Billionaire threatens to fire employees if they vote for Obama

[MickZagger]

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/10/09/978211/david-siegel-fire-employees/

David Siegel, who owns Florida-based Westgate Resorts, sent an email to all his employees yesterday to discuss the upcoming election. “The economy doesn’t currently pose a threat to your job,” Siegel wrote, noting that the company is “the most profitable [it's] ever been.” “What does threaten your job however, is another 4 years of the same Presidential administration.” He went on to say that although he “can’t tell you whom to vote for,” if Obama is re-elected, it would mean “fewer jobs, less benefits and certainly less opportunity for everyone.”

 

[MARIS61]

Voter intimidation is any concerted effort or practice by an individual or group on behalf of a party or candidate to coerce the voting behavior of a particular class or demographic of voters. He clearly committed a felony here.

He's also a moron as he freely admits his company has thrived as never before under Obama's administration.

 

[Denny Crane]

There's no voter intimidation here. Just the truth.

 

[MARIS61]

He admits he has committed voter intimidation in a previous election also.

The Florida-based Westgate Resorts is not a public company. It is the domain of David Siegel, a staunch Republican. In fact, Siegel has publicly claimed credit for George W. Bush defeating Al Gore, saying "I had my managers do a survey on every employee [8,000 total]. If they liked Bush, we made them register to vote. But not if they liked Gore."

http://gawker.com/5950189/the-ceo-w...bamas-elected?partner=skygrid#13498401622273&{"type":"iframeUpdated","height":2245}

 

[Denny Crane]

Again, no voter intimidation there.

Sounds exactly like what the unions do.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Gee, I dunno. We passed a law in Oregon that allows union workers to directly intimidate people when voting to join a union. Libs thought that was fair.

 

[Denny Crane]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-darden-part-time-workers-20121007,0,1505128.story

In an experiment apparently aimed at keeping down the cost of health-care reform, Orlando-based Darden Restaurants has stopped offering full-time schedules to many hourly workers in at least a few Olive Gardens, Red Lobsters and LongHorn Steakhouses.

Darden said the test is taking place in "a select number" of restaurants in four markets, including Central Florida, but would not give details. The company said there has been no decision made about expanding it.

In an emailed statement, Darden said staffing changes are "just one of the many things we are evaluating to help us address the cost implications health care reform will have on our business. There are still many unanswered questions regarding the health care regulations and we simply do not have enough information to make any decisions at this time."

Analysts say many other companies, including the White Castle hamburger chain, are considering employing fewer full-timers because of key features of the Affordable Care Act scheduled to go into effect in 2014. Under that law, large companies must provide affordable health insurance to employees working an average of at least 30 hours per week.

 

[MickZagger]

Again, no voter intimidation there.

Sounds exactly like what the unions do.

You can't be serious.

 

[Denny Crane]

You can't be serious.

It is what the unions do.

They even take your dues and use the money to buy ads for democrats, to register democrats, to drive democrats to the polls, and so on.

 

[MickZagger]

It is what the unions do.

They even take your dues and use the money to buy ads for democrats, to register democrats, to drive democrats to the polls, and so on.

A.) They in no way threaten our job if we vote one way or the other.

B.) Democrats are pro-Union it only makes sense that the unions would endorse the party.

C.) I work with several Republican's who are openly Republican and in no way do they fear for their job.

D.) I'm sure thats all that my $50 a month goes to. Political ads once every 4 years. Thats some clear thinking...

 

[MARIS61]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-darden-part-time-workers-20121007,0,1505128.story

In an experiment apparently aimed at keeping down the cost of health-care reform, Orlando-based Darden Restaurants has stopped offering full-time schedules to many hourly workers in at least a few Olive Gardens, Red Lobsters and LongHorn Steakhouses.

Darden said the test is taking place in "a select number" of restaurants in four markets, including Central Florida, but would not give details. The company said there has been no decision made about expanding it.

In an emailed statement, Darden said staffing changes are "just one of the many things we are evaluating to help us address the cost implications health care reform will have on our business. There are still many unanswered questions regarding the health care regulations and we simply do not have enough information to make any decisions at this time."

Analysts say many other companies, including the White Castle hamburger chain, are considering employing fewer full-timers because of key features of the Affordable Care Act scheduled to go into effect in 2014. Under that law, large companies must provide affordable health insurance to employees working an average of at least 30 hours per week.

A recipe for business bankruptcy.

Once the law is fully enacted, these thoroughly un-American sweatshops will attract only workers who are unable to get a real job with a real employer. The fact that they serve unimaginative bland-tasting food will be compounded by the extremely poor customer service and internal theft this stand will invite. Not too smart.

