Nancy Pelosi expresses disappointment over Tim Cook's GOP fundraiser

Posted:
in General Discussion edited June 2016
Engaging in a bit of political posturing this week, U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi offered a -- surprisingly condescending -- takedown of Apple CEO Tim Cook's fundraiser for House Speaker Paul Ryan and other Republican candidates.




Pelosi (D-CA) told SFGate there is an apparent disconnect between rhetoric and action in Silicon Valley. In particular, the Democrat can't square Cook's breakfast for GOP candidates in Menlo Park with Apple's decision to withhold support from the Republican national convention due to fundamental disagreements with presumptive presidential candidate Donald Trump.

"Poor Tim. What a nice guy he is, but somebody gave him bad advice," Pelosi said. "He probably doesn't think that much about politics."

When it comes to politics it is often difficult to distinguish where, exactly, a prominent business executive's fealty to the corporation ends and personal motivation begins, but it's worth noting that Cook hosted the fundraiser out of his own pocket. Apple as a corporation announced it would not support this year's GOP convention.

"Everybody has the right to do whatever they want to do," Pelosi said. "But when they say, 'We don't like what Trump says, but we'll donate to his party,' they're either naive or they think we're naive."

At Apple the situation is a bit more complex, however, as the company does not operate an official political action committee. Historically, on the rare occasion that a top Apple executive meets with lawmakers over issues relevant to the broader technology community, they sit down with representatives from both sides of the aisle.

In 2014, for example, Cook had a one-on-one meeting with Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), who heads the Senate Republican High-Tech Task Force. More recently, Cook was reportedly in attendance at the secretive American Enterprise Institute's annual World Forum. The rumored topic of discussion this year: how to halt Trump's presidential race.

Outside of the corporate sphere Cook has donated to the campaigns of Barack Obama, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH). This is not to mention contributions to human rights initiatives like the Robert F. Kennedy Foundation, which awarded Cook the "Ripple of Hope" award last year. He now sits on the foundation's board of directors.

After chastising his home state of Alabama for being slow to realize LGBT rights (at an induction into the Alabama Academy of Honor, no less), Cook came out as gay in 2014, both bold and highly public moves. The Human Rights Campaign later furnished him with a Visibility Award for ongoing work toward LGBT equality.

Considering the above, and despite Pelosi's remarks, it's safe to say Cook has a good grasp of American politics and its nuances. Poor Tim, indeed.
baconstang
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 68
    Gosh, she should move on.

    She's way past her sell-by date. 
    patchythepirateapple ][latifbpbrucemcdocno42icoco3netmagestevehmagman1979tallest skil
  • Reply 2 of 68
    yojimbo007yojimbo007 Posts: 1,165member
    Nancy should go F herself
    patchythepirateapple ][latifbpbrucemcdocno42