Guess who tried to extort money from sell “services” to FedEx in exchange for “favors” to be done on their behalf in Washington, DC? The American Conservative Union (ACU), allegedly the oldest conservative lobby group in the country. In the offer they made to FedEx, detailing all the great services they could provide his company for the paltry fee of Two to Three MILLION DOLLARS. Here’s some of what they promised to do:
For the $2 million+, ACU offered a range of services that included: “Producing op-eds and articles written by ACU’s Chairman David Keene and / or other members of the ACU’s board of directors. (Note that Mr. Keene writes a weekly column that appears in The Hill.)”
The conservative group’s remarkable demand — black-and-white proof of the longtime Washington practice known as “pay for play” — was contained in a private letter to FedEx …
The letter exposes the practice by some political interest groups of taking stands not for reasons of pure principle, as their members and supporters might assume, but also in part because a sponsor is paying big money.
And when FedEx turned this down generous offer of June 30, 2009? ACU cut a deal with FedEx competitor, UPS, and sent this nasty note from a jilted prostitute on behalf of their new patron to FedEx CEO Frederick W. Smith:
Weʼve been on record as opposing federal bailouts of failing businesses because they waste taxpayer money, reward businesses that are poorly run, skew the marketplace, and are well outside the proper role of our constitutionally limited government. So when FedEx claimed that UPS was seeking a government bailout, we were prepared to jump all over another
wasteful government program. But after looking into FedExʼs claims, we realized that FedEx was not telling the truth. UPS was not seeking any taxpayer funds — only regulatory reform that would insure equal treatment of both companies under our nationʼs labor laws.FedExʼs campaign called “Brown Bailout” (www.BrownBailout.com) is designed to capitalize
on public sentiment that is angry that hundreds of billions of dollars have been wasted in the
name of bailouts. But since UPS is not seeking even one dime of taxpayer money, the campaign is essentially a disinformation campaign and should be stopped.If FedEx wants to oppose the regulatory reform being sought by UPS, that is fine. But FedEx should use honest arguments and refrain from disingenuous and dishonest labels.
What FedEx falsely and disingenuously labels a bailout is merely UPS asking that the government treat both competitors the same. You can oppose this change in the law if you like, but you cannot honestly call it a bailout. A bailout is when the government gives money
to failing businesses to prop them up in hopes that they will become viable. UPS is not seeking, nor will it receive any taxpayer money as a result of this regulatory reform.Additionally, UPS is not a failing company. It is doing quite well despite having to compete in the economic race while wearing proverbial army boots.Again, we are not telling you what position to lobby with Congress. But we are asking you to stop using false and disingenuous labels to make your point. We believe FedEx should take down the deceitful website and stop misleading the public and legislators. To paraphrase the words of Ronald Reagan, “Mr. Smith, tear down this website.”
As FedEx’s director of corporate communications commented to Politico, “Clearly, the ACU shopped their beliefs and UPS bought.” Guess UPS didn’t see that he who employs the shady conservative lobbyist group to do its dirty work, can be hit with a boomerang for associating with such slimy bastards.
Obviously, I think FedEx did the right thing — this time. And I think UPS just got a bunch of brown crap all over their shoes for enlisting the likes of this gang of mercenaries in their attempts to beat up on their competitor. And as for those vaunted conservative values, like opposing Big Government interference in the free market, that conservative “think tanks” and assorted astroturf groups are always spouting off about, isn’t it funny how their “principles” beat a hasty retreat out the back door when Big Money walks in the front?