Call For ABC News To Drop Wal-Mart As "Only In America" Sponsor

Wal-Mart is a sponsor of Good Morning America's 'Only in America' series, a series that features the patriotic and brave stories of so many Americans who make this nation better and stronger. With this sponsorship, ABC News provides Wal-Mart both a format and visual framing
to perpetuate a long-term myth-that Wal-Mart possesses a unique American patriotism manifested in practices that promote American values, respect workers, and privilege American-made products. There could be no greater distance between 'Only in America' and the reality
behind Wal-Mart's image machinery.

Wal-Mart's use of its 'Only in America' sponsorship is
simply another cynical attempt to deceive customers
about Wal-Mart's responsibility for sending more jobs
overseas than any other American corporation and
lowering U.S. wages.

* 70% of Wal-Mart items are made overseas, often in
Third World sweatshops. (China Inc., Ted Fishman,
2/12/05)

* More than 80% of the 6,000 factories in Wal-Mart's
database of suppliers are in China. (Washington
Post, 2/8/04)

* If Wal-Mart were an individual economy, it would
rank as China's eighth largest trading partner.
(China Business Daily, 11/29/04)

* As documented by the PBS report on Wal-Mart, 'only
after Wal-Mart's 'Buy American' ad campaign was in
full swing did the company become the country's
largest importer of Chinese goods in any industry.'
(PBS Frontline, Is Wal-Mart Good for America)

These facts, among others, raise damning evidence
regarding the credibility of Wal-Mart sponsoring ABC's
'Only in America' series. More troubling is Wal-Mart's
long history of business practices that have cost so
many Americans their jobs and their businesses, while
undermining the uniquely American spirit embraced by the
Good Morning America series.

Call on ABC News President David Westin to drop Wal-Mart
immediately as a sponsor of this segment, and to take
down the company's internet ads which further attempt to
connect Wal-Mart with the 'Only in America' slogan.

SIGN THIS PETITION NOW: CALL FOR ABC NEWS TO HAULT WAL-
MART AS THE SPONSOR OF THEIR 'ONLY IN AMERICA' SERIES!

[To sign the Union Voice petition on Wal-Mart, go to
http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/abcnews
-- ps moderator]