« Encouraging News | Main | 15 Minutes »
April 10, 2004
"Benedict Arnold" Clarification
Kerry's clarified his "Benedict Arnold" corporations remark.
Kerry got pressed on the fact that Heinz has more than 70 percent of its plants in foreign countries as he chatted yesterday with WFAN radio talk-show host Don Imus - a self-proclaimed Kerry backer.
"What I've labeled the 'Benedict Arnolds' are not people who do legitimate business overseas at all and unfortunately in the rhetoric of campaigns, these things sometimes get misinterpreted," said Kerry (D-Mass.)
I see. It's just those companies who move jobs out of the country and pay their workers less. Right?
Heinz owns 79 factories and 57 of them are overseas, with 72 percent of the firm's 38,900 workers outside the United States. They're everywhere from Argentina to Zimbabwe, not to mention Canada, which has taken over some jobs from Buffalo.
Heinz acknowledges that its overseas workers are paid less but says its products are sold overseas for less. The company has stressed that Kerry's wife plays no role in its current management.
Oh, now I see the difference. Not.
Perhaps Kerry needs a new campaign theme song.
Now there's a Google bomb idea.
Posted by Rita at April 10, 2004 07:00 AM
Comments
I wonder why he just doesn't point out that moving those factories into countries such as Argentina provides valuable jobs and increases the standard of living in those areas, while at the same time allowing more Americans to get out of menial factory jobs, and into something better?
Heh.
Posted by: mtpolitics at April 11, 2004 08:12 AM
Heinz has 57 factories overseas? How appropriate!
Posted by: Beldar at April 11, 2004 01:05 PM
Oh, that really clears things up and helps me understand where I was so confused. Not really, I'm still confused about how he can expect me to swallow his explaination, which is no explanation at all (but I'm used to that by now).
Posted by: bogie at April 11, 2004 11:29 PM
In all fairness you want to build food processing plants as close to where the food is grown as possible. There's less spoilage during transit.
But sKerry's STILL an asshole.
Posted by: Ralph Gizzip at April 12, 2004 09:58 PM