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Wal-Mart, a Discreet Player in US Presidential Campaign 

Agence France Presse 1nov04

[Why Dick Cheney loves Wal-Mart - even if he doesn't shop there - Gadflyer 14may04]

WASHINGTON — Favored by shoppers but criticised by organized labor, Wal-Mart — the world's number-one retailer — has been a discreet participant in the US presidential election campaign.

The company, which reported sales of 256 billion dollars last year, would be the 20th largest economy in the world if it were a country — larger than Austria or Turkey .

It is the largest private US employer, with more than 1.2 million workers, many in the so-called "battleground" states seen as crucial to the success of President George W. Bush or Democratic challenger John Kerry in Tuesday's presidential election.

In 2002, Retail Forward predicted the company would double in size in five years.

More than two-thirds of its stores are in states that voted for Bush in 2000 and the "Wal-Mart" effect clearly leans in favor of the Republicans.

Like some other firms, the company has a political action committee (PAC) to collect donations from employees for campaign contributions.

Wal-Mart's committee was the second most important business PAC in the United States, with nearly 1.5 billion dollars in contributions, about 80 percent of which went to Republicans, according to the independent group Political Money Line.

Wal-Mart has much to gain by supporting candidates who would seek to extend free trade deals with countries like China , a major supplier for the low-cost chain.

Wal-Mart itself has become a political issue for people who blame the company for job and business losses in areas where its discount stores are located.

Vice President Dick Cheney recently defended the company.

"This is one of our nation's great companies, and one of the most familiar names in all of America," he said.

"The story of Wal-Mart exemplifies some of the very best qualities in our country — hard work, the spirit of enterprise, fair dealing, and integrity," Cheney told Wal-Mart employees in Bentonville, Arkansas, the company's headquarters.

However Wal-Mart has recently been accused of improper behavior with its workers by those concerned over the company's enormous power.

Over the summer, the company was charged with looking into the legal records of some applicants, and at the beginning of the year was caught locking night workers in certain stores.

At the end of last year, hundreds of illegal immigrants were discovered working at Wal-Mart stores, through subcontractors hired for cleaning duties.

"While charging low prices obviously has some consumer benefits, mounting evidence from across the country indicates that these benefits come at a steep price for American workers, US labor laws, and community living standards," Democratic Representative George Miller said in a report earlier this year.

"Wal-Mart's current behavior must not be allowed to set the standards for American labor practices."

"Another thing that drives me crazy, and I hope I don't offend anyone here, is WAL-MART," Mrs. Kerry told a group of Democratic women activists at a luncheon in St. Paul last Tuesday. "They destroy communities." 

Teresa Heinz Reality:

H.J. Heinz III Marital Trust 

Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
Assets: Over $1,000,000
Dividends, Income: $2,501 - $5,000
Transactions:


04/04/02: Purchase: $500,001 - $1,000,000
04/05/02: Purchase: $500,001 - $1,000,000
06/04/02: Purchase: $15,001 - $50,000
06/06/02: Purchase: $50,001 - $100,000
11/13/02: Purchase: $50,001 - $100,000
11/14/02: Purchase: $15,001 - $50,000
11/14/02: Purchase: $15,001 - $50,000

PRN and FOX News Channel Team Up to Provide 
Live Coverage of Election Night on the Wal-Mart TV Network

PRNewswire 29oct04

SAN FRANCISCO — PRN Corporation announced today that Premier Retail Networks, Inc., its wholly owned subsidiary, is teaming up with FOX News Channel, a 24-hour news network, to provide live coverage of the presidential election on the Wal-Mart Television Network.  The broadcast, which is part of PRN's ongoing partnership with FOX News Channel for covering breaking news and special events, will be shown in more than 2,620 Wal-Mart stores nationwide. 

Charlie Nooney, chairman and chief executive officer of PRN Corporation, commented, "We are pleased to be working with FOX News Channel to bring their live coverage of this very tight presidential election to both Wal-Mart's shoppers and associates nationwide. We are always looking for new ways to keep shoppers and associates informed with content that is relevant and this is a great opportunity to do that." 

John Malkin, Vice President of Affiliate Sales and Marketing of FOX News Channel said, "As the number one cable news channel in America, we believe coverage of the presidential elections is especially crucial to Americans and we look forward to providing them with up-to-minute information, whether they are watching at home or shopping at Wal-Mart on Tuesday night." 

source: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=LRTVN.story&STORY=/www/story/10-29-2004/0002317663&EDATE=FRI+Oct+29+2004,+12:13+PM 4nov04