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Romney: OK for employers to influence employees' votes

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout: Debate & Discussion' started by dandorotik, Oct 17, 2012.

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  1. dandorotik

    dandorotik Member

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    Romney was addressing a group of self-described "small-business owners." Twenty-six minutes into the call, after making a lengthy case that President Obama's first term has been bad for business, Romney said:

    I hope you make it very clear to your employees what you believe is in the best interest of 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.


    In the June call, Romney went on to reassure his audience that it is perfectly legal for them to talk to their employees about how to vote:

    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 and of course doing that with your family and your kids as well.

    He's correct that such speech is now legal for the first time ever, thanks to the Citizen United ruling, which overturned previous Federal Election Commission laws that prohibited employers from political campaigning among employees.


    http://inthesetimes.com/working/ent..._tell_employees_how_to_vote_in_conference_cal
     
    #1 dandorotik, Oct 17, 2012
  2. Commodore

    Commodore Member

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    It's pretty outrageous for business owners to tell their employees Romney would be good for business.

    Do these employers really think they have a right to speak their mind?

    This is the end of democracy.
     
    #2 Commodore, Oct 17, 2012
  3. ROXTXIA

    ROXTXIA Member

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    The point is.....just underneath your hat.

    The point is, this makes people suspect Big Brother will fire them if it's learned said employee voted for Obama.

    Typical Republican b.s., but there it is.
     
    #3 ROXTXIA, Oct 17, 2012
  4. mc mark

    mc mark Member

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    Sure does put a damper to the water cooler conversation for sure.
     
    #4 mc mark, Oct 17, 2012
  5. thadeus

    thadeus Member

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    "If you vote for Obama, you will probably get fired. By me. Because I have more money than you do, therefore more freedom. Ayn Rand says this is the way things should be."
     
    #5 thadeus, Oct 17, 2012
  6. dandorotik

    dandorotik Member

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    For business owners to tell their employers Romney would be good for business.

    Or: What is in the best interests of their job...

    Commodore, you're hilarious.
     
    #6 dandorotik, Oct 17, 2012
  7. Johndoe804

    Johndoe804 Member

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    Anybody with half a brain knows to keep politics separate from the office. Anything you say could get you fired. It doesn't matter what your politics are.
     
    #7 Johndoe804, Oct 17, 2012
  8. mc mark

    mc mark Member

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    Except if it's coming from your CEO.
     
    #8 mc mark, Oct 17, 2012
  9. Dairy Ashford

    Dairy Ashford Member

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    Our company asked us to call our congressmen a couple of times for some Bush energy bill and anti-union stuff. They didn't order us to do anything or check up on it (unlike United Way stuff), but they asked that we consider calling and provided sets of talking points to aid us.
     
    #9 Dairy Ashford, Oct 17, 2012
  10. Classic

    Classic Member

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    Ya know, I almost started this thread topic. Check out what my ...'s employer wrote to his employees. Even made the Huffington Post. BTW, this guy's personal net worth has doubled the last 4 years while every employee has taken a 20% pay cut...& he's anything but a job creator.

    Some where there's a line between the 1st amendment and a hostile work environment. Being coerced by management in any form just feels wrong and sleezy.
     
    #10 Classic, Oct 17, 2012
  11. Raven

    Raven Member

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    Ops, beat me by three minutes. Mods can lock my thread - even though I think I have the better title. :)

    And Obama should absolutely make this a campaign issue.
     
    #11 Raven, Oct 17, 2012
  12. David Stern

    David Stern Member

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    That's wrong. I ****ing hate these POS types. I'd hate to work for that man.
     
    #12 David Stern, Oct 17, 2012
  13. Pizza_Da_Hut

    Pizza_Da_Hut I put on pants for this?

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    Glad to see Romney and his supporters are willing to break the law for the win. That's way better than the supposed and unproven voter fraud Obama was committing. Stay classy Republicans!
     
    #13 Pizza_Da_Hut, Oct 17, 2012
  14. David Stern

    David Stern Member

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    Same crap went on @ Emerson back in 2008
     
    #14 David Stern, Oct 17, 2012
  15. Clutch

    Clutch Administrator
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    Is there a way for employers to know who you voted for?
     
    #15 Clutch, Oct 17, 2012
  16. B-Bob

    B-Bob "94-year-old self-described dreamer"
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    Not unless you're wearing a tin foil hat... no. Which is the ultimate point here.

    My employer leans to the left on economic issues and to the right on social issues (mostly.) Once every couple of years, I will get something via email urging me to write my congresspeople about some issue or another. They haven't ever talked about voting for different people, but it's incredibly similar.

    I think these types of "messages from above" in the workplace don't have much of their intended effect. Even those of us who love our jobs are ready to be skeptical about messages from the top. Or maybe some of y'all work with a sea of Dwight Schrutes! :)
     
    #16 B-Bob, Oct 17, 2012
  17. SacTown

    SacTown Member

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    No. But, they can fire you if Obama wins.
     
    #17 SacTown, Oct 17, 2012
  18. CrazyDave

    CrazyDave Member

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    They can fire you if Obama loses too. Regardless the side of the aisle you might be on, doesn't everyone agree that this type of behavior is a dick move? Not only that, and I don't know about others, but if my boss told me that I think I'd be sure not to vote with him. Either I'm valuable to the business or I'm not. Don't hold your personal politics over my livelihood and think everything is going to be fine.

    Imagine the fallout of if it were the other way around.
     
    #18 CrazyDave, Oct 17, 2012
  19. Commodore

    Commodore Member

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    Or they can fire you if Obama loses! Or you can quit if Obama wins! Or quit if Obama loses!

    Sucks I know, but those are the perils of a free society. It's possible someone might do something you don't approve of.
     
    #19 Commodore, Oct 17, 2012
  20. Roxnostalgia

    Roxnostalgia Member

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    Agree completely. But I'm with Clutch here. Unless I find myself in the unenviable situation of working for a boss who thinks that my, or my office's collective vote will in some way swing an election, isn't this the kind of thing I just completely ignore? Unless they have a way of being in the booth with me...
     
    #20 Roxnostalgia, Oct 17, 2012
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