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Home Depot Co-Founder Lectures Obama on Economics
Posted by Jim Hoft on Saturday, October 16, 2010, 9:03 AM
Today might be a good day to stop by your local Home Depot home-improvement center.
The co-founder of the giant chain lectured Obama on his failed economic policies and anti-business rhetoric.
Ken Langone gives the socialist an earful.
The Wall Street Journal reported:
For more than two years the country has listened to your sharp rhetoric about how American businesses are short-changing workers, fleecing customers, cheating borrowers, and generally “driving the economy into a ditch,” to borrow your oft-repeated phrase.
My question to you was why, during a time when investment and dynamism are so critical to our country, was it necessary to vilify the very people who deliver that growth? Instead of offering a straight answer, you informed me that I was part of a “reckless” group that had made “bad decisions” and now required your guidance, if only I’d stop “resisting” it.
I’m sure that kind of argument draws cheers from the partisan faithful. But to my ears it sounded patronizing. Of course, one of the chief conceits of centralized economic planning is that the planners know better than everybody else…
…Your insistence that your policies are necessary and beneficial to business is utterly at odds with what you and your administration are saying elsewhere. You pick a fight with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, accusing it of using foreign money to influence congressional elections, something the chamber adamantly denies. Your U.S. attorney in New York, Preet Bahrara, compares investment firms to Mexican drug cartels and says he wants the power to wiretap Wall Street when he sees fit. And you drew guffaws of approving laughter with your car-wreck metaphor, recently telling a crowd that those who differ with your approach are “standing up on the road, sipping a Slurpee” while you are “shoving” and “sweating” to fix the broken-down jalopy of state.
A little more than 30 years ago, Bernie Marcus, Arthur Blank, Pat Farrah and I got together and founded The Home Depot. Our dream was to create (memo to DNC activists: that’s build, not take or coerce) a new kind of home-improvement center catering to do-it-yourselfers. The concept was to have a wide assortment, a high level of service, and the lowest pricing possible.
We opened the front door in 1979, also a time of severe economic slowdown. Yet today, Home Depot is staffed by more than 325,000 dedicated, well-trained, and highly motivated people offering outstanding service and knowledge to millions of consumers.
If we tried to start Home Depot today, under the kind of onerous regulatory controls that you have advocated, it’s a stone cold certainty that our business would never get off the ground, much less thrive. Rules against providing stock options would have prevented us from incentivizing worthy employees in the start-up phase—never mind the incredibly high cost of regulatory compliance overall and mandatory health insurance. Still worse are the ever-rapacious trial lawyers…
Today Obama told Americans that he wants to raise taxes on businesses.
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Kenny Solomon commented:
You mean the same Home Depot with policies sanctuary shelters in place for “day laborers” ?
“I’ll just swing by Home Depot tomorrow and pick up a couple of Mexicans”.
That Home Depot ?
Taqiyyotomist commented:
Government and state-run-media demonization of Home Depot in
3…
2…
1…
IRS audits of this man and his family and his company in
3..
2..
1..
olds-mo-william commented:
Ken Langone for President!
Andreas K. commented:
Listening to Obama talk about the economy is like watching a child play with a loaded gun.
Elmo commented:
Unless Mr. Langone knows sign language? He’s wastin’ his time … Chucklehead’s deef (and far too often … dumb and blind as well).
A large chisel and ten pound sledge might get the job done? But then again ….
sandy commented:
Big business just stood on the sidelines believing that Obama would moderate his views. They finally get it now — that is after the Tea Parties and Republican women stepped forward. Well better late then never.
Taqiyyotomist commented:
OT:
Is this something? I always took DEBKA with a shaker full of salt, but:
http://www.debka.com/article/9087/
“Blasts hit secret Iranian missile launching-pad for US, Israeli targets”
“…In its official statement on the incident, Tehran denied it was the result of “a terrorist attack” and claimed the explosion “was caused by a nearby fire that spread to the munitions storage area of the base.” In the same way, the regime went to great lengths to cover up the ravages wrought to their nuclear and military control systems by the Stuxnet virus – which is still at work.
In actual fact, debkafile’s military sources report, Iran’s missile arsenal and the Revolutionary Guards have also suffered a devastating blow. Worst of all, all their experts are a loss to account for the assailants’ ability to penetrate one of Iran’s most closely guarded bases and reach deep underground to blow up the missile launchers.
The number of casualties is believed to be greater than the figure given out by Tehran.”
Andreas K. commented:
Wow… I’m really not well today, I’m pressing “Post” too fast.
Anyway, what is missing in my post is:
“It won’t end pretty.”
Militant Conservative commented:
Gee, I know a democrat here in Home Depots home state that works at Home Depot. Think this will cheer him up? LOL
He’s bright but not well informed. powder is dry
gus commented:
At some point the shooting starts.