 

[Rhal]

It is what the unions do.

They even take your dues and use the money to buy ads for democrats, to register democrats, to drive democrats to the polls, and so on.

usually I stay out of the political threads but this is just insane. The Teamsters one of the largest unions in the US CANNOT take my Dues and put it towards any of what you just said. There is a separate part of the teamsters I can give money to that does this but it is a donation I could give and everything they do is paid for by donations like that and not from any union Dues.

 

[Denny Crane]

A.) They in no way threaten our job if we vote one way or the other.

B.) Democrats are pro-Union it only makes sense that the unions would endorse the party.

C.) I work with several Republican's who are openly Republican and in no way do they fear for their job.

D.) I'm sure thats all that my $50 a month goes to. Political ads once every 4 years. Thats some clear thinking...

He in no way threatened anyones jobs.

In 2008, my boss called me in his office and told me that if the economy got much worse, he'd have to lay off several people. I didn't take that as a threat any more than this letter is a threat.

ThinkProgress is a bunch of liars. How about seeing more of the letter in context?

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-s...bama-reelected-and-raises-taxes#ixzz28qF4kybK

"If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, as our current President plans, I will have no choice but to reduce the size of this company. Rather than grow this company I will be forced to cut back. This means fewer jobs, less benefits and certainly less opportunity for everyone."

Sounds like business 101 to me. If your profits are reduced, you cut expenses (employees' salaries are expenses).

 

[Denny Crane]

usually I stay out of the political threads but this is just insane. The Teamsters one of the largest unions in the US CANNOT take my Dues and put it towards any of what you just said. There is a separate part of the teamsters I can give money to that does this but it is a donation I could give and everything they do is paid for by donations like that and not from any union Dues.

http://www.unionfacts.com/article/political-money/

http://www.nrtw.org/en/press/2012/06/teamster-union-faces-federal-charges-minnesota-06112012

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-rele...lly-told-join-union-or-be-fired-73513147.html

 

[barfo]

Sounds like business 101 to me. If your profits are reduced, you cut expenses (employees' salaries are expenses).

Really, that's the only possible response? What if cutting employees causes your revenue to fall, starting a death spiral? What if adding employees would add more profit? Did you drop out after the first week of Business 101?

barfo

 

[dviss1]

There's no voter intimidation here. Just the truth.

Aren't you a libertarian (I'm guessing)? If so why don't you believe in the freedom of making your own decisions?

 

[dviss1]

He in no way threatened anyones jobs.

In 2008, my boss called me in his office and told me that if the economy got much worse, he'd have to lay off several people. I didn't take that as a threat any more than this letter is a threat.

ThinkProgress is a bunch of liars. How about seeing more of the letter in context?

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-s...bama-reelected-and-raises-taxes#ixzz28qF4kybK



Sounds like business 101 to me. If your profits are reduced, you cut expenses (employees' salaries are expenses).

So while you post "ThinkProgress is a bunch of liars" You post some right wing trash site and expect us to buy it... That's like coming in here and posting studies front the Heritage Foundation, or the Lewin Group and expecting us to believe its the truth.
The stuff that page report is Breitbart like...

 

[MARIS61]

Really, that's the only possible response? What if cutting employees causes your revenue to fall, starting a death spiral? What if adding employees would add more profit? Did you drop out after the first week of Business 101?

barfo

From his posts, I doubt Denny even attended the first week.

Restoring some of the taxes the 1% paid in previous (and more robust) decades, even if they reached the level they were in 1960 (91%) would in no way necessitate the downsizing of any businesses. Taxes are on income (profits) and deliberately reducing income would only increase the overall hit to the 1%, not reduce it. And every 1%er knows this, but still they drag out their nonsensical threats and scare tactics because they know there are a lot of really stupid, gullible people out there who (unlike them) depend on their job for survival.

I hope his empty threats cause some of his employees to reconsider who they are working for and to seek employment from someone of stronger moral fiber.

 

[Denny Crane]

Really, that's the only possible response? What if cutting employees causes your revenue to fall, starting a death spiral? What if adding employees would add more profit? Did you drop out after the first week of Business 101?

barfo

What if all the raindrops were lemon drops and gum drops?

You and Maris providing anecdotal proof that old poll showing liberals don't know economics is true.

 

[Denny Crane]

So while you post "ThinkProgress is a bunch of liars" You post some right wing trash site and expect us to buy it... That's like coming in here and posting studies front the Heritage Foundation, or the Lewin Group and expecting us to believe its the truth.
The stuff that page report is Breitbart like...

Fair enough. Next time you cite a loony left wing site as gospel, I'll point it out to you.

