Hillary — While on Wal-Mart Board of Directors — Remained Silent As Wal-Mart Fought Unions

Published on January 31st, 2008

In six years as a member of the Wal-Mart board of directors, between 1986 and 1992, Hillary Clinton remained silent as the world’s largest retailer waged a major campaign against labor unions seeking to represent store workers. Clinton has been endorsed for president by more than a dozen unions, according to her campaign Web site, which omits any reference to her role at Wal-Mart in its detailed biography of her. Wal-Mart’s anti-union efforts were headed by one of Clinton’s fellow board members, John Tate, a Wal-Mart executive vice president who also served on the board with Clinton for four of her six years.

Tate was fond of repeating, as he did at a managers meeting in 2004 after his retirement, what he said was his favorite phrase, “Labor unions are nothing but blood-sucking parasites living off the productive labor of people who work for a living.” A former board member told ABCNews.com that he had no recollection of Clinton defending unions during more than 20 board meetings held in private. The tapes show Clinton in the role of a loyal company woman. “I’m always proud of Wal-Mart and what we do and the way we do it better than anybody else,” she said at a June 1990 stockholders meeting.

Is anyone surprised by this? Maybe this will help her with conservatives.

51 users responded in " Hillary — While on Wal-Mart Board of Directors — Remained Silent As Wal-Mart Fought Unions "

Subscribe to this post comment rss or trackback url

# 1 Norman J McSweyn said, on January 31st, 2008 at 7:43 pm

Hillary is a two faced POS! I didn’t vote for her, nor will I vote for her this time.
Proud union member.

# 2 Bob Arnold said, on January 31st, 2008 at 7:57 pm

Not only that but her POS husband pushed through NAFTA.

# 3 Animal Mother said, on January 31st, 2008 at 8:01 pm

“…remained silent as the world’s largest retailer waged a major campaign against labor unions seeking to represent store workers.”

Of course, the store workers themselves had no interest in joining a labor union–they are quite happy with their jobs. I applaud their bravery in the face of high-pressure tactics by the union thugs.

# 4 gregallen said, on January 31st, 2008 at 8:05 pm

Finally, a fair issue — even if it is TWO DECADES OLD.

I should mention that two decades before he was president, Bush Jr. was a coke head womanizer, right? Was that viewed as highly relevant or something he grew out of?

Anyway, I think the proper answer to this charge is… “I didn’t appreciate back then that it was unions which made America great. I understand that now.”

# 5 McCullough said, on January 31st, 2008 at 8:11 pm

#4, So why then is she endorsed by more than a dozen unions? Fishy?

# 6 Joel said, on January 31st, 2008 at 8:30 pm

Stop trying to make yourself feel better by blaming other people… People who continue to shop at Wall-Mart are to blame.

# 7 smh said, on January 31st, 2008 at 8:35 pm

Unions are good for the people in the unions and bad for everyone who depends on Wal-Mart for good prices. Hillary is a hypocrite since mindless democrats who blindly support all unions can’t have it both ways.

# 8 TIHZ_HO said, on January 31st, 2008 at 9:20 pm

Its what I tell Chinese who ask me whats it like to vote for your leaders in the US.

“Here are ONLY two things – One thing you hate and the other thing you also hate – now choose one and shut up!”

I think voting in China will be many years away – thankfully.

Cheers

PS: It just snowing again in Shanghai – WTF? Global warming, get with the program already!

# 9 MikeN said, on January 31st, 2008 at 9:34 pm

I’m surprised she actually attended the meetings. Usually these board positions are just ways for politicians to make money on the side.

That she would be anti-union is no surprise.l The Democrat Party headquarters was built non-union as was the president’s library, where there was an actual political price to pay. What’s the shock that Hillary wouldn’t risk her board position to stand up for unions?

# 10 confinedspace pipefitter said, on January 31st, 2008 at 9:37 pm

I have been forced to be in a union since 1969. They are invaluable if you are a screwup on the job. If you like to drink or get high on the job they will be right there for you. For most members, it is just another group getting in your check. They will sell you out in a heart beat if it serves their purpose.

