Home Depot Co-Founder Tells Democrats to Use Your Stupid Brains: You Dont Have Any Brains!

[UpInArms]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by muriel_volestrangler (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Mediaite

Following the passage of the GOP tax reform bill, a number of corporations have announced bonuses and wage increases for its employees, citing the tax cuts as the main reason. One company that handed out one-time bonuses was Home Depot. And the co-founder had some strong words for Democrats who have criticized these bonuses as “crumbs” and dismissed them as PR moves.

Appearing on Fox News Saturday, Bernie Marcus took aim at Democratic leaders, telling host Neil Cavuto that derisive comments about the bonuses will come back to haunt Democrats as it paints them as elitist.

“These are things that the [Nancy] Pelosi and [Chuck] Schumer group don’t have a clue about. It’s why they lost the election, it’s as simple as that,” Marcus said. “[Hillary] Clinton never knew about the real people out there. That’s why they lost the election, and that’s why they’re going to lose the next election for the same reason.”

Towards the end of the interview, Marcus then straight up said Democrats were brainless:

“You’ve got to use your brains! Democrats, use your stupid brains. You don’t have any brains!”

Read more: https://www.mediaite.com/tv/home-depot-co-founder-tells-democrats-to-use-your-stupid-brains-you-dont-have-any-brains/

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I know a place where my dollars won’t go ....

[Turbineguy]

1. Maybe Home Depot

will have to issue a rebuttal.

[djg21]

35. Screw a rebuttal.

Let your dollars talk. There are Lowe’s stores virtually everywhere that HD does business. Don’t patronize HD. Go to Lowe’s, or better yet, find a local hardware store.

[True Blue American]

48. Lowes

is right across the street. When I see a sale item from HD I drive right across the highway to Lowe’s. They will have the same thing cheaper, not on sale.

I always buy from Lowe’s.

Now we have Menards in competition.

The owner of HD had a feud with Lowe’s, vowing to put a store across the street from every Lowe’s

But this one will hurt him. Only his employees will appreciate the bonus,done mostly for show. He just killed his bonus show.

[Soxfan58]

53. I have been driving a extra 20 miles

To go to a Lowes for years. HD treats weekend handy persons like shit. While they kiss the asses of contractors. Lowes has alway been helpful even when your buying a $2 bag of nails.

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. Bye, HD. You lost me with that one.

You're the one with no brains, Bernie.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

17. He was a founder, he is no longer affiliated with Home Depot.

He retired in 2002.

[rpannier]

20. Bet he owns stock nt

[Dr Hobbitstein]

32. So do a lot of people. It's a publicly traded company. Nt

[True Blue American]

49. But he is the one

Who vowed to put stores right across the street from every Lowe’s. He also allowed illegals to gather in his parking lots to pick up day jobs. So he is hypocrite,too. Wonder how many worked in his stores?

https://www.yelp.com/topic/san-diego-has-anyone-picked-up-workers-outside-of-home-depot

https://www.dailynews.com/2017/02/18/ice-raids-have-day-laborers-on-edge-across-southern-california/

[olddad56]

47. Fuck him and fuck Home Depot, support your local mom and pop hardware stores or shop at Lowe's.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

61. Lowes is owned by RW assholes as well.

I, unfortunately, have no mom and pops anymore. It’s Lowes, Home Depot, a tiny True Value, and an even smaller Ace Hardware.

[unblock]

3. I guess he means democrats would be stupid to shop at home despot.

[rurallib]

4. hard to avoid Home Depot and Menard's but I do what I can

[still_one]

5. It sure is. Lowes is also run by Right Wingers

[aggiesal]

7. Lowe's is run by RW's? ...

Do you have a link for that?

Thanks

[still_one]

22. Based on their contributions. 13% to Democrats, 87% to republicans

https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.php?strID=C00251751

[pimpbot]

15. You can at least cut into their bottom line with free online coupons

https://slickdeals.net/f/9549456-lowe-s-10-15-50-off-online-coupons-sharing-only-no-off-topic

People figured out their coupon code logic, and you can make unlimited coupons. Spread it far and wide. I've saved 1000s on projects.

Split up orders so that you maximize savings. IE, if you need $150 worth of stuff, make one order $100, another $50.

[7962]

55. I'll damn sure try this out! Thanks. nt

[Crowman2009]

25. How about Ace Hardware?

The best thing about Ace stores is that they're not the size of a friggin' aircraft hangar.

