We Will Not Be Deterred Says the Chamber of Commerce





We Will Not Be Deterred Says the Chamber of Commerce

Posted: 12 Oct 2010 02:27 PM PDT

by Pat Cleary

Two bits of bad news for the crowd on the left who started this whole smear campaign against the Chamber. First, as Kevin Ganster pointed out below, it backfired. And second, their obvious goal of getting the Chamber to back down in the final few weeks of the election season isn’t working.

In a letter to the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and members, Chamber President Tom Donohue today set the record straight and vowed to fight on:

“Let me be clear,” Donohue said unequivocally, ” The Chamber does not use any foreign money to fund voter education activities–period. We have strict financial controls in place to ensure this. The funds we receive from American Chambers of Commerce abroad, bilateral business councils, and non-U.S. based global companies represent a small fraction of our more than $200 million annual revenues. Under our accounting system, these revenues are never used to support any political activities. We are in full compliance with all laws and regulations.”

From there, he pivots to the impetus behind the attacks:

“It’s sad to watch the White House stoop to these depths to try to salvage an election. That’s clearly what this is all about. The administration and its Congressional allies are desperately trying to change the subject away from our stalled economy and nearly double-digit unemployment. They hope that by demonizing those who oppose their failed policies, they can fire up their dispirited and disappointed base and silence our voice.”

And then – vintage Donohue – he drops the hammer:

“It won’t work,” he says, “Nor will the Chamber be silenced. In fact, for the next three weeks leading up to Election Day you will see us ramp up efforts to educate voters about the positions of candidates of both parties who are committed to free enterprise and economic growth.” (Emphasis his)

So lest there be any doubt on the left that maybe somehow they succeeded in intimidating the Chamber to the sidelines, it didn’t work.

In closing, Donohue reminds everyone of why the Chamber is in this fight in the first place, namely jobs and free enterprise. Anybody remember those?



“I want to assure all Chamber members that we will remain totally focused on promoting policies that can fix the American economy and create jobs. The Chamber has a 100-year track record of defending business and supporting free enterprise, and there is nothing secret about who we are and what we stand for. We will not be deterred from full and vigorous participation in the political process.”