Michigan Chamber of Commerce Condones Extremism

With the Detroit Renaissance (3.40 / 5)

Planning to turn into a statewide organization, I wonder if the Chamber's influence is going to start to diminish a bit.

They will always be around of course, but "business" might be more inclined to align with groups who don't alienate the public. The MCoC has tacked so far right that they are in danger of being marginalized by embracing people like Beck.

What serious businessperson wants to be involved with someone like that?

---

by: wizardkitten @ Tue Aug 25, 2009 at 13:51:08 PM CDT

Timely post.... (3.25 / 4)

My husband sent the following to our local chamber:

"**** *** and local chamber and company,

This is why I cannot morally or financially support the Michigan Chamber of Commerce.

Quotes from news articles: "Verizon, Lowe's, Johnson & Johnson, 13 more drop Glenn Beck.

Stop Glenn Beck's race baiting

Fox's Glenn Beck recently said President Obama is "a racist" and has a "deep-seated hatred for white people." Beck is on a campaign to convince the American public that President Obama's agenda is about serving the needs of Black communities at White people's expense. It's repulsive, divisive and shouldn't be on the air."

Glenn Beck does not represent my ideals and views and is way off from mainstream America.

The Michigan Chamber has been anti worker, and continues to stand against raising the minimum wage.. which would help everyone.. They are so short sighted.

We need another Henry Ford, visionary and daring enough to stand up to the cultural depravity that prevails against the common family and middle class..

This is disgraceful and a slap in the face for all that is decent..

I strongly object and will not support an organization so out of touch and morally imbalanced.

My 2 cents.. or maybe $202 ?"

I, of course told him that I was proud of him. As business owners, we refuse to join an organization that so blatantly supports such an extreme person as Glen Beck. We pulled our membership several years ago, seeing that it was only going to get worse. Now, they keep calling and trying to woo us back into the fold. But - we just can't do it.

Thanks Kathy for the post.

---

by: Tina @ Tue Aug 25, 2009 at 14:07:22 PM CDT

You're welcome (3.25 / 4)

And thanks for posting your husband's letter too. You have every right to be proud of him for standing up to the Chamber. His words may fall on deaf ears, but if more business owners like yourselves withhold financial support it just may get their attention.  

---

by: Kathy @ Tue Aug 25, 2009 at 14:22:47 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

What I want to know is.... (3.50 / 6)

what could Glenn Beck possibly teach them about running a business?

A voice in my head tells me not to be so mean to the conservatives.  I work very hard to ignore that voice.

---

by: djtyg @ Tue Aug 25, 2009 at 15:34:44 PM CDT

Good point (3.50 / 6)

He's not exactly a Steve Jobs or Lee Iaccoca, which leads me back to my point above - they appear to be condoning extremism. How else to explain the fact they invited Beck to be their keynote speaker?  

---

by: Kathy @ Tue Aug 25, 2009 at 15:50:37 PM CDT

[ Parent ]