Illinois Patriot commented:
Andreas K; Your comment evoked quite a visual. I saw THe Annointed One, wailing, sitting on a marble floor, wearing only a diaper (ah those glistening pecs…..) with a binkie in his mouth bearing the “O” logo while holding a S&W. Caption below “MaMa!!! Fox News touched me!!!”
Joanne commented:
Okay, when do people start realizing the plain truth – Obama is trying to destroy the U.S.’s economy. Every socialist, who practices socialism, destroys the economy of the country. No one needs a high IQ to be able to figure this out, so thinking Obama does not know that he is destroying the economy and thinks he is making an effort, however economically unsound, to improve the economy will, in the interim, give him licence to do the same.
Chirs commented:
Looks as if the left has found another retail giant to hate besides Walmart.
big L commented:
Obama is doing all these thing deliberately.He really is the dismantler -in-chief.He has an unbelievably successful effort. His effort was to bring down the middle class and to sink business,finance, and set up huge controls on the population.
We will never be rid of Finra or ObamaNoCare. The GOP will never repeal it. Forget it.weare stuck and that iis why the donks celebrated.Because you can not unwind a govt program.
But as far as Obama- better look up Wikipedia “Barack Obama” Click on “Communist Party”Your jaw will drop.
nfwvkibq2tb3h commented:
The problem is that both corporations and the Government are guilty of :
“short-changing workers, fleecing customers, cheating borrowers, and generally “driving the economy into a ditch,” to borrow your oft-repeated phrase.”
It’s up to voters to both keep the government under control and make sure the government keeps corporations under control.
Home Depot does not have clean hands:
http://consumerist.com/2010/05/home-depot-called-arrogant-must-actually-pay-inventor-for-invention.html
http://consumerist.com/2010/04/home-depot-convinced-me-to-take-my-business-elsewhere.html
http://consumerist.com/2009/10/home-depot-drives-away-another-customer-forever.html
Elmo commented:
Taqiyyotomist
October 16th, 2010 | 9:32 am | #8
“Work accidents” among the insect horde, quite common [quite (whatever the cause?)]. Kinda like someone on oxygen, puffin a ciggie (just happened again the other day/matter’a fact).
Though I’ll credit Moe’s Sawed, for a bump in the road, on the IslamoCommieHighway … now and again
[Kin ya say Bull's gun? ... http://mypage.direct.ca/l/lowery/bulgun1.htm ]
Chisum commented:
From Doug Ross:
http://directorblue.blogspot.com/2010/10/4-most-shocking-photos-stolen-from.html
nfwvkibq2tb3h commented:
Anyone who ever worked in retail knows that profits are based on duping customers to buy things they don’t need and didn’t know they wanted.
Who hasn’t been cheated by the plumber or electrician or the garage mechanic?
I agree corporations create jobs and that we need pro-business policies to encourage the economic growth however that doesn’t mean that entrepreneurs aren’t crooks (just like politicians) and it doesn’t mean they should be allowed to continue “short-changing workers, fleecing customers, cheating borrowers” and polluting the environment with impunity.
patman commented:
The comments on Politico seem to mostly be from conservatives, whereas Gateway is plagued with libtards today.
I wore my “Obama Sucks” shirt to Home Depot a while back and got smiles and “hell yeah”.
Me thinks I’ll wear that shirt again today.
Sasja commented:
nfw..whatever#19. Pathetic loser.
squeaky commented:
from hot air – a stroll down memory lane. never out of date given the finger pointing of today.
http://hotair.com/archives/2008/10/12/the-quotes-that-explain-the-entire-financial-meltdown/
locomotivebreath1901 commented:
A lecture is only effective if the audience is willing to listen.
Obama’s malfeasance is deliberate.
Harrison commented:
Home Depot has the customer service of the Post Office. I go to Lowe’s.
ogee commented:
Off to Home Depot now. Gotta get Vulcan and finish projects before sun goes away. Instead of fresh air I get to breathe chemtrails with their daily spraying.
HD is hiring now with no thanks to the commie usurper.
Lowes has worse cust service than HD and less choices. Depends on the day of the week.
regularguy commented:
My question to you was why, during a time when investment and dynamism are so critical to our country, was it necessary to vilify the very people who deliver that growth? Because Obama is an angel of economic death, that’s why. Debating leftists is futile, only their removal from any power is acceptable.
Ginger commented:
I have had these thoughts that the reason why the muslims are hell bent on building as fast as they can and as many as they can of their mosque is…. I think they are hiding terrorist cousins in the mosque, and to hide their weapons! I have this feeling they are digging tunnels to hide the weapons too! Barry has plans doesn’t he? I mean why hasn’t he sealed the boarders? Why does he put up signs for us Americans to stay out instead of the Mexicans. Also I have heard that a lot of Saloma’s, etc have been caught crossing our boarder.
