Former GOP Chair, TCF CEO Bill Cooper Defends Taxpayer-Subsidized "Pep Rally"?

[Avidor]

Star Tribune:

http://tinyurl.com/TCFCOOPER

As for Cooper, he makes no apologies for TCF's Colorado retreat, noting that employees need a "pep rally" in times of economic duress. The employees, who stayed at the Silvertree Hotel, got awards, watched the Super Bowl and sang karaoke. Cooper said he sang "Sweet Georgia Brown" in front of his co-workers. "In this time," he said, "it's really important to get people wowed up and enthused in terms of where we're going."

There 82 comments on that article.

Bill Cooper left Minnesota because he didn't want to pay taxes:

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/05/04/midday1

Bill Cooper gives a lot of money to right-wingers like Michele Bachmann.

Bachmann is an outspoken opponent of the TARP bailout.

[dodger501]

1. Do as I say, not as I do

I worked for TCF in the late 80s-early 90s. It almost went under during the S&L crisis but Cooper and his team were brought in from Michigan National Bank, cleaned house, and righted the ship. He deserves enormous credit for that. I had no idea he as a Republican until I saw him crossing 8th & Marquette holding a leather notebook with a 'Proud to be a Republican' car bumper sticker on it.
I had no inkling of partisan influence there until one day I made a quick visit to HR to make sure I was not violating any employee ethics rules by campaigning for Bill Clinton. The lady raised her eyebrows and said "No, but I wouldn't advertise too loudly who you are campaigning for around here."

[Lydia Leftcoast]

2. Uuuh, they had to go to COLORADO to have a pep rally?

I wish my high school had though of that. I might have actually enjoyed pep rallies if they'd held them in Colorado.

[Pierre.Suave]

3. I personally despise TCF bank

but they are the reason I have such a nice bank account now...

However I would not wish on anyone what they did to me to cause such a settlement...

[dflprincess]

4. Strangely, the only employees who seem to need the "pep rally" are managers.

I see no mention of the poorly paid tellers who work in TCF's banks and are the TCF people most the public sees needing any pick-me-ups.