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Readers Comment on CEO Preference for McCain

October 10th, 2008 @ 12:33 pm

7 Comments

Categories: Best Practices, Board Management, Corporate Governance, Economy, Environment, Executive Focus, Finance, Management, Opinion, Political Economy, Regulation, Shareholder Activism, Strategy, Wisdom

Tags: Republican, John McCain, CEO, Financial Accounting, Taxes, Finance, Financial Planning, Peter Galuszka

Yesterday I posted an item reporting that a Chief Executive magazine survey found that CEOs preferred Republican presidential candidate John McCain by a 4 to 1 margin.

Neither McCain nor Democrat Barack Obama got high marks for their positions on the economy, energy, the environment or education, however.

Looks like we hit a nerve here. At last count, the item had drawn 129 comments, the most I’ve ever had since I started blogging on BNET about six months ago.

The comments run the gamut of political coloring and some commentators are quite passionate. I’m really glad people think enough about the current times to weigh in. Some folks have even sent me e-mails.

Here’s a sampling of the comments:

  • “Ummm, is this the best time to be quoting CEOs on their economic judgment?”
  • “Certainly CEOs of large corporations would favor McCain, they already own him and they would have to spend a lot of money to buy Obama.”
  • “Wow. Thanks for the insightful breaking news! I’m shocked to find out that rich white guys prefer a republican.”
  • “CEOs favoring McCain are like monkeys favoring bananas. Let’s face it, if you were going to hand me $700k, I vote for you.”
  • “The view from Canada, your largest trading partner, where I live: Bush sends shivers down our spines, and McCain is not far behind… militarism, nationalism, arrogance, corporate greed and financial crisis are what has given the US it’s current reputation in the world at large, and the Republicans are to blame.”
  • “I think your story should read, “CEOs think Obama would be a disaster for THEIR economy.” Alas, they exist in rarefied air where most Americans who are suffering at their decades-long greed and amorality cannot or will not venture.”
  • “In the U.S., corporations pay far more taxes than individuals. Also, the vast majority of corporate execs receive compensation in line with norms of their respective industry, so check your ignorant capitalist hating hyperbole at the door. The notion that corporations are screwing all of us in this free society we enjoy is the product of repeatedly telling ourselves lies.”
  • “I will be glad when those old guys become extinct, they are impeding progress.”

Keep them coming!

Have a tidbit of executive wisdom you would care to share with fellow BNET readers?

 
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  •  
    1

    liberty1961

    10/13/08 | Report as spam

    RE: Readers Comment on CEO Preference for McCain

    What the heck is wrong with large corporations? Do you all prefer working on a friggin farm or something? How about company sponsored health care? Don't like that either? You prefer county health? What a bunch of hand wringing whiners.
    Take responsibility for yourselves and stop looking for government to hoist you up all the time. Special interest groups are sucking the US dry. And who cares what the rest of the bass akwards world thinks of us. This isn't a beauty contest folks. If you care for Europe or Canada by all means the governments are already set up for you to enjoy. PLEASE GO!

  •  
    2

    bigpublisher

    10/13/08 | Report as spam

    RE: Readers Comment on CEO Preference for McCain

    Click. That is the sound of this business owner unsubscribing from Bnet email. I am tired of reading the rantings of this liberal, biased, prejudiced "journalist." Just one mention of the pro-McCain comments on his blog would have at least shown that he has some sense of objectivity as a "journalist," but he has shown he has none. I come here to read about business, and how to make mine better, not hear about how much he hates one candidate, or to be swayed into his political philosophy. Bnet, be sure to tell your online advertisers that they have lost another subscriber.

  •  
    3

    Signguy

    10/13/08 | Report as spam

    RE: Readers Comment on CEO Preference for McCain

    If we keep thinking like some of these comments, we will create an "Atlas Shrugged" World. (if you haven't read, you should). Anyone worth being a CEO, industrialist, or capitalist, will take their money and stay home, then who will keep us a economic leader in the world? Goverment? Liberal "looters"? Wake up libs,

  •  
    4

    Lux131313

    10/13/08 | Report as spam

    RE: Readers Comment on CEO Preference for McCain

    Well, if the dems take my money, then I'm taking their kids. Socialism doesn't stop with money and medicine; it's across the board baby. Quid pro Quo. You get something from me, then I get something from you, like your first born. I don't want to go through labor, but I want a kid. Since you dems have two/three kids, it's only fair you give me one of them, since you're getting my cash. I think we'd have a lot less dems if this angle was explained and promoted.

  •  
    5

    proactivenow

    10/13/08 | Report as spam

    RE: Readers Comment on CEO Preference for McCain

    Economics rules! When Dem's make enough money to want to protect and keep it "all" ... they become Republicans.
    But Republicans come in many flavors. From crazy Fundamentalists to Entreprenurial free spirits. Free spirits are fine. Republican's are not problems. A false ideaolgy of superiority at the expense of others is a problem. Liars, facists and fundamentalists who are more concerned with being "right" are the big problem; aka Sarah "baraccuda". McCain is not the person I knew years ago. I would have voted for him then. McCain has shown us his dark side. His bitterness. His anger and his racism. It appears as if he has sold his soul to the devil to become President. A very scary team,

  •  
    6

    Youknowme2

    10/14/08 | Report as spam

    RE: Readers Comment on CEO Preference for McCain

    Why is acheivement "evil"?

    How does a company manufacturing something or providing a service rip someone off? Nobody is forcing you to do anything.

    Is thinking for yourself bad somehow?

    If we can elect a black Leninist terrorist for president, then we are thru the looking glass, where up is down. The most amazing thing to me is that many people I have spoken to about this do not associate Obama with Socialism.

    I can only conclude, Liberalism is a mental disorder.

  •  
    7

    gkreed

    10/14/08 | Report as spam

    RE: Readers Comment on CEO Preference for McCain

    I think this story was nothing more than Peter Galuszka's attempt to "rile up the crowd". Of course CEO's prefer McCain vs. Obama (anyone thinking otherwise just isn't being realistic). So, Peter decides to resubmit the story sprinkled with politically (and racially) charged responses from the Dems and the Repubs come out of the woodwork. We're being "played". Bad form Peter, bad form.

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