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Heinz Seeks to Disavow Kerry Connection
AP
| 3/29/04
| Charles Sheehan
Posted on 03/29/2004 6:25:27 PM PST by The South Texan
Heinz Seeks to Disavow Kerry Connection
By CHARLES SHEEHAN, AP Business Writer
PITTSBURGH - H.J. Heinz Co. has launched an election-year campaign of its own, this one to distance the ketchup maker from what is shaping up to be an acrimonious presidential race.
The company has sent nearly 50 letters to radio and television talk shows nationwide to tamp down chatter on the airwaves and Internet suggesting revenue from ketchup sales will benefit the campaign of pending Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry (news - web sites).
His wife is Teresa Heinz Kerry, heiress to the $500 million family ketchup fortune.
The company has received about 150 calls this month from consumers vowing to boycott Heinz products, or in some instances to buy more, said company spokeswoman Debbie Foster.
"It's just crazy," Foster said. "We haven't been involved in politics since Morris the Cat ran for president in 1988" when the company ran a spoof campaign with Morris, the face of Heinz 9 Lives cat food, as the finicky candidate.
Heinz Kerry, who was married to Republican Senator H. John Heinz III when he was killed in a 1991 plane crash, is not on Heinz's board and is in no way involved with company management, Foster said.
Collectively, Heinz Kerry, along with her children with John Heinz and The Heinz Endowments which she chairs, own less than 4 percent of outstanding company stock.
The company has not seen any effect on sales. But it took action after The Heinz Endowments was accused of funding Peaceful Tomorrows, a group for Sept. 11 victims' families that criticized President Bush (news - web sites)'s use of footage from the attacks in political ads.
The Heinz Endowments President Maxwell King and David Potorti, co-director at Peaceful Tomorrows, have repeatedly denied any link.
While many talk shows have since backed away from those claims, Internet chat rooms are still buzzing with calls for a Heinz boycott.
TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2004; boycott; heinz; kerrey; kerry; ketchups; peacefultomorrows; teresaheinz
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To: familyofman
Reading for content makes me beleive the Kerry's don't get too involved in company matters.Dreamer.
Let's talk about 50 million in real estate. Then Lurch talks about "the average American worker." Lurch has missed 60 per cent of the votes in the Senate. Wake up.
41
posted on
03/29/2004 7:08:10 PM PST
by
Cobra64
(Babes should wear Bullet Bras - www.BulletBras.net)
To: Joee
We have too. It looks like the boycott is working. They are feeling it. Kmart and Levi Strauss tried to distance themselves to no avail.
To: Cicero
I am still boycotting Heinz... 4% to kerry is still 4% too much.
43
posted on
03/29/2004 7:12:54 PM PST
by
Lion in Winter
(I ain't no pussy cat... don't mess with me... ya hear! GRRRRRRrrr)
To: Liberty Valance
I wonder if Kerry ever finds the time to lounge around John Heinz's old study?
44
posted on
03/29/2004 7:16:25 PM PST
by
Savage Beast
(Was "John F." Kerry the inspiration for "Love Story"? Or was it "Washington Square"?)
To: Liberty Valance
Maybe when Teresa's out of town?
45
posted on
03/29/2004 7:17:27 PM PST
by
Savage Beast
(Was "John F." Kerry the inspiration for "Love Story"? Or was it "Washington Square"?)
To: The South Texan
I've found the Kroger store brand of ketchup to be just as good and about a dollar cheaper for a large bottle. And that was before John F Ketchup decided to run.
46
posted on
03/29/2004 7:21:29 PM PST
by
Dog Gone
To: The South Texan
Collectively, Heinz Kerry, along with her children with John Heinz and The Heinz Endowments which she chairs, own less than 4 percent of outstanding company stock. The market capitalization of H.J. Heinz is about $13 billion. Four percent is $520 million. I don't know about you guys, but to me $520 million ain't chump change.