[YOHABLO]

33. Good point. After leaving HD I've feel like I just ran the Boston Marathon. Maybe I'm getting old?

[Wuddles440]

63. Unfortunately....

based on their history of political donations Ace Hardware primarily supports the CONS. However, I don't recall any of their officers making partisan public statements. I personally like True Value stores, but they're even more skewed to the dark side. In this industry, it's really just about weighing and patronizing the lesser of evils.

[Mr.Bill]

6. Home Depot would not exist today

if it were not for the prosperity of the Clinton and Obama years.

I wonder if he knows that the new tax bill eliminates the write off for interest on Home Equity loans, which are a major source of the money spent in his stores for home improvement projects.

[maxrandb]

8. Not one damn dime from me will be spent at home Depot

[SunSeeker]

9. Democrats have brains, that's why we don't fall for Home Depot's phoney stunt.

The GOP gave a permanent tax cut from 35% to 21% for corporations, saving Home Depot hundreds of millions of dollars per year, yet Home Depot only gave a one-time $200 "bonus," to its hourly employees instead of a permanent RAISE.


Go fuck yourself, Bernie Marcus.

[SergeStorms]

24. But WE'RE the stupid ones.....

right? The brain-dead morons on the right would never figure out how much these thieves are getting away with. I'm pissed off that no one on the panel pointed this out to the P.O.S.

[Cha]

45. Mrs Betty Bowers Tweets on bernie..

Link to tweet

[SunSeeker]

46. LOL Great tweet.

[Judi Lynn]

10. What dipstick Bernie Marcus said itself is stupid. Looks as if he's been using his stupid brain! n/t

I would imagine after he made that pronouncement he farted, then drooled.

[Hortensis]

52. I'm constantly amazed at how stupid people with

power can be, but I shouldn't be. Personality trumping intelligence, so that this part of him is at the same level as as others of his type no matter their backgrounds.

[Mc Mike]

11. Happy to boycott his business. rec, nt.

[Stuart G]

12. Well, Well, Well..Now who's got "stupid brains"? Home Depot just lost 10 percent of sales.

One comment on national television....pretty stupid..Wait?
There is competition to this jerk, Lowes, Menards, Ace,...... Local Hardware Store..yes they exist...

If this gets around, perhaps more than 10 percent.

[Zorro]

13. Time to do a Papa John's on Home Depot

Dumbass comments on national tv have consequences, Bernie.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

18. He hasn't been affiliated with Home Depot since 2002. nt

[Smilo]

14. Use our brains

oh sweetie, we do use our brains and that is why the gop haven't got anything on us except name calling and being such hypocritical liars.

Doesn't look like he is still affiliated with HomeDepot - here is his bio on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Marcus

OpenSecrets.org has some useful info: https://www.opensecrets.org/overview/topindivs.php

[Cryptoad]

16. Been using my brain for years,,,,,,,,

Me dont spend any money with Homedepot, period!!!!!!

[rickyhall]

19. Who Lost

We Democrats did not lose the 2016 election. Again it was stolen from us: Voter ID, gerrymandering, 35 year character assassination of Senator Clinton, tossed ballots, bad machines, propaganda, Russians, etc., etc., etc.

[Akoto]

21. My brother worked at HD for a while when he was younger. A 'real person' treated like crap. n/t

[not fooled]

23. Translation:

He's saying the peasantry who got the crumbs and are happy with them are never going to miss Social Security and Medicare down the line. And all the other middle- and working-class programs and earned benefits that the kook brothers want to take away.

Typical feudal lord mindset.

[zaj]

26. Here's a petition...

https://www.change.org/p/americans-with-brains-use-your-brain-before-shopping-at-home-depot

[Docreed2003]

27. Guess Ive been using my liberal brain rightly

And shopping at the Lowes instead of HD!

[C_U_L8R]

28. Never again.

I'm voting with my wallet... and Republican creeps like this can go suck it.

[barbtries]

29. no more home depot.

asshole

[Honeycombe8]

30. Horrible person. He's stupid to get political when he depends on Dems as customers.nt

[applegrove]

31. I never go to Home Depot. Canada has great hardware stores that

are more inclusive. And better.

[Lithos]

34. The other major co-founder, Arthur Blank, gave to Obama in 2008

He also donated at least twice to Hillary's campaign in 2016. Over 70% of his political contributions have been to Democrats. Arthur has also commented on Trump's anti-semitism last year. He's just quieter than Bernie who likes spending time on talk shows.

Home Depot as a corporation was one of those who spoke out very vocally against the Bathroom Bill in Georgia and is a very strong supporter of LGBT rights in it's corporate policies.

Not excusing Bernie's views, just pointing out that Corporations are typically more than just an individual.

L-

[deurbano]

37. Thanks for that insight.

[DallasNE]

36. He's Upset Some People (Democrats) Don't Drink The Koolaid

Take the $1,000 bonus. In the case of Walmart, you have to have worked there for 20 years to receive the full $1,000. The average employee will receive $190.00 - still better than nothing. A bonus is for one year while the tax cuts are permanent. Increasing the base salary by $1,000 permanently would be the equivalent. The States that have increased their minimum wage have done far more for the workers than these splashy bonuses that don't amount to much upon examination.

[True Blue American]

50. Now that will be a teaching lesson!

Using your brain.

[iluvtennis]

39. Off to Lowes I go. Done with Home Depot.

[liberalmike27]

40. Here's The Thing

Companies like HD and Walmart and a few others are making this effort to give bonuses to try to "connect" it to the tax cuts. And were it true they were suffering losses or breaking even before, there would be some truth.

But these companies were already wildly profitable--they could have and should have raised wages and paid bonuses the whole time, so the contention that the tax cut had anything to do with it other than this kabuki theater they're playing is ridiculous.

Far as Democrats go, they need to do better, they need to find Jude Winneski's Democratic Santa, because the Republican Santa just gave a HUGE tax cut to their constituents, you know billionaires and millionaires. It's time to think big, like Universal Incomes, infrastructure, fifteen bucks an hour.

[C Moon]

41. He's a CEO? He sounds like a middle school student.

It's funny watching these CEO's bury themselves with their idiocy.

[harun]

59. Certainly American CEO Material (no doubt)

* Throws tantrums (check)
* Calls people they don't agree with names (check)
* Opposes the Employee Free Choice Act (check)
* Worships capitalism like it is a God (check)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Marcus#Career

[elmac]

42. remember HD was Bush jr fav company

was going to turn the whole economy around

[Bigredhunk]

43. -

HD - owner's a douche
LOWE'S - Local location built with non-union labor (our family had union laborers when it was built)
MENARDS - owner's a douche - contributes to Walker in WI and such

I guess that leaves little joints like ACE HARDWARE. I know one of the local owners is a douche too though.

[SeattleVet]

44. I used my stupid brain today...

I needed 2 boxes of screws, so I went to the Lowes a few blocks from the local Home Depot and used my veterans's 10% discount.

Thanks for letting us know (once again) where your company stands, Mr. Marcus!

[MFM008]

51. Thanks for going to Lowes

My son is freight manager at our Lowes, has worked there since 2003 right out of High School.

[7962]

54. He's right. When DWS stands says 1,000.00 "doesnt go very far for anyone", that proves his point.

1,000 is a LOT of money to a LOT of people. Many here on DU have posted about their struggles keeping up with bills.
When the average worker hears comments like hers, they DO think it sounds elitist.

[JustAnotherGen]

56. Seriously

We've been restoring a historic home for 4 years.

I intend to make copies of every single receipt and start sending them out to him on Social Media.

Let's be clear - it started with a full kitchen remodel /update from the 1950's and two full and two half baths. Even taking away 90% of the labor and doing it ourselves -

Let me be smart and start getting everything from Lowe's, Aaron's, and our local paint dealer. Fuck That guy.

[bucolic_frolic]

57. Yup

was going to Home Depot this week. Not anymore. Off to my local hardware, and Lowes if need be.

[Farmer-Rick]

58. I'll never shop at Home Depot ever again

Do you want to insult people and play politics then don't run a retail store. Lowe's is my go to now. And as a Farmer, I do a lot of hardware business.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

62. He doesnt run Home Depot.

He has not been affiliated with them since 2002.

[Javaman]

60. it took this to have them give out bonuses?

fuck this moron.

why didn't he do it in the past? oh wait, because he didn't want to dip into his own enormous profits to help his own fucking employees.

this is the worst kind of despicable behavior.

[Orsino]

64. Sounds like Baby needs his tax cut changed. n/t

[muriel_volestrangler]

65. Locking - the hosts don't think the opinion of a retired businessman is important news

of national interest, so this is not suitable for "Latest Breaking News". Please repost in GD, or join the existing thread on this there: https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=10153574