# 11 Steve said, on January 31st, 2008 at 9:46 pm

Walmart is a malignant tumor on the American landscape. I’m sure Clinton had more than one self-serving purpose for being connected to them. As a union member for over 25 years I’ve never had to look very hard to find fault with my own and many other unions. But I’m glad to be a member and despise attacks on them by ignorant pea-brained reactionaries who can only see any system outside of their own selfish greed as their enemy. What’s really making me sick is the suspicion that she going to be the best candidate and still might not even be able to wrest this election away from the evil motherfuckers in control of this disappearing empire.

# 12 Ah_Yea said, on January 31st, 2008 at 9:55 pm

Now hear this clearly!

Hillary was on the board of WalMart.

WalMart is adamantly anti-union and adamantly Pro-China trade.

During the Clinton years our extremely unbalanced trade agreement with China was signed.

Who benefited the most? WalMart.

Who’s jobs were sent overseas and where? Union jobs to China.

Who invested heavily in the Clinton political machine and financed major portions of the Clinton Library?

Chinese.

“Keep you friends close and your enemies closer”. This sums up the union approach to Hillary.

http://tinyurl.com/2rjrct

# 13 bobbo said, on January 31st, 2008 at 10:25 pm

Hillary is as bad and obvious in her way as Bush running for his second term was in his.

Yes, we have 35 years of experience to judge Hilliary on.

The only people voting for her will be idiots who enjoy being told what they want to hear.

That said, how come those unions do support her? They aren’t supposed to play politics “hoping for” some future favor if in fact she is anti-union==but I could believe it.

Is there a Union Score Card kept on Congress people? I’d like to see her score.

Back when I was on a board, I got lots of heat during a union run because I said unions weren’t all bad, but as #10 posted, they all too often aren’t very good either.

Whats actually needed is better job policies out of washington–ie protect American jobs by not giving tax incentives to off shore them would be an obvious start.

# 14 Uncle Patso said, on February 1st, 2008 at 12:09 am

So the guy said
“Labor unions are nothing but blood-sucking parasites living off the productive labor of people who work for a living.”

If that’s true, it’s also true of Wal-Mart.

# 15 RoeBoeDog said, on February 1st, 2008 at 12:14 am

Unions are what made America lazy and fat, sitting around saying that is not my job.

# 16 Ben said, on February 1st, 2008 at 1:26 am

The Unions time is done… The media will gladly pick up any true impropriety that goes on in the workplace and run with it. This will put far more pressure on the company then any union will. It seems to me the only people who benefit from Unions are the people who skim off the top of them. In fact union groups are most likely better off pooling some of their money and hiring a marketing company instead.

# 17 jescott418 said, on February 1st, 2008 at 3:30 am

We will be bitching about the next president just like we have all the rest for many years before. This country is not about dictatorship. The president does not make or change policy people. Congress does. We need to think more about who we elect as senator’s and house members and not worry so much about who’s president.

# 18 TheGlobalWarmingNemesis said, on February 1st, 2008 at 4:50 am

Unions had their place, but the pendulum swung too far the other way. Look what happened to Detroit.

# 19 GregA said, on February 1st, 2008 at 4:53 am

Hahahaha, the continued implosion of the republican party is funny!!!!

Also, I know how the numbers will work in Hillary care!!! All the fat bastard old cigarette smoking republicans will have aneurysms and die during her inaguration speech clearing the way for affordable health care for everyone else, whithout the parasitic republicans weighing the medical system down.

LOL!

# 20 GregA said, on February 1st, 2008 at 4:59 am

#18,

What has happened in Detroit is nothing compared to what has happened to Republican dominated rural America. All across flyover country America every town now has exactly one store, and it is Wallyworld. Now that all the republicans import all their merchandise from china and work for minimum wage it is no wonder that Democratic candidates are out raising Republican candidates about 10 to 1 in campaign contributions.

