(H/t to Blue Waters Run Deep, whose earlier diary on this is scrolling off the "Recent Diaries" list)
Guess what? Here’s a shocker: The president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has no intention of holding hands and swaying with any presidential candidate who espouses what he calls "anti-corporate and populist rhetoric." Or, as the headline at latimes.com so succinctly put it,
Chamber of Commerce vows to punish anti-business candidates
In case you had any doubts.
After Sunday’s Pie-Fight-Formerly-Known-As-A-Diary, I know better than to mention any candidate’s name here – so I won’t. And if anyone reading this thinks I’m endorsing any candidate over another, knock yourself out.
Here’s what’s true for ALL of the Democratic candidates: Big Business has no intention of being brought to heel without "a cataclysmic fight to the death" - and they have just declared it, in so many words.
"I'm concerned about anti-corporate and populist rhetoric from candidates for the presidency, members of Congress and the media," [Chamber President Tom Donohue] said. "It suggests to us that we have to demonstrate who it is in this society that creates jobs, wealth and benefits -- and who it is that eats them."
[snip]
[Donohue] indicated that his organization would spend in excess of the approximately $60 million it spent in the last presidential cycle. That approaches the spending levels planned by the largest labor unions.
[snip]
"We plan to build a grass-roots business organization so strong that when it bites you in the butt, you bleed," chamber President Tom Donohue said.
* sigh *
GROUP HUG!!
So – just who is it who creates jobs, wealth and benefits, Mr. Donohue? Please show us – oh please ohpleaseohpleeeezz!
I can’t wait to hear how each of the candidates responds to this declaration of war by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
UPDATE: Three things: First, as Old Man Jeremy points out in the comments, it’s a safe bet this "warning shot across the bow" from the U.S. Chamber is primarily aimed at Huckabee – forget about the Dem candidates; guaranteed the Chamber will spend the same 82% of its money on Republics as it did in 2006, if not more. No, I think it’s more of a warning intended to scare Republics who might be thinking of backing the Huckster. The beauty of it is, it patently lays bare, in so many words, exactly where Big Business falls on this whole crazy "populism" fad that so many misguided Americans seem to think somehow might be a good idea. Harrrummmph.
Second, thanks to Blue Waters Run Deep in the comments and Spud1 in an email: It looks like we got the attention of the chamber itself - in its online forum called, hilariously, The ChamberPost (don’t forget that "s"!!). The title of the piece? Equally unintentionally hilarious: "It’s Called Democracy". Heh.
Third, in spite of what some folks seem to insist on believing, this is not a candidate diary – neither a hit nor an endorsement. This is a heads-up for all Democratic candidates (of which I believe there are about 440 or so, counting both houses of Congress) and everyone on this site. Oh, and "Kumbaya"? Yeah, right, whatever. Well, I guess if you want to attack me for piling on Nancy Pelosi three weeks ago, go right on ahead.