Sasja commented:
I visited Home Depot yesterday and picked up the best paint bar none. Behr. We do business with them exclusively and have never had a problem with customer service. I tried Lowe’s once. Prefer products from HD. And I have never seen any day laborers, Mexican or not at our store.
ogee commented:
except I love the Olympic transparent deck stain that Lowe’s carries.
Chisum commented:
Because socialism works everywhere it has been tried, right?
http://hotair.com/archives/2010/10/16/venture-capital-moving-to-the-sidelines/
Militant Conservative commented:
nfwvkibq2tb3h
October 16th, 2010 | 10:22 am | #19
Dumbasses like yourself. That is why Home Depot and Lowes are so successfull. True Americans are rugged individuals that can do it themselves. Your the terd that calles me to bail your sorry butt out because you know books, I know what works. That the difference between liberalism and conservatism. Conservatism works, liberalism is a dependant state of whaaaaaaa. powder is dry.
jimg commented:
“Who hasn’t been cheated by the plumber or electrician or the garage mechanic?” – leftist tool who can’t figure out a real user name.
Um, me? But I’m sure that’s because I’m lucky. Or something.
I mean, if I didn’t have some government regulation, rule or lackey telling me the whatfors, I’d just be stuck, sitting here sucking my thumb because I was one of those ‘dupes’ that determine a business’s profit margin.
Is that about right?
jimg commented:
“except I love the Olympic transparent deck stain that Lowe’s carries.”
Hear, hear.
I tried Behr for our deck. It’s a large deck that wraps around the house, and we basically live in a rain forest. It flat-out didn’t work. Moss. Mold. Mildew. Every year.
Switched to Olympic eight-10 years ago. Never looked back. Provides a better base, resists moss, mold and mildew build-up and better protection on the sun side of the house.
Your mileage may vary, but for rainy climates I’d go with Olympic.
aprilnovember811 commented:
I’d be afraid to put any money where these bank robbers, like Obama are parading around as legitimate leaders. They might steal it! Put it where these criminals can’t touch it.
Scott Wiggins commented:
Haha…So once again Obama reveals that he thinks Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi can invest money smarter than the hard working Americans who have to produce profits from hard work and sweat…The guy is hopeless.
Scott Wiggins commented:
Leftist fools buying votes with dollars stolen from hardworking Americans…The real democratic party platform has been revealed for the world to see…Hey Obama-mao, we have all seen what socialism did to Russia, China, Cuba, Vietnam, and so many other countries…The Soviets are but an historical footnote now. China has adopted capitalism in order to feed their 1.3 billion people and unleashed an econonic tsunami. Castro’s cuba is stuck in a 1950s timewarp. Vietnam is following in China’s footsteps. As well, all of these nations saw the extermination of millions in order to install their socialists kingdoms…It’s over Obama, the jury is in. You have adopted a bunch of historical failures as a means of propping up your facade of intelligence. If you had ever studied history instead of spending your time race-baiting and sucking on bongs you might have been prepared to be an American President. Now, you are merely the tired embodiment of a slogan, “hope and change.”
Steve commented:
Was that real, Obama and his pals trying to get the jaloppy back on the road, and the slurpee and stuff? I read it, thought it was a stitch up, even Barry couldn’t be quite this much of a jackass.
/facepalm
Practical Jane commented:
It’s nice to see the libtards dropping by. Not only is it indicitive of Gateway’s influence, but it serves as a nice contrast.
It’s very easy to see how sane you are when there’s a crazy person talking to you!
So, thank you to all the Huffies for your crazy posts. You make me laugh out loud!
AuntieMadder commented:
Illinois Patriot
October 16th, 2010 | 9:59 am | #12
Whadya’ go and do that for? I think I’m going to be sick now.
thetownecrier commented:
It is clear, the community organizer with his supposed executive experience at ACORN and the chair of Bill Ayer’s Chicago Annenberg Challenge foundation, does not even approximate the real world and tangible results of the Home Depot’s Ken Langone, Bernie Marcus, Arthur Blank, and Pat Farrah. Someone who can put their own money where there mouth is, has something indeed relevant to say. Home Depot has delivered. Obama has yet to make something out of nothing, like HD already did. His leadership and legislation continue to be failures.
In case anyone forgot.
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/rich-noyes/2008/09/23/barack-obama-bill-ayers-stanley-kurtz-makes-connection#ixzz12Z6J30Lp
jax commented:
I shop at HD for good product, service, and a discount for Veterans. (-: