There’s been plenty of news lately about big companies urging their employees to vote in the 2012 presidential election and, in some cases, nudging those employees to vote for the GOP ticket. Executives at Westgate Resorts, ASG Software Solutions, and a handful of other businesses have even warned that an Obama vote could lead to layoffs. Romney himself, as In These Times reported, told business owners during a June conference call to “make it very clear to your employees what you believe is in the best interest of your enterprise and therefore their job.”
Another CEO has joined the pro-Romney push. Last week, Brooks Smith, the CEO of Interactive Communications (also known as Incomm), the country’s leading purveyor of prepaid gift cards and debit cards, forwarded a Romney campaign fundraising email to all of his employees. The email, ostensibly written by Romney, slams President Obama for irresponsibly running up the nation’s debt and deficits. “We need to get serious about this before it’s too late,” the email says. “My plan for deficit reduction cuts and caps federal spending, balances the budget, and reduces our nation’s debt—to put America on a path to prosperity.”
A former Incomm employee forwarded Smith’s message to Mother Jones, after receiving it from a current employee.
Incomm’s website says it did nearly $10 billion in sales in 2009, and has one billion customers each week. Incomm’s customers include Walmart, Best Buy, Target, and 7-Eleven.
Asked about the Romney email Smith circulated to his employees, an Incomm spokeswoman wrote in a statement that the CEO “neither shared any personal views nor suggested the employees take any specific action.” She went on: “However, Mr. Smith feels the information he shares is important information for individuals to have when choosing their candidates. Of course, whom they vote for is their decision alone.”
Here’s the email from Smith:
