Heinz Co. Is Campaign Weapon for Bush

Heinz Co. Is Campaign Weapon for Bush - Printable Version

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- 1125 - 04-21-2004 02:49 PM

[Image: Heinz_Ketchup_pic.jpg]

WASHINGTON - Though John Kerry wife is an heir to the H.J. Heinz Co. fortune, the food company and its executives are providing President Bush with money and a campaign issue — jobs flowing overseas — in this year's election.

Members of the board of the Fortune 500 company and its corporate political action committee have donated thousands of dollars to Republicans in recent years, including contributions to the Bush campaign. The corporate PAC has given nothing to Kerry.

The Republicans are accepting the cash even as they criticize the Pittsburgh-based company's job cuts and overseas moves — part of an effort to taint the presumptive Democratic nominee with the conglomerate's business practices.

While Teresa Heinz Kerry gained much of her $500 million portfolio through her Heinz inheritance, she does not serve on the board and is not involved with the management of the company. Even her late husband, Sen. H. John Heinz III, R-Pa., did not serve on the board.

No Heinz family member has been employed by the company or served on its board since H.J. "Jack" Heinz II, its chairman, died in 1987.

Heinz Kerry, who heads the separate Heinz Family Foundation and the Howard Heinz Endowment, owns less than 4 percent of the company's stock. Major Heinz stockholders include the company's top executives, led by Chairman William R. Johnson, as well as beer magnate Peter Coors and former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver and pro football Hall of Famer Lynn Swann.

During the campaign, Kerry has criticized companies that move jobs overseas or shift their tax status abroad to avoid federal taxes, calling them "Benedict Arnold" businesses. He has faulted the Bush administration for embracing a tax policy that rewards them.

Republicans, in response, have pointed to the Kerrys' ties to Heinz, calling the four-term Massachusetts senator a hypocrite for slamming policies that have poured millions into his wife's bank account.

Stuck in what it fears is a food fight is the Heinz Co., which is trying desperately to keep the campaign out of its ketchup sales. In the last few months, the company — which gets about 5,000 phone calls a month — has fielded 800 calls from consumers with questions or complaints about the company's connections to Kerry, his wife and the campaign, said spokeswoman Debbie Foster.

A look at the company's campaign donations shows a preference for Republicans. In the past six years, the Heinz company's political action committee gave more than $64,000 to GOP candidates, nearly three times the amount given to Democrats. It contributed $5,000 to Bush's campaign. It has shunned the Kerry campaign, but the PAC gave $5,000 to the Massachusetts Democratic Party.

Johnson also put his money on the GOP, giving more than $20,000 to Republican congressional committees and candidates since 1999. Other board members have also contributed to Republicans, giving money to Bush's campaign and Pennsylvania's two Republican senators, Arlen Specter and Rick Santorum.

Company spokesman Jack Kennedy said Heinz is nonpartisan and the PAC gives money to both parties. The heavy Republican totals, he said, may just be an indication of where corporate facilities are located.

Determined to make clear that it is not connected to the Kerry campaign, the Heinz company has issued statements about the relationship. "We want to make sure people buy our products on their merit. We're an equal-opportunity condiment," Kennedy said.

According to Kerry's financial disclosure report filed last May, Heinz Kerry owns more than $4 million worth of company stock. Heinz Kerry sold more than $14.8 million worth of Heinz stock in 2002.

"No, they don't run the company, but they still own a lot of stock. And Teresa has had a long relationship with the company," said James Glassman, a columnist and economic analyst at the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C. "I think it's absolutely legitimate to point to Heinz and say here's a company with a close association with Kerry that is doing exactly the thing Kerry is condemning."

Republican National Committee (news - web sites) spokeswoman Christine Iverson said the GOP is not going after the Heinz Co. but "will continue to point out John Kerry's hypocrisy when his record on the issues does not match his rhetoric."

Last month, the RNC issued a lengthy critique of the Heinz company, detailing hundreds of layoffs and plant closings in five states over the past nine years and pointing out jobs it created in other countries.

The multibillion-dollar Heinz Co. has about 38,900 workers worldwide, with 30 percent located in 27 factories scattered across 17 states. The other 70 percent work in facilities overseas.

About 60 percent of the company's sales are outside America, and the products sold in other countries are often made and marketed locally and in some cases are unique to that region. Tomatoes for ketchup sold in the United States are grown largely in the regions surrounding the major processing plants in Ohio, Iowa and California.

Besides its name brands, Heinz also makes and markets OreIda potatoes, Smart Ones frozen foods and Classico sauces. The company has 50 affiliates operating in 200 countries.

