I can get these things so sharp that they could be mistaken for a lightsabre!
Posted on 10/06/2004 7:17:33 PM PDT by Republican Extremist
Regarding this thread http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1231976/posts, where I outlined Leatherman Tools support of the treasonous John Kerry, I received this e-mail from them today:
Dear Sir or Madam:
I assure you I have personally read your e-mail. However, due to the volume of messages received, I cannot give a personalized response to each to you.
However, here in a nutshell is a general response:
Because I publicly stated how I am going to cast my vote, almost all of you have threatened a boycott against my company.
So be it.
I took a position, and now I will accept the consequences.
I am still going to do my absolute best to make great tools and hope that you and all Americans, of every political affiliation, will find them of value. If not today, someday. Tim Leatherman President Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
So maybe Mr. Leatherman's vote is a case of sour grapes.
A few weeks back, Moveon made a set of ads, one featuring a US serviceman, recently returned from duty in Iraq, who was voting for Kerry. I did some research into this fellow. He was a translator, and was held over in Iraq for, IIRC, about 6 months. He and 5 other translators who were traveling back stateside together. THis group was "at the airport" when orders came down to stay.
The father of one of the servicemen in the group (not the one featured in the Moveon ad) raised a ruckus with his congress-critter and the media over this. Anyway, long story short, there are some sour grapes involves with the serviceman featured in the Moveon ad; and I would not be surprized if sour grapes (i.e., bid but didn't get the DOD contract) with Mr. Leatherman.
No flames.
When Chrysler CEO Iococca (sp?) stated he was a big fan of gun control, my father wrote the CEO, and the local car dealer he had bought several cars from.
Iococca wrote back that he stands by his decision.
The local car dealer pleaded with my dad to continue to buy a Chrysler product.
My dad never did.
It makes a difference.
As Laura Ingraham puts in the title of her latest book,
"Shut Up and Sing"
I haven't bought Starbucks since 9/11 when the NYC Starbucks refused to give free water to firemen who needed it for people in distress. They insisted on being paid. Of course it was rotten coffee long before that, but that cinched it for me. Tulleys and Seattle's Best are far better coffees.
As for Costco, if you go to www.opensecrets.com and type in 98027 (the zip code of Costco corporate headquarters), you'll see it packed solid with dozens of huge contributions to Democrats by Jim Sinegal, Jeff Brotman and nearly all corporate execs at Costco. It's their right to put their money into any jerk they choose, but it's my right not to help pay their salaries.
No flames from me -- your comments are thoughtful and very articulate. I myself am a little bit undecided about this issue. The left is constantly using social pressure and business decisions to enforce their ideology, so basically I don't have a problem with doing the same. I hope that other businesses will get the message that they should keep politics separate from business.
I'm not signing people up for a mass boycott, so there's no need to be worried that you'll be asked to join. It's a personal choice, although when I find like-minded people on an issue I do share my views and information, thus enabling that person to make an informed decision of their own. I'm sure that both my open anti-abortion and pro-American views cost me some customers. And that's just fine with me. I'm good enough at what I do to not really care. Most leftsocialists are too neurotic and troublesome to do business with anyway.
Mr Leatherface just couldnt resist the temptation to keep his politics to himself. I have owned the leatherman and the Gerber, I guess I will stick with Gerber.
I think T Kerry is on drugs.
"Dancing. Everything else is BS."
That's the exact same Gerber I use in the field. Here's to many more like it being sold (as long as they can at least stay politically neutral!).
Think of it this way: when you or I buy a Leatherman product, we are putting money in this man's pocket, since a small fraction of our purchase goes to pay his (likely pretty large) salary. He then goes and makes a big donation of Kerry and his supporting 527s. Thus, when you buy a Leatherman, you are funding Kerry's campaign.
So a boycott is simply and excercise in denying our resources to the "other side." :)
I carry a leatherman wave now, but will look for a gerber or buck next.
Ever since I left the Navy, I've always used Gerber products. Their knives keep their edges and their multipliers are tough.
I was a Boatswain's mate. I know.
I've got that exact model! Makes a lousy hammer, though. Otherwise, it's been pretty useful.
I like my Leatherman tools and I don't care who he votes for.
Based on his statement, I may have to go buy another 'just because'.
Mr. Leatherman, here come your consequences.
(I wonder what his ancestors used to amuse themselves with to get a surname like, Leatherman?)
Agreed. They do know how to cook up some tough steel. For myself, one of the biggest advantages over the Leatherman is the ability to get them out and get the pliers deployed one-handed, even wearing gloves.
I bet he has a secret patent for a Leatherman with a spitball shooter and thus will get the army contract if Kerry is elected.
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