Boycott General Electric

Whereas, the mutually beneficial relationship between President Barack Obama and General Electric is not just about shared ideology, but, increasingly, it is being revealed about how one of the largest corporations in the world may have bought the Presidency of the United States.

Whereas, CEO Jeffrey Immelt decided in 2008 to give an all out effort for Barack Obama by doubling the millions contributed to the Democratic Party making General Electric the number one lobbying company. In the 4th quarter of 2008 as the company’s stock fell 30%, GE spent $4.26 million on lobbying - that’s $46,304 each day, including weekends, Thanksgiving and Christmas. In 2008, the company spent a grand total of $18.66 million on lobbying.

Whereas, when General Electric acquired NBC they promised as a condition to the acquisition to keep NBC autonomous from the parent company and now literally 24 hours a day MSNBC commentators unabashedly and self admittedly promote - without attribution - the Obama agenda and GE’s ‘green’ business goals.

Whereas, recently the New York Post reported that CEO Jeffrey Immelt and NBC Universal President Jeff Zucker were critical of CNBC commentator, Rick Santelli, for Obama bashing, which many have said confirms the official corporate policy of unwavering Presidential support.

Whereas, the possibility that GE is using its news division to influence public opinion to favor Obama in the hope of gaining government contracts is a major breach of journalistic ethics.

Whereas, the troubled financial company GE Capital promptly received a bailout guarantee of $139 billion shortly after the election of Barack Obama.

Whereas, the Obama administration is planning to put in place regulations for new Cap and Trade laws regarding carbon emissions and GE’s investment in ‘green’ products such as wind turbines would benefit from this cap-and-trade legislation, potentially bringing in revenues approaching $700 billion. Many analysts say that General Electric must get these contracts to survive.

Whereas, Immelt was also named to Obama’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board in February, despite GE’s poor performance, prompting many to question the appointment. Immelt was ranked as one of the Five Worst Non-Financial-Crisis-Related CEOs of 2008, by the FEAOX in December 2008.

Whereas, more evidence of a possible "quid pro quo" was Obama's stimulus package which included $11 billion for a "smart grid" technology to be built into our national electrical power grid system. Estimates are that, ultimately, a "smart grid" for the entire country could cost, at the very least, a half trillion dollars and GE is the company that is the primary leader in such a technology…

Whereas, GE sold infrastructure equipment to Iran, a country that is a recognized state sponsor of terror and was supplying Iraqi insurgents with platter charge improvisational explosive devices, also known as Explosively Formed Penetrators, that were maiming and killing American soldiers.

Whereas, Immelt defended his business dealings with Iran by saying “The issue of whether to conduct business in certain countries is complex; we must take into account not only the views of the U.S. Government but all relevant stakeholders.”

Whereas, General Electric, as a corporation, appears to be actively involved in influencing the Obama administration for its own benefit.