins
Zee napkins
Koch Industry/Invista Products:
COMFOREL® fiberfill
COOLMAX® fabric
CORDURA® fabric
DACRON® fiber
POLYSHIELD® resin
SOLARMAX® fabric
SOMERELLE® bedding products
STAINMASTER® carpet
SUPPLEX® fabric
TACTEL® fiber
TACTESSE® carpet fiber
TERATE® polyols
TERATHANE® polyether glycol
THERMOLITE® fabric
PHENREZ® resin
POLARGUARD® fiber and
LYCRA® fiber
MORE…..
Georgia Pacific Building products
Dense Armor Drywall and Decking
ToughArmor Gypsum board
Georgia pacific Plytanium Plywood
Flexrock
Densglass sheathing
G/P Industrial plasters (some products used by a lot of crafters)-
Agricultural Plaster
Arts & Crafts Plaster
Dental Plaster
General Purpose Plaster
Glass-reinforced Gypsum (GRG)
Industrial Tooling Plaster
Investment Casting Plaster
Medical Plaster
Metal Casting Plaster
Pottery Plaster
FibreStrong Rim board
G/P Lam board
Blue Ribbon OSB Rated Sheathing
Blue Ribbon Sub-floor
DryGuard Enhanced OSB
Nautilus Wall Sheathing
Thermostat OSB Radiant Barrier Sheathing
Broadspan Engineered Wood Products
XJ 85 I-Joists
FireDefender Banded Cores
FireDefender FS
FireDefender Mineral Core
Hardboard and Thin MDF including Auto Hardboard,
Perforated Hardboard and Thin MDF
Wood Fiberboard -
Commercial Roof Fiberboard
Hushboard Sound Deadening Board
Regular Fiberboard Sheathing
Structural Fiberboard Sheathing
One of the advantages of being so old is that I will not be involved in this terrible process very much longer. I think of these far right Republicans as Fascists without the swastica's, but the end result will be the same and I am glad I will not be around for long and have to see it.
My THOUGHTS exactly, Mr. Stoll !!
If we elect candidates who want to spend trillions in borrowed money increasing our bosses' fortune, put unprecedented restrictions on our women's health decisions, remove the program that provides health care services to our seniors, prevent or delay safeguards to our nation's banking system and encourage the exodus of American jobs overseas all of America will suffer the consequences. Vote Obama.
I believe that no matter what party it is these kinds of letters should not be sent out by employers to get them to vote for either candidate. It should be up to the employees to get the information through other sources than their employer who is biased. I speak as a democrat and feel the same if some employer was pushing our candidate. It should be up to the individual to vote or not and for who they feel will do the best job by getting unbiased information about both candidates.
If the Koch brothers were supporting Obama this would be a non-issue. They would be lauded as great progressive Americans who are doing the right thing. I look FORWARD to Obama's CHANGE of address and HOPE it is real soon.
Why are you against Obama ??
Why are you for Obama?
SFlaMom #8.2
Vouchers instead of health care services for seniors
Medically unnecessary ultrasound probes instead of reproductive rights for women.
Paying $2,000 per family to fund $250,000 to the 1%.
Continuous wars overseas taking family members away.
Losing collective bargaining rights.
Losing voting rights.
We are for President Obama for the future of America and every family in America by seeing to it that Mr. Romney does not get into office to do these things to our families. If these things are important to you you would be too.
Big Business VS Democracy ---- never have so few attempted to spend so much to gain INFLUENCE over our citizens. The corporations have the Republicans bought and paid for, now they are buying your vote with money and lies ! The Kochs are going to get a return on their investment in getting their Republicans elected. I would like to know what they think a $1,000,000,000.00 (BILLION) in lies and false advertising buys them besides YOUR VOTE???
Employers using their status to frighten their employees into voting a certain way is just like bosses using their status to sexually or otherwise harass their employees. It's an abuse of power and no matter which party is doing it, it is wrong.
If the Koch brothers (and others) feel confident enough in their political candidate to pour millions into his campaign, why do they feel the need to intimidate their employees into voting for him?
Too many voters have too many reasons to vote to make sure Mr. Romney does not become President Romney.
Another point left out in this discussion is what would happen if an employee in these companies called everyone up and said lets have a rally, after hours, to discuss voting for Obama. Even in the case where coming to such an event isn't mandatory, I'm pretty sure the Koch brothers would look very poorly upon such activities. That is the real problem that Chris is referring too, but isn't saying flat out. These guys are using their power to control the message with no controls over their influence over their employees.
Let me be clear, I don't care if this is Reed or anyone else. The simple fact is that no one should be able to wield power over their employers in any way. I feel there should be a law that says you may not advocate to a captured audience, no matter what the nature of that capture; employer, administrator, boss, teacher, coach etc. You should be free of being pressured by someone who yields a position of power over you.
In the 1980s I worked in a lumber mill in Oregon. The spotted owl laws were being examined and on one pay day a supervisor came in and told us that unless we were willing to sign a petition against the protection, we weren't getting our checks. Ten minutes later a union rep was on the floor and the supervisor was being ushered out by the plant manager. Don't let anyone fool you, business will bully it's employees, and unions are the buffer. Government is not good enough, the time lag is too big. Union reps on the floor can act immediately to protect their members from employer action.
I AM FOR OUT PRESIDENT THE MAN OBAMA FOR ANOTHER 4 YEARS IN THE WHITE HOUSE!!!!!
I FEEL THAT THOSE EMPLOYEES CAN VOTE FOR WHOM EVER THEY WANT TO.... THAT IDIOT DAVID ROBERTSON WILL NOT BE STANDING THERE WITH THEM SO IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER WHAT HE SENDS OUT TO HIS EMPLOYEES!!!!!!!
AND WHY WOULD WE WANT THE OTHER TWO IDIOTS IN THE WHITE HOUSE WITH LIES, LIES, LIES AND MORE LIES!!!!!
Soup kitchen head lashes out at Ryan's campaign stunt!!!!
Not only was vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan photographed washing some perfectly clean dishes, now the man who runs the homeless shelter in Ohio where the photo-op took place
has slammed the Romney campaign for the stunt. Brian J. Antal, president of the Mahoning County St. Vincent De Paul Society, said he hadn't been contacted about Ryan's visit and claimed Ryan's staffers "ramrodded their way" into the kitchen to get the photo. He said the campaign "showed up there, and they did not have permission. They got one of the volunteers to open up the doors." Antal added that the Society does not endorse political candidates because it is a faith-based organization that relies on donations from private individuals. [Source]