Reply #5: I wrote to Heinz Corp about this crap...

[Richardo]

...pointing out to them that they are spending considerable time and money debunking any connection between the Kerrys and Heinz Corp and the GOP is adversely affecting the management, employees and stockholders of Heinz with these sophomoric hijinx.

Got a VERY tepid response - essentially "thanks for your support".

If anyone out there IS a Heinz stockholder, you might want to chime in on this.

My email:

I listened with great interest to a feature on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" program on Monday, August 9, 2004 that prominently mentioned a Heinz product.

The story described the efforts of the President Bush's campaign team to ensure that each stop goes perfectly, from hand-picking the audience to having them provide written statements of support ("loyalty oaths").

One illustration of this total event control stuck out. The story made a pointed reference to the fact that the labels of Heinz ketchup bottles at these luncheons are covered over by a Bush/Cheney sticker, (apparently to minimize confusion among the partisans and to distance the Bush campaign from any connection with Kerry and therefore H.J. Heinz.)

H. J. Heinz has devoted considerable time and expense to explaining that neither John Kerry nor Theresa Heinz Kerry has any part in the management or operations of the company – in fact, that Theresa Heinz Kerry’s stock holdings amount to 4% ownership of the company. The Bush/Cheney team, by their actions at these fund-raising events, is completely disregarding these facts and is in fact furthering the efforts of the rumor-mongers and muckrakers to distort the relationship between Heinz and the Kerrys.

I bring this to your attention because the management, employees and stockholders of H.J. Heinz, who are merely trying to make a living selling their products to ALL Americans, are adversely affected by the sophomoric behavior by the Bush/Cheney team.