- KlutzDio I - 04-22-2004 04:05 PM

I told you guys that Kerry and his wife would be selling illegal ketchup on the street to support their campaign against the uber-rich Bush and his cronies!!

That was just one prophecy fulfilled.

Just wait until the bring Osama out after the Dems' convention. Oh, we have him and the Repoobs are waiting.

In any event, Kerry's attitude and comments on Meet the Press this past Sunday should preclude him from ever being considered 'presidential.'

I guess we'll all just have to learn to worship and love Bush, the god-chimp.

- MaumeeRocket - 04-22-2004 04:23 PM

KlutzDio I Wrote:Just wait until the bring Osama out after the Dems' convention. Oh, we have him and the Repoobs are waiting.

Its coming, even republicans know this. He will be captured in Late September, right before the debates. So in the debate Kerry will say what did you do against terroism, "we have Osama", what about the economy "Greenspan says economy is in recovery and intersts rates are going to start going up. What does that leave Iraq "Kerry you voted for it". This will cover all angles leaving maybe the environment, which the average american dosent base their vote on.

- KlutzDio I - 04-22-2004 05:13 PM

Maumee, we already have Osama. We've had him for almost three years now.

- joebordenrebel - 04-22-2004 05:41 PM

Can we have the ghost of Lee Harvey Oswald bring him out to the mall in D.C. on the day before election day?

The two of them could blow up the Washington monument, for effect. Then we could hang, draw and quarter Osama and drag his bloody carcass up and down Pennsylvania Avenue. Then we could hang it off the Potomac bridge and beat it with sticks.

Then, and only then, will the god-chimp have it in the bag!

- MaumeeRocket - 04-22-2004 07:27 PM

KlutzDio I Wrote:Maumee, we already have Osama. We've had him for almost three years now.

I dont think we have him now, however i beleive that anytime we want to go pick him up from the Pakistani's, he'll be on U.S. soil in 24 hours.

- Guest - 04-23-2004 05:11 AM

I have a very sensible friend who went home to India for a few weeks right after Christmas. He came back convinced that Pakistan has had Bin Laden in custody for a long time. He says that it is "common knowledge" on the street there.

Note this is not my opinion, in fact I don't have enough facts to form an opinion on this. I can, however, vouch for my friend's intelligence, education, and common sense. He has all three coming out of his ears.

- sherman&grant - 04-23-2004 07:12 AM

See if he knows where Jimmy Hoffa is.

- Guest - 04-23-2004 07:17 AM

sherman&grant Wrote:See if he knows where Jimmy Hoffa is.

Personal attacks are a 05-nono

!

- sherman&grant - 04-23-2004 07:42 AM

Oddball Wrote:
sherman&grant Wrote:See if he knows where Jimmy Hoffa is.
Quote Deleted

Personal Attacks are a 05-nono

Hey, ask him about the second gunman on the grassy knoll while you're at it.

- Guest - 04-23-2004 08:34 AM

We'll see how even-handed this policy will be enforced. :roflol:

- joebordenrebel - 04-23-2004 11:14 AM

Ah, the ugly head of reactionism. . .I thought you were just here to protect me, GB. Oddball doesn't need any protecting. . .or are you protecting his prey? :laugh:

- GrayBeard - 04-23-2004 11:35 AM

joebordenrebel Wrote:Ah, the ugly head of reactionism. . .I thought you were just here to protect me, GB. Oddball doesn't need any protecting. . .or are you protecting his prey? :laugh:

I'm not protecting anyone.

- KlutzDio I - 04-23-2004 04:32 PM

Bring back RebelKev. This Graybeard fella needs to let us go at it.

Let 'em play, ref! :laugh:

- sherman&grant - 04-23-2004 04:43 PM

joebordenrebel Wrote:... Oddball doesn't need any protecting. . .or are you protecting his prey? :laugh:

:EDIT:

- Guest - 04-23-2004 06:01 PM

Gee, another personal attack just breezes on by. I better not retaliate... :snore:

- sherman&grant - 04-23-2004 06:12 PM

Oddball Wrote:Gee, another personal attack just breezes on by. I better not retaliate... :snore:

:EDIT:

- MaumeeRocket - 04-23-2004 06:16 PM

sherman&grant Wrote:
Oddball Wrote:Gee, another personal attack just breezes on by. I better not retaliate... :snore:
:EDIT:

I guess the AUP went out the window.

- Guest - 04-23-2004 06:16 PM

Okay, I'm suitably intimidated. Please don't beat me up you scary man! :roflol:

Sorry I get up too early for your tastes. :rolleyes:

- 1125 - 04-23-2004 06:23 PM

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