Request Foods President Jack DeWitt
We've noted several recent incidents involving business leaders using heavy-handed election tactics, pressuring their employees to support Mitt Romney, apparently at the candidate's behest. Jack DeWitt, the president of Request Foods, however, is a little different than most.
DeWitt, like the other pro-Romney businessmen, is using his position of authority to pressure his employees to vote Republican. In this case, Request Foods' internal newsletter featured a condemnation of President Obama from DeWitt, who argued, "[I]t's obvious that Washington needs to become smaller and spend less of our hard-earned money."
For now, let's put aside the fact that federal spending under Obama has actually gone down, not up, and instead note the irony of DeWitt's complaints.
Request Foods obtained $5.5 million under a federal grant program that Obama's stimulus bill increased by $1 billion. Last year, the company greatly expanded its footprint in Holland, Mich., where it used the money for a water treatment plant to serve a new facility. The company has also seen a strong increase in sales during the Obama administration. [...]
Holland Township Supervisor Terry Nienhuis said the Great Recession appeared to be a boom time for Request Foods. "They are going strong," he told The Huffington Post. "They didn't seem to be affected by it at all. In fact, I think that was one of their strongest growing periods. Yeah, they're doing well. They are providing very important jobs for people who are having difficulty finding employment."
With the help from taxpayer money, Request was able to add at least 250 jobs. That means workers who were hired, at least indirectly, as a result of the stimulus are now being pressed to vote against the president for spending too much money.
To be sure, Jack DeWitt isn't the only Republican business leader leaning on his workers to vote the way he prefers, but he is one of that more exclusive club of Republican business leaders who's doing so despite owing Obama a thank-you note.
Leave a Comment:
"but he is the only Republican business leader who's doing so despite owing Obama a thank-you note"
I doubt it.
There is no doubt and one does not have to look far to find other repub business leaders doing the same as Dewitt just turn on your tv and see one who is familiar to everyone in this country............Mitt Romney!!
He looks like your standard issue old-before-his-time senile Republican. Given that senility attacks the brain, I really don't understand how it's an issue for Republicans, since they aren't so equipped.
Well to be a CEO in Our country,you don't have to be smart or have integrity.you just need to live in an alternate USA.
Apparently not. How does a fact-free Republican run a business to any effective degree? No wonder they need all those tax-breaks their leadership in WA reverse-bribes them with.
This is my hometown. The only time this district wasn't red was when Lincoln ran on the Republican ticket.
Ok if you remove fiscal and economic policy from reasons to oppose Obama that only leaves social ones. Makes me wonder if he isn't trying to have his cake and eat it too, by keeping his personal beliefs, that might be unpopular with his employees, to himself but trying to use his executive "bully pulpit" to advocate for an agenda that supports them.
And if you remove social policy from reasons to oppose Obama that only leaves skin pigmentation.
I was trying to be charitable.
Let's call a spade a spade. Double entendre FTW.
Request Foods is own by a fool.
Request for more money from We the People so he can build a company that he did by himself.
@!$%# this dude right in the ear!
I grow weary and wary of such fools and their "free racke... marketeering". Another day, another fraud! I need an Atvian.
Sign of a losing campaign. The right has left the building in terms of common sense ethics.
The chasm from reality on display by the GOTP is really funny. I mean all of the people that have come out against the President are part of the 1% that has done exceedingly well! Their willful blindness towards that fact and their obvious arrogance and avarice at the thought that they might actually have to pay a bit more in taxes to the very nation that they have benefited from is amazing!
I for one am disgusted by the "free market" meme from the right, where it has only been the top 1% that has continually not just benefited from but are sucking on the teet of government, a government that they supposedly disparage! These people are traitors and worse yet, they actually believe that they are "entitled" to behave any way they want because they have money, the nerve! And yet they consider US (90%) to be the moochers - frankly their taxes need to go back up to 60% maybe then they'll figure out that "the peasants didn't want cake" - we want our democracy back!
Paul Mitt banned, re-reg of multiple accounter coffieman1234.