 

[Denny Crane]

From his posts, I doubt Denny even attended the first week.

Restoring some of the taxes the 1% paid in previous (and more robust) decades, even if they reached the level they were in 1960 (91%) would in no way necessitate the downsizing of any businesses. Taxes are on income (profits) and deliberately reducing income would only increase the overall hit to the 1%, not reduce it. And every 1%er knows this, but still they drag out their nonsensical threats and scare tactics because they know there are a lot of really stupid, gullible people out there who (unlike them) depend on their job for survival.

I hope his empty threats cause some of his employees to reconsider who they are working for and to seek employment from someone of stronger moral fiber.

It's his business he can do what he wants with it.

Raise the taxes to 91% and he'll do what he promised in his letter:

"If that happens, you can find me in the Caribbean sitting on the beach, under a palm tree, retired, and with no employees to worry about."

But that's OK with welfare statists, it only means more people to be in need.

 

[PapaG]

Guess I missed the part where he threatened to fire any employees who voted for Obama.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

florida is a swing state, kinda shrewd on this guys part, and subtle like a hammer fuck to the mouth hole

 

[BlazerWookee]

It is what the unions do.

They even take your dues and use the money to buy ads for democrats, to register democrats, to drive democrats to the polls, and so on.

And to figuratively dig up dead people to vote Democrat...

 

[dviss1]

Fair enough. Next time you cite a loony left wing site as gospel, I'll point it out to you.

I try not to. I know regardless of how good of reporting pages like Mother Jones and Truthout.org do, Conservatives will always question them. Just as we do for Those Breitbart pages. I try to post things from NY Times, Washington Post. Etc. Good truthful news is so hard to find these days.

Where's Cronkite when you need him?

 

[PapaG]

Still wondering where the 'billionaire' said he would fire employees who voted for Obama.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Still wondering where the 'billionaire' said he would fire employees who voted for Obama.

Try reading between the lines. "If Obama is elected, you could be fired." It's like saying the Blazers are a lottery team and will be lucky to win 25 games but I never said they were a bad team.

This CEO has issues:

"If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, as our current President plans, I will have no choice but to reduce the size of this company," he wrote. "Rather than grow this company I will be forced to cut back. This means fewer jobs, less benefits and certainly less opportunity for everyone."


In a version of Romney's "47 percent" remarks, Siegel added that "people like me who made all the right decisions and invested in themselves are being forced to bail out all the people who didn't. The people that overspent their paychecks suddenly feel entitled to the same luxuries that I earned and sacrificed 42 years of my life for."

The points are ones that have often been made during this election. But what makes the letter surprising is the source.


David Siegel is the man who, together with his wife, Jackie, built the largest new house in America, known as "Versailles." His story first appeared in my book, "The High-Beta Rich." It then made it to the big screen with documentary film "The Queen of Versailles."


They became symbols of outsized spending, debt and real estate in America.

But when the company started buckling under $1 billion in debt during the crisis, the Siegels' home went into foreclosure and was put up for sale. They cut back on the jet, took the kids out of private school and gave up some of their staff.

So why is David Siegel - a man who defined excess and debt in the 2000s - now saying that debt and spending are ruining the country?

 

[PapaG]

Try reading between the lines. "If Obama is elected, you could be fired." It's like saying the Blazers are a lottery team and will be lucky to win 25 games but I never said they were a bad team.

This CEO has issues:

"If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, as our current President plans, I will have no choice but to reduce the size of this company," he wrote. "Rather than grow this company I will be forced to cut back. This means fewer jobs, less benefits and certainly less opportunity for everyone."


In a version of Romney's "47 percent" remarks, Siegel added that "people like me who made all the right decisions and invested in themselves are being forced to bail out all the people who didn't. The people that overspent their paychecks suddenly feel entitled to the same luxuries that I earned and sacrificed 42 years of my life for."

The points are ones that have often been made during this election. But what makes the letter surprising is the source.


David Siegel is the man who, together with his wife, Jackie, built the largest new house in America, known as "Versailles." His story first appeared in my book, "The High-Beta Rich." It then made it to the big screen with documentary film "The Queen of Versailles."


They became symbols of outsized spending, debt and real estate in America.

But when the company started buckling under $1 billion in debt during the crisis, the Siegels' home went into foreclosure and was put up for sale. They cut back on the jet, took the kids out of private school and gave up some of their staff.

So why is David Siegel - a man who defined excess and debt in the 2000s - now saying that debt and spending are ruining the country?

Still wondering where he said he'd fire anyone who voted for Obama, as the OP stated.

Plus, he employs literally thousands of people. If his taxes go up, he will downsize his company.