ThinkProgress - Leaked Audio Catches Romney (essentially) Asking Employers To Threaten Jobs ...

[mzmolly]

If Obama Wins

Newly-discovered audio from a conference call in June captures Mitt Romney asking business owners to urge their employees to vote for him.

Romney, speaking on a call to the very conservative National Federation of Independent Business, tells a group of business owners that they should “make it very clear” how they feel about the candidates. He also tells the business owners to “pass… along to your employees” how their jobs might be effected by who wins in November:

"I hope you make it very clear to your employees what you believe is in the best interest of your enterprise and therefore their job and their future in the upcoming elections. And whether you agree with me or you agree with President Obama, or whatever your political view, I hope — I hope you pass those along to your employees. Nothing illegal about you talking to your employees about what you believe is best for the business, because I think that will figure into their election decision, their voting decision and of course doing that with your family and your kids as well."

Listen at 26:44:

http://thinkprogress.org/election/2012/10/17/1037881/leaked-audio-romney-employers/?mobile=nc

That's my interpretation. And, apparently the interpretation of employers who have recently bullied their employees about the coming election.

[msongs]

1. well let's hope this gets some wide dissemination nt

[barnabas63]

3. +1 nt

[Sadiedog]

2. I wish I was suprised by this but...

not much about him seems honest or straight forward.

[Control-Z]

4. There is no other honest

interpretation. I truly hate this man.

[SEMOVoter]

5. Those companies with government contracts....

http://www.fec.gov/pages/citn0030.htm

"Individuals under contract to the Federal government may not make contributions to influence Federal elections. For example, if you are under contract as a consultant to a Federal agency, you may not contribute to Federal candidates or political committees. Or, if you are the sole proprietor of a business that has a contract with the Federal government, you may not make contributions from either your personal funds or your business account. But, if you are merely employed by a company (or partnership) with Federal government contracts, you are permitted to make contributions from your personal funds."

[SEMOVoter]

6. This includes a lot of businesses.....

[Floyd_Gondolli]

7. Holy shit

This could be a big deal.

[IrishSean723]

8. Unfortunately,

Romney was a bit careful with his wording. Common sense tells you what he was implying, but it seems that the media doesn't have much time for common sense interpretation. So I'm not expecting this story to get any exposure.

[Floyd_Gondolli]

12. Yes having listened to it

It's not another 47 percent gold mine. However, it does play into Romney's image as that boss who enjoys keeping his employees off balance and uncertain that James Lipton was just talking about on Tweety's show.

[smorkingapple]

9. Jesus guys, that's reaching.... Even if Romney didn't ask for this, Republican CEO's

would have done this anyway...

[global1]

10. You Know You Have To Question An Employer That Would.....

actually listen to Rmoney and do what he asks of them. They can't be very bright and one questions their ethic. They are really shallow and I would be concerned if I was a stockholder of one of their companies as to their ability to run it.

As for Rmoney - if there is a tape of his comments on this - it needs to be played far and wide before the election. We also need to make an appeal to the employees that were told to vote for Rmoney that their vote is their vote and they shouldn't be intimidated by their bosses.

[amborin]

11. hope it gets wide exposure

[nobunnyclue]

13. Threatening someone's job if they don't do what you want

is the epitome of ECONOMIC TERRORISM.

Ironically, my neighbor has a giant sign on his yard that says, "Obama is an economic Terrorist".

I guess that means George Bush (both H.W. and "dubya&quot , along with then Secretary of State Colin Powell were also terrorists behind 9/11 because they were the ones who proximately caused the hijacker-terrorists to retaliate and terrorize the United States in the first place.

I am so upset every time I see this sign -- it violates the city's ordinance for political signs, but they won't enforce it -- if you wanted to make sure only white folks are buying the houses in your neighborhood, what better sign could you put up, except maybe a burning cross?

[mzmolly]

14. I agree.

Welcome to DU, nobunnyclue.

[DonViejo]

15. He's trying to cover his ass in this excerpt

"I hope you make it very clear to your employees what you believe is in the best interest of your enterprise and therefore their job and their future in the upcoming elections. And whether you agree with me or you agree with President Obama, or whatever your political view, I hope — I hope you pass those along to your employees. Nothing illegal about you talking to your employees about what you believe is best for the business, because I think that will figure into their election decision, their voting decision and of course doing that with your family and your kids as well."

Why would Mitt be on a conference coal with Obama supporters?

[mzmolly]

16. Exactly.

[IrishSean723]

17. Typically,

when you have to reiterate that you're doing nothing illegal... you're doing something illegal.