47
posted on
03/29/2004 7:30:20 PM PST
by
jackbill
To: The South Texan
No more Ore Ida for us. Bought the store brand last time, and they're better than any F'ng Ore Idas. Saved a buck, too.
48
posted on
03/29/2004 7:30:27 PM PST
by
auboy
(The Rats' new math: 8 months = 8 years.)
To: I got the rope
It looks like the boycott is working. I just bought my first bottle of Hunt's ketchup today.
49
posted on
03/29/2004 7:31:40 PM PST
by
jackbill
To: Objective Reality
Really only one question needs to be asked. Does Heinz-Kerry draw a paycheck, dividends, interest, whatever, from the Heinz corporation? They absolutely do. Somewhere out there in cyberspace there is a copy of Kerry's financial statement, showing the income from their Heinz stock. I'll not bother to look it up again. I'll just stay away from Heinz products.
50
posted on
03/29/2004 7:34:54 PM PST
by
jackbill
To: truthandlife
4 percent of outstanding company stock.
Lets do the math:
373,000,000.00= Outstanding shares
14,920,000.00= 4 % held by Kerry Heinz
37.16= Price per share
554,427,200.00= Value
Not Bad. Lets boycott Heinz products.
Some of our money will trickle down to Kerry's campaign coffers.
To: The South Texan; Happy2BMe
haha ! They must be feeling the pressure from emails and/or sales. We should back off (NOT !) haha !
52
posted on
03/29/2004 7:52:52 PM PST
by
MeekOneGOP
(The Democrats say they believe in CHOICE. I have chosen to vote STRAIGHT TICKET GOP for years !!)
To: The South Texan
Much greater math minds here than mine.
I did read a post on a thread here lately that Heinz has 72 production facilities, 57 of which are overseas.
I thought about kerry's "Benedict Arnold Corporations" comment decrying outsourcing.
I am not surprised by the Heinz spin.
I figure poor dead Republican John Heinz is doing a lot of spinning.
BTW, John Heinz was and is to this day highly regarded in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Theresa and the gigolo can spend his money, but they will never even approach his stature.
To: Joee
Dole makes a lot of good products you can use to replace the Heinz stuff.
To: Dog Gone
I've found the Kroger store brand of ketchup to be just as good and about a dollar cheaper for a large bottle. And that was before John F Ketchup decided to run.
I agree. Anything but Heinz is the motto when I do the grocery shopping, But I goofed the other day when I bought some Oreda fries. The just don't make ketchup and mustard.
55
posted on
03/29/2004 8:02:44 PM PST
by
The South Texan
(The Democrat Party and the leftist (ABCCBSNBCCNN NYLATIMES)media are a criminal enterprise!)
To: Pilsner
I believe it is produced by Kraft.
56
posted on
03/29/2004 8:08:40 PM PST
by
SWake
("Estrada was savaged by liars and abandoned by cowards." Mark Davis, WBAP, 09/09/2003)
To: smoothsailing
John Heinz spent his entire life fighting against leftist dirt bags like Kerry and the causes they represent. It is disgraceful that his widow takes his families' hard earned fortune to fund organizations and gigalos that are in direct conflict to what John Heinz would have wanted. She is a disgrace and the people of PA would do well to send this woman and her gigalo back to MA for good.
I have not bought Heinz ketchup in months. It is Hunt's in my house and the store brand French fries.
To: lone star annie
I agree with your every word.
The heinz kerry cabal is a disgrace to a Great Man and the Commonwealth he loved.
Pennsylvanians must affirm this come November.
VOTE BUSH!!! I AM
To: The South Texan; Tooters; Tumbleweed_Connection
59
posted on
03/29/2004 9:13:36 PM PST
by
nutmeg
(Why vote for Bush? Imagine Commander in Chief John F’in al-Qerry)
To: Dog Gone
I've found the Kroger store brand of ketchup to be just as good and about a dollar cheaper for a large bottle. And that was before John F Ketchup decided to run.
Don't be surprised if that product is manufactured by Heinz!?!
60
posted on
03/29/2004 9:16:01 PM PST
by
danamco
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