# 21 Ubiquitous Talking Head said, on February 1st, 2008 at 5:42 am

Back, oh, 70 or 80 years ago, when America was DISTINCTLY a two-class nation, unions arose out of necessity. Workers WERE unquestionably being exploited. Over the following decades, as union-led work practices were put into law they (unions) became less relevant, less necessary, and the corruption became more obvious and a lot harder to justify. (All power corrupts, period. There is NO uncorrupt but powerful organization of any type, anywhere.) Anyway, between unions, socialist democrats, and the empowerment of women due to WWII, a true middle class grew. That middle class is now under attack from those who make no bones about their desire to turn this country back into a two-tiered affair, where there is a plutocracy and a relatively poor working class majority who provide fodder for the machine that keeps the plutocrats fat. The fact that the serfs have microwaves and HD TV in no way changes anything. Who is going to watch out for your interests? (Assuming you’re not a plutocrat.) The unions are pretty much all we have left. Corrupt as they are, they do at least make some attempt at leveling the playing field.

# 22 Phil A Mignion said, on February 1st, 2008 at 5:45 am

If you don’t like Clinton then support Obama. Either of them will better than another 4 years of the Republicans decimation of US reputation, the dollar and the middle class.

# 23 Angus said, on February 1st, 2008 at 5:46 am

I find it interesting that this AND the Bill Clinton Kazakstan Uranium thing came out on the same day? And, on two major news outlets, ABC and MSNBC? I think there are a lot of Obama backers behind the scenens in the media willing to fan the flames of Clinton bashing.

# 24 TIHZ_HO said, on February 1st, 2008 at 5:48 am

#17 jescott418 The president does not make or change policy people. Congress does.

I thought Bush was supposed to be a “lame duck” president due to a democratic majority congress – so what happened? Have I misunderstood something?

Cheers

# 25 Calin said, on February 1st, 2008 at 5:58 am

Nice rhetoric #20. Wanna come with facts now? I live in a Kentucky town, population around 9000. Actually, I live in the outskirts in a much smaller villiage. However, if you don’t want to buy bait or a coke, you have to go to the larger town for anything else. Now, in this “fly-over” town of 9000 people, we have a Wal-Mart, two Krogers, and an Aldi’s to buy food from. You want video games? Wal-Mart, GameStop, and Sam Goody. Furniture, hell, there are 3 in downtown alone, plus the Sears out in the shopping area….plus WalMart. Home Electronics? Sears, WalMart, and three family owned home electronics/appliance stores.

Granted, if you want office supplies, it’s either Wal-Mart…or you drive 15 miles to the next slightly larger town where there’s an Office Depot.

This is a town of 9000 remember. Exactly one store my a$$.

# 26 Dallas said, on February 1st, 2008 at 6:00 am

If the republican SLIME machine has to go back 20 years to dig up shit on Hillary and Obama, I think the Democrats have a GREAT chance to win.

Nobody cares about marijuana in highschool or gay sex when 9 years old anymore. There is a new wave of voters that don;t care about this.

# 27 Angus said, on February 1st, 2008 at 7:20 am

I didn’t know ABC and Good Morning America is part of the Republican Slime Machine.

# 28 Rabble Rouser said, on February 1st, 2008 at 7:38 am

It’s not surprising, once you know that she also was a “Goldwater Girl!”

# 29 James Hill said, on February 1st, 2008 at 7:46 am

Same blog, new liberals, same weak liberal arguments.

There’s a reason your side doesn’t get anything done, you know.

You’re all failing. Start entertaining me or stop posting.

# 30 Jägermeister said, on February 1st, 2008 at 8:07 am

#2 – Bob Arnold – Not only that but her POS husband pushed through NAFTA.

It was signed by George Bush.

# 31 OhForTheLoveOf said, on February 1st, 2008 at 8:09 am

#3 – Of course, the store workers themselves had no interest in joining a labor union–they are quite happy with their jobs. I applaud their bravery in the face of high-pressure tactics by the union thugs.

Bwahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahaha hahahahah hahahahahahahahahaha ahhahahahahah ahahhahaha hahahahhahahahaha hahahahahaha hahahahaha

God damn… That is some funny shit.

# 32 OhForTheLoveOf said, on February 1st, 2008 at 8:18 am

#29 – As usual, your insightful commentary has enlightened me… Thank merciful God that James Hill is so willing to share his wisdom and experience with generosity and grace.

