Fwd: Endorse Bush Oppose Kerry

GeorgeWBush.com ^ | Aug 16th, 04

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Thursday, July 08, 2004

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: Business Leaders On John Kerry's Vice Presidential Pick

U.S. Chamber of Commerce May "Break With Tradition" And Endorse President Bush. "The business community, long a Republican supporter, is leaning more toward defeating John Kerry after his choice of John Edwards as running mate. U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO Tom Donohue says the group, for the first time, might break with tradition and endorse a candidate: President Bush." (Jim Hopkins and Del Jones, "Kerry Sees Little Backing From Business," USA Today, 7/8/04)

The National Federation Of Independent Business Has Vowed To Remind Members That "Kerry's And Edwards' Senate Voting Records Have Not Favored" Business. "The National Federation of Independent Business, the leading small-business trade group, does not endorse presidential candidates. But it will remind its 600,000 members that Kerry's and Edwards' Senate voting records have not favored their top issues, including employee health care costs, estate taxes and regulatory relief for small firms. The NFIB will blanket members with postcards, e-mails and TV ads." (Jim Hopkins and Del Jones, "Kerry Sees Little Backing From Business," USA Today, 7/8/04)

Jerry Jasinowski, President, National Association Of Manufacturers: Edwards' Record "Demonstrates Conspicuous Hostility To Manufacturing And Business." "CEOs' views are often voiced by their trade associations. Jerry Jasinowski, president of the 14,000-member National Association of Manufacturers, says Edwards' recent voting record 'demonstrates conspicuous hostility to manufacturing and business.'" (Jim Hopkins and Del Jones, "Kerry Sees Little Backing From Business," USA Today, 7/8/04)

Jerry Jasinowski, President, National Association Of Manufacturers: Edwards Possesses "An Inherent Bias Against Innovation And The American Entrepreneurial Spirit That Is Essential To Compete And Create Jobs." (Rick Rothacker, "Edwards Gets Cool Reception From Business," The Charlotte Observer, 7/7/04)

Dirk Van Dongen, President, National Association Of Wholesaler-Distributors: "The Nerves Of The Business Community Really Ping." "Dirk Van Dongen, president of the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, said, 'There aren't many things today that cause an immediate emotional reaction, but the nerves of the business community really ping when you hear the phrase "trial lawyer." Trial lawyers are really viewed as just being predators.'" (Thomas B. Edsall, "Edwards Brings Lawyer Support," The Washington Post, 7/8/04)

Dyke Messinger, President, Power Curbers Inc. (Salisbury, N.C.): Edwards Would Not Protect Businesses From "Onerous And Frivolous Litigation." "But Messinger said he was going to support President Bush in November because he thought Edwards was not in favor of reforming the judicial system in ways that would protect businesses from what he viewed as onerous and frivolous litigation." (Maria L. La Ganga, "Business Leaders React Cautiously to Edwards," Los Angeles Times, 7/8/04)

Fletcher Steele, President, Pine Hall Brick Co. (Winston-Salem, N.C.): "Most In Industry" Think Edwards's "True Allegiance" Is Against Litigation Reform, Business Community. "Fletcher Steele, president of Pine Hall Brick Co. of Winston-Salem, N.C., termed litigation reform the 'one thing that unites the business community.' Steele said most in industry thought Edwards' true allegiance was 'to keep the judicial system the way it is rather than support tort reform.'" (Maria L. La Ganga, "Business Leaders React Cautiously to Edwards," Los Angeles Times, 7/8/04)

Darren McKinney, Democrat And Appointee To Clinton Treasury Department: Edwards Pick Is "A Slap In The Face To The Business Community." "He said by placing Edwards on the ticket, Kerry invited a full frontal political attack from corporate America. 'It is kind of a slap in the face to the business community,' he said." (Bill Walsh, "Perception Of Trial Lawyers An Issue," The [New Orleans] Times-Picayune, 7/7/04)

Harris Miller, President, Information Technology Association Of America: Edwards Is "Kind Of A Mixed Bag" For Business. "He described Edwards as 'kind of a mixed bag' on business issues. On the negative side, in Miller's view, are his law career and his positions on international trade." (Maria L. La Ganga, "Business Leaders React Cautiously to Edwards," Los Angeles Times, 7/8/04)

The Washington Post: Businesses "Uniformly Hostile" To Edwards. "Business associations in Washington were uniformly hostile yesterday to John Kerry's choice of Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) as his running mate, promising that a trial lawyer on the ticket will energize them and their members to defeat the Democrats in November." (Jonathan Weisman, "Business Groups Greet Selection With Hostility," The Washington Post, 7/7/04)

"Wall Street No Fan Of Edwards." "And Wall Street is probably not too thrilled about that; stock investors have grown to expect policies from the Bush administration that are friendly to businesses and to investors. What's more, Edwards spent much of his campaign for president last year and early this year taking a populist stance that veered at times into protectionism, according to some critics. And Edwards is a former plaintiff's trial lawyer, which could lead Wall Street to fear a potential Kerry presidency would be unfriendly to tort reform." (Mark Gongloff, "Wall Street No Fan Of Edwards," CNN/Money, http://money.cnn.com/2004/07/06/markets/election_edwards/?cnn=yes, Accessed 7/8/04)