David Siegel, CEO of Florida’s Westgate Resorts, to employees: “I will cut off your nose to spite Obama’s face because I got mine. If you think I’m going to dip into my massive profits to give you the earnings and benefits you deserve, think again.” At least that’s how I read it when a CEO threatens to fire employees and take away benefits if they don’t do their part to make sure a certain candidate loses the election.
From a company email, sent by Siegel to his employees:
The economy doesn’t currently pose a threat to your job. What does threaten your job however, is another 4 years of the same Presidential administration.
And:
If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, as our current President plans, I will have no choice but to reduce the size of this company. Rather than grow this company I will be forced to cut back. This means fewer jobs, less benefits and certainly less opportunity for everyone.
So despite the fact that his business is doing extraordinarily well under an Obama administration, he will be “forced” to fire some employees and cut others’ benefits should the same administration remain intact come Inauguration 2013. Regardless of the fact that the President has repeatedly said–including at the first presidential debate–he wants to lower the corporate tax rate, Siegel wants his employees to believe that “anti-business Obama” is going to sweep in with devastating tax hikes that will jeopardize their very livelihoods. Although business profits and CEO salaries are at all-time record-breaking highs, David Siegel says a tax hike of any kind will force his hand and employees will suffer the consequences.
But Siegel’s not trying to convince you to vote for one candidate or the other. No, he’d never do that.