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Does this constitute extortion:

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hedgehog Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-25-07 09:46 PM
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Does this constitute extortion:
Edited on Sun Nov-25-07 09:47 PM by hedgehog
"When Alonzo comes through the door, you want to give to him," said Gerardo J. Reyna, Cantu's brother-in-law. Reyna owns McAllen Carpet & Interiors, a company that provides close to 90 percent of the floor coverings in Cantu-built homes and offices. "The last thing you want to do is get on Alonzo's bad side," he said with a smile. Reyna donated $1,000 to Clinton. "

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/24/AR2007112401359.html?hpid=topnews



It would seem to me that if I am dependent on someone for my livlelihood and that someone leans on me for a political donation, that's pretty darn close to extorotion. It's like when the boss makes you buy cookies from his daughter's scout troop, but a lot more serious.

Babylonsister posted this article earlier today, but the thread degenerated into a shouting match. I think this illustrates why bundling has to go.
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silverweb Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-25-07 10:05 PM
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1. Sure feels like it.
It reminds me of when I was in a new job for a real estate/construction firm years ago during a local election cycle. The owner of the business was organizing all of the office staff to telephone both clients and vendors during work hours, pushing his favorite candidate.

When I balked, saying I didn't know the candidate and wasn't sure I supported him, I was told, "He's good for the company, so he's good for you. We'd really hate to lose you over this."

The message was not lost on me. Fortunately, since I "choke up" when forced to lie and literally can't speak, I was put to work on mailers instead of telephoning.

I was too young and naive to realize how blatantly illegal this coercion was, but I did started looking and found a new job in short order.

Anyway, the "suggestions" from Cantu about donating to "his" candidate sound all too familiar. It sure would feel like "protection money" to me.

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