Diebold bars executives from political donations

[seemslikeadream]

Fri Jun 4, 2004 06:51 PM ET
SAN FRANCISCO, June 4 (Reuters) - Diebold Inc. DBD.N said on Friday that top executives of the electronic voting systems maker would be barred from making political contributions under a new policy approved by its board.
North Canton, Ohio-based Diebold, best known for its automated teller machines, said in a statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that the new policy would also extend to executives responsible for oversight of the company's voting systems business and its employees.



Walden O'Dell, Diebold's chairman and chief executive, last year pledged in a Republican fund-raising letter to help deliver Ohio's electoral votes to President Bush. That drew criticism from Democrats and entered into public hearings this year in California about allowing Diebold's voting machines to be used in state elections.

California Secretary of State Kevin Shelley in April said he would decertify a Diebold electronic voting system from use in the state's November election after finding the company had deceived the state with aggressive marketing that led to the installation of its touch-screen systems, which had not been tested or approved nationally or in California.


more
http://www.reuters.com/financeQuoteCompanyNewsArticle.jhtml?duid=MTFH84892_2004-06-04_22-51-32_N04582406_NEWSML&ric=Diebold+bars+executives+from+political+donations

[2Design]

1. interesting ...it isn't the donations we are worried about

it is the statement by diebold that they would do everything they could to get bush the votes in Ohio.....

and their programmers....and hackers.....and any number of things that can and do go wrong with computers,,,,

[Longhorn79]

4. I used to live in that area for 17 years

and I don't think we prefer Cantonites restricted from donating. A lot more democrats are up there than republicans.

[salin]

10. Why the $ ruling is significant (news wise)

demonstrates that O'Dell's comments (to which you refer) combined with the poor product/nontested/nonverifiable... have led to a public consuming climate (at least in some states) to which the appearance of bias is very troubling and could possibly prevent them from expanding their business.

In the current political climate - executives don't seem to care about the appearance of conflict - regardless of how closely they deal with particular politicians on business related issues.

For quite a while - it appeared, even with O'Dell's statements, that beyond the activist community - it wouldn't effect much of anything.

The dedicated activist community - and its work with the press and on a grass roots levels with election officials - the tide has turned. So even the donating of dollars $$$ has the potential to taint the company. That is a BIG turn from the atmosphere 2 years ago.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

2. So who needs contributions

when they can assure the success of the party of their choice without money?

[codegreen]

3. too little, too late

[ps1074]

9. my thoughts exactly

eom

[Eric J in MN]

5. Too late to fool us.

Too late to fool us.

We know they're determined to help Republican poltiicians.

[LiberalBushFan]

6. clever...

now we won't be able to say that 100% of the executives donated to Bush, which would have been the case.

[AP]

7. The programmers will be invited to give at the office...through code.

[Divernan]

8. You KNOW they've each already given their $2,000 limit for the year,

anyway, don't you! And if not, they can just have their wives and in-laws donate. Wink, wink; nod,nod and Bob's your uncle!

[phoebe]

11. don't forget O'Dell held a private fundraiser which Cheney attended

and W. R. Timken, Diebold board member and Republican "Pioneer" gave Bush a tour of the Diebold facilities. O'Dell has also been to the Crawford "ranch"..

[LeftHander]

12. After they already maxed out bush donations....

How cheesy....