Cross-posted at the Writing on the Wal
Here's the Hotline's blog summarizing part of tonight's Democratic Presidential debate:
Williams asks [Hillary Clinton]: Overall, is Wal-Mart a good thing or bad thing for the United States of America.? Clinton: " It's a mixed blessing. It brought goods intro rural Arkansas and gave people a chance to stretch the dollar further. As they grew much bigger, they have raised serious questions about ... [corporate] responsibility."
Telling people that Hilary Clinton used to be on Wal-Mart's Board of Directors is no longer a good way to amaze your friends with your obscure political knowledge. Wal-Mart was the same anti-union company that it was then, that it is now. I know this because I was involved in the first anti-Wal-Mart corporate campaign when Sam Walton was still alive and HRC was still on the Board of Directors. At that time she couldn't care less that she worked for union busters. Does Clinton care now?
So here's what I have to say about Hillary Clinton's definition of a "mixed blessing:" Not good enough. Union members are at the core of the Democratic party and if she wants union votes she should do more than just hope they all get amnesia about who used to sign her director's stipend when she was still just First Lady of Arkansas.
I'll still vote for her if I have to in November 2008, but if she wants me to even consider punching her name before then I believe an apology is in order.
JR