CEO who took millions in stimulus tells workers to vote against Obama because big government

Another boss weighs in telling his workers to vote for Mitt Romney, and if this one takes it easier on the intimidation than many of his plutocratic brethren, he makes up for it with an extra helping of hypocrisy. Jack DeWitt, president of Michigan's Request Foods, included in his company's newsletter a message assailing President Barack Obama for wanting "a bigger government," including "more regulations and rules which makes it difficult to start and grow business (such as Request Foods)." One little thing:

Request Foods obtained $5.5 million under a federal grant program that Obama's stimulus bill increased by $1 billion. Last year, the company greatly expanded its footprint in Holland, Mich., where it used the money for a water treatment plant to serve a new facility.

The company has also seen a strong increase in sales during the Obama administration. [...]

With the help from taxpayer money, Request was able to add at least 250 jobs.

While DeWitt didn't include the threat to his employees' jobs that seems to be de rigeur these days, a logistics coordinator at the company told the Huffington Post that "All the employees fall in line. They support our business policies." (Small conflict there: Request's business policies led to 250 people being hired thanks in large part to the stimulus. It's the company's political message that's at issue here, telling workers to vote against the president who made their jobs possible.)

Without a cadre of bosses leaning on their workers to vote for Barack Obama, reaching Democratic voters is especially important. Sign up to help get Democratic voters to the polls in swing states with our partners at Workers' Voice.