# 33 McCullough said, on February 1st, 2008 at 8:49 am

#32. Really? I figured Hill just cut and paste the same comment over and over and over. No offense James, you really are the shit. The editors consider it an honor to be dissed by the great commentor from SLC.

# 34 MikeN said, on February 1st, 2008 at 9:10 am

What’s surprising is all the supposed pro-democracy people supporting getting rid of a secret ballot in union elections.

# 35 Angel H. Wong said, on February 1st, 2008 at 9:22 am

She has a past as a corporate hack? Ooooh.. Now the Fiscal Republicans will vote for her.

# 36 Sying Flaucer said, on February 1st, 2008 at 9:30 am

#10 CP
“I have been forced to be in a union since 1969″

Sounds like you never had the “privilege”
of working without one, if you had you would probably feel different. People who think these corporations aren’t “unionized” against the working people are fooling themselves, problem is there is almost no organization left on the other (working) side. There is no “free market” when it comes to labor.

# 37 Calin said, on February 1st, 2008 at 9:36 am

Yeah, look at it this way….Ann Coulter just said last night that she will campaign for Hillary, if McCain is the republican nominee.

# 38 Li said, on February 1st, 2008 at 9:59 am

The last thing that the machine wants is an outsider holding the rudder, and Obama and McCain are both (somewhat) outsiders. An outsider might actually expose their earth shaking crimes, after all, and that’s dangerous. An election between the two of them would actually be a choice, and I’m eager for such a thing. But if we get another Bush/Clinton (they literally sleep in the same bed!) or big money type (Romney) we’re all gonna go toilet surfing for a while. Because, frankly, it’s more short-term profitable to sell short America, and the bottom line is all that the Dynastic types and the Corporate Person much care about.

# 39 Jägermeister said, on February 1st, 2008 at 10:20 am

#38 – Li – An outsider might actually expose their earth shaking crimes…

Don’t bet any money on it… once in the machine, you’ll have to downsize your balls in order to get something done.

# 40 Mister Catshit said, on February 1st, 2008 at 5:31 pm

#15, RoeBoeDog,

Unions are what made America lazy and fat, sitting around saying that is not my job.

Geeze Roe Boe, you must know some union I don’t know of.

Unions are one of the chief reasons America became as powerful as it is. I think you forget the fact that the increased standard of living provided union workers allowed them to purchase more consumer goods. That increased market stimulated innovation and funded research. Which in turn further increased consumer demand AND money for a better military. It was this consumer market for durable goods that made America great. The increase in money supply allowed for more and better education, which in turn helped fuel a better standard of living.

In comparison, the Soviet Union, with more people and more natural resources failed. Why? Because they never allowed their workers to earn a decent salary or cultivate a consumer base. As people became more and more disenchanted with knowing American (and westerners in general) could buy a new car off the lot instead of a piece of crap after waiting two years for delivery and similar things, the nation imploded.

There is more evidence that American unions contributed to the Soviet collapse than there is for Reagan causing it. Before Reagan took office, the United States had the highest standard of living in the world. After Republican efforts to destroy unions America has fallen behind most other western countries.

I’ll be waiting for that self designated economics expert, Thomas, to of course try to offer some different explanation of why unions hurt America. Something along the lines of “well, unions initiated health insurance and look what we have today” or “unions pushed hard for safe work environments and now look, companies are actually responsible for killing employees”

# 41 Mister Catshit said, on February 1st, 2008 at 5:33 pm

You guys have to understand James Hill.

Usually, he wears pink undies with frilly lace by choice. I assume it isn’t because he washed his white ones with a cheap ass red shirt.

# 42 Sying Flaucer said, on February 1st, 2008 at 7:44 pm

#40 Mr. Cat-Poop

Well said!

# 43 gregallen said, on February 2nd, 2008 at 3:19 pm

# 29 James Hill said, There’s a reason your side doesn’t get anything done, you know. f

You’re side got things done alright — ALL THE WRONG THINGS:

RECORED PORK; RECORD DEBT; ;RECORD TRADE DEFICITS; RISING POVERTY; CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE; UN-AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE; and

… and a THREE TRILLION dollar damned occupation of the wrong country.

Thanks GOP.

# 44 bobbo said, on February 2nd, 2008 at 4:12 pm

Some tv show interviewed “a voter” somewhere===lost their job, lost their health insurance, son was in Iraq, house in foreclosure==but they were going to vote republican because they are for right to life.

Now–given that no one at all is for making anyone have abortions UNLESS that person herself wants one===demographic of the perfect brain dead, voting against self-interest, typical republican.

Stoopid people deserve what they get–now why I am also in this boat again?

# 45 TIHZ_HO said, on February 3rd, 2008 at 3:21 am

#44 Bobbo said “Stoopid people deserve what they get…”

That is what that Bone Head founding father Thomas Jefferson said…

What else did he and all the other bone head founding fathers say?

“I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.”

- Thomas Jefferson

“The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government – lest it come to dominate our lives and interests.”

-Patrick Henry

“Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom.
As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters. ”

- Benjamin Franklin

Americans, the collective wisdom of average ignorance.

Cheers

# 46 bobbo said, on February 3rd, 2008 at 4:38 am

Tihz–something must be getting lost in the sarcasm, but can’t tell if its from you or from me.

The Founding Fathers and myself are in agreement, and if only egotistically, don’t think our interests are boneheaded thoughts. No–I am instead complaining of what the forefathers warned us against.

Yep, the USA government IS too far from the people and the people don’t seem to be able to reign them in==across a wide latitude of conflicting interests. Somehow the “special interests/corporate interests” have their hooks in this government so deeply==sadly, only a revolution can get this nation back on track.

But I guess that is what every 10% group of like minded people think? I only ask==forget your “values”==what will actually work?

# 47 Monkey Man said, on February 3rd, 2008 at 6:25 pm

Actually, Hillary Clinton did try to push through a lot of pro-Union policies when she was at Wal-Mart, but she knew at the time that her chances were effectively zero at getting any reform enacted because of all the old stuffy rich men on the board.

# 48 TIHZ_HO said, on February 3rd, 2008 at 7:51 pm

#46 bobbo Yes, I was making a joke!! If our founding fathers were here today…how many would tell them they were wrong and call them bone heads?

Sorry if you might have got the wrong idea as you and I are in complete agreement – people get what they deserve whether it is government or economy.

Cheers

# 49 bobbo said, on February 3rd, 2008 at 8:20 pm

Well Tihz—that is my point, with a twist. In a democracy that has gone off the rails with the Repuglican lies, what responsibility does the outvoted minority have? Not that much I think but to wait 4 years and try again. So, as in most/many things the ying/yang of it all needs to be untwisted.

Or do you disagree? Boneheads voted for BushCo, dems/liberal did not. How much of Bush do I deserve? Is the answer dependent on how much I did besides voting?–etc.

I think that notion of people “deserving” what they good sounds too much/too often like blaming the victims of violent crime. Germ of truth, but the violators are 95% responsible.

# 50 TIHZ_HO said, on February 4th, 2008 at 8:18 pm

#49 Bobbo – Americans do not live in the best democratic society – they only think they do, because they have been told they are.

So yes, I agree with you! Americans are the collective wisdom of average ignorance.

Here is something to ponder about. Look at the Democracy index list and see where GOUSA is positioned, 13th.

http://tinyurl.com/3ddjut

Now look at the Quality of Life index to see where GOUSA is positioned, 13th again!

http://tinyurl.com/2jzpgr

Interesting, yes?

Cheers

# 51 xashruak said, on October 14th, 2008 at 11:40 pm

Air travel has become a major part of our society, with industries and individuals depending on air transport for their livelihood. But have you ever wondered what happens to the artifacts of our airborne culture when they’re no longer needed? [url=http://weburbanist.com/2008/10/14/abandoned-airfields-airports-aircraft-airplanes/]More..[/url]
xrtst303a

Leave Your Reply Below...

Comment Moderation is Active, so if your comment doesn't
show up immediately, please don't submit it again.

Special Deals 4U

25% off eHarmony subscription with code EHTECH
12-percent discount forever with code TECH
10-percent discount and free month using TECH10
10-percent or 30 dollars off weekly car rental!
Get 10-percent discount on car rental!
Get 10% off rental cars!
Get 10% off Dollar rentals!
Discounts on domain names!