Paul Mitt banned, re-reg of multiple accounter coffieman1234.
I had his comments tagged to be "ignored" - I thought he sounded familiar!
Thanks!
So, it simply isn't enough that people are propagandized to vote against their own interests, it's become a company directive -- not even a fact-based directive. Propaganda descends into lunacy.
You may not know Jack, but you can send the ungrateful, manipulative jerk a note.
http://www.requestfoods.com/contactus.html
Say Hi to Jack. Let this arrogant beneficiary of corporate welfare know you are aware of his hypocrisy and not appreciative of his scamming tax dollars to grow his business with one hand while fluffing his buddy FUBARRomney with the other.
Guess it doesn't really take much to know Jack.
Yup, I sent Jack-00f an e-mail. I know what he's doing with the other hand.
I sent an e-mail and man did that feel good - LOL!!!!!
So did I - it felt great!
Twisting the facts to fit his ideology.
DeWitt needs a camera in his face to explain himself to the locals, explain why he used their tax dollars to boost his company.... is there no local press available that leans left?
Sadly, according to comment #3, it doesn't sound like it.
Get Enraged and Engaged:
Mooch the Vote 2012!
;-)
Funny how the same millionaires that totally used Government support (loans, grants, tax incentives, etc) now want to "claim" that this administration is BAD bad bad for business.
Guess the possibility that they may be paying higher taxes just hurts their little egos... they never seem to consider 'giving back...' {OK, I'll concede the handful of super rich that DO want to pay their share... yeah for them !}
Remember this {anyone ?}: "Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You"
I just read this, again, and it's so inspiring.. still, after all these years...
The full speech- http://www.ushistory.org/documents/ask-not.htm
Michigan is not a battleground state. Jack DeWitt's employees' votes won't be enough to give Michigan to it's homestate boy, Mitt.
So Jack is doing this for the downballot effect, or more likely for notoriety in the business and/or right-wing world.
Also just FYI, "food companies" like his tended to do well in the downturn. People need to eat, and prepared foods for the home do well when folks cut back on restaurant dining.
My dad was born in 1920 and grew up in a small river town. Joseph Grundy owned the mills in the town. Joseph Grundy was appointed a Republican senator in 1929. My father worked in the mills in the late 1930's and always swore that Grundy used intimidation to try to coerce his workers to vote Republican. My dad disliked Grundy until the end of his days. I always thought that these shenanigans were a part of the distant past. I see that I was wrong and the current crop of rich Republicans are still practicing these dirty politics.
Catfood For All!
"Who else is just ecstatic at the possibility of Catfood Commission Erskine Bowles as Secretary of the Treasury? I know I can’t wait for the Obama Administration to start negotiations with Republicans on the deficit with the principle of eviscerating Medicare and Social Security. I’m sure that will end well! As Ezra Klein says, Bowles is “personally loved by Wall Street.” So we can also expect the necessary reforms so that 2007 never happens again!"
-- Erik Loomis
http://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2012/08/catfood-for-all
*****
Will Erskine Bowles be our next Treasury Secretary?
"Bowles was an investment banker before he entered politics, and he currently serves on the board of directors for both Morgan Stanley and GE. He’s also personally beloved by Wall Street, where “Simpson-Bowles” has deep and fervent supporters, including many who have no real idea what’s in it. Appointing Bowles would be a signal to them that Washington is getting serious."
-- Ezra Klein, August 10, 2012, The Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/08/10/will-erskine-bowles-be-our-next-treasury-secretary/
*****
Obama Frustrated He Doesn’t Get Credit For Wanting to Cut Social Security and Medicare
"Let the record show that I, as a journalist or whatever it is I am, gave Obama plenty of credit for wanting to cut Medicare and Social Security. I wrote about it over and over and over and over again. I said repeatedly that Obama was – and continues to be – willing to accept cuts to those bedrock New Deal and Great Society programs."
-- David Dayen
http://news.firedoglake.com/2012/08/09/obama-frustrated-he-doesnt-get-credit-for-wanting-to-cut-social-security-and-medicare/
*****
Erskine Bowles-to-Treasury Rumor Picks Up Steam
"Obama never gave up the dream of the grand bargain, and it would be perfectly in character to go back after the election and, in the name of unity, seek a bipartisan
budget deal, and put Erskine Bowles in charge of getting it done."
-- David Bowles
http://news.firedoglake.com/2012/08/10/erskine-bowles-to-treasury-rumor-picks-up-steam/
Obama Wants To Cut Medicare, Social Security?
The Young Turks:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CCl-pNBTzY
And another Daily Demonstration Of Monumental Wingnut Ignorance for us to marvel over. You morons are getting desperate - we can smell the stink of your flop sweat even through the intertubes.
You mean my "hard-earned money" is going to this guy? Guys like DeWitt are complaining about taxes when they are lower than in 50 years. It's great to get money and then to be able to complain about it without having the slightest bit of shame. I don't get how they can hate Obama when he turns around the economy but forget about Bush who destroyed the economy including this guy's business. Who's fault does he think that was? His employees should tell him they will vote for Obama because they want the economy to improve despite what he thinks.
AI just don't understand why this form of harassment isn't illegal?Goodness knows if the Republican will these guys will do more of it!
I would love to know what brands they supply. I would not buy them. I do not like to financially support companies whose politics are damaging to my country. There are plenty of alternative products out there and its a free market.
The GOP and the Romney/Ryan team has placed out persons and group to spin racist comments that would allow the media to talk about to avoid the lies that Romney is saying. Romney really thinks that the American public is stupid. As Dr. King said a Lie can not live forever. Romney hid not only his taxes, agenda and talking points which are destroyer of women rights, tax hitcher of the poor and middle class, destroyer of medicaid, medicare and social security. Romney wants to fill the hospital Emergency rooms, kill dreams of youths looking to better the lives through education and increasing the proverty of working Americans. Romney lied to Ohio about Chrysler, lied to Americans about 2% increase, he lied about his true agenda for America. An simply he thinks like a CEO that he doesn't have to tell anybody anything. He's a professional liar.
These employers are Un-American, period. That behavior is disgraceful.
One of the myths I just cannot believe has actually gained traction is that, because he ran a vulture capital company, he is now qualified to be President. First of all, he had a 22% failure rate, where Bain made no profit or lost a bundle. The successful ventures resulted in massive job losses for Americans, where Mitt the Barbarian savaged companies, sold assets, and relocated jobs, if they just did not go belly up.
Then, I started to think about what other presidents had business experience.
F.D.R., no. Truman, yes, a haberdashery. Eisenhower, no. Nixon, no. Kennedy, no. Ford, no. Carter, yes, a successful peanut farmer (how did that work out for us?). Reagan, no. Daddy Bush, no. Clinton, no. Dubya, once was given part ownership of the Texas Rangers, but that ended badly, as did our economy under his presidency. Obama, no.
So why do people think a vulture capitalist would help the economy, and especially why would they think he would help the middle and working class people in this country, or seniors, or veterans, or students, or........???
Because:
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/27/14740413-ap-poll-majority-harbor-prejudice-against-blacks?lite
I think this says it all and, unfortunately validates many of my stated conclusions! So unfortunate. Our minds are so omebic (sp?).
Hey Madcow, didn't get a chance to watch your show this week cuz I watching Hannity reporting on Benghazi. Just wondering how your reporting has been going on the murder of 4 American's on 9/11/12? If you get a chance tell President Obama to "Stand Down."
LOL at you very hard!!!
first you blew it with the bad use of the name. second that make the rest you your stuff phony baloney outrage, or fake outrage in case you was haven a hard time understand. third hannity LMAO really hard,,, Opps have to pick it up.
Englais, si vous plait!
LOL
""en anglais s'il vous plait""
I think all the politicians should have term limits and should not be there after the age of 70 yrs. old. Some of them can hardly walk. Besides, they nor their family will ever be able to spend all the money they've made while in office by ripping off the middle class.
If they would get out of the way we might be able to get some adults in office who want to help straighten out the mess that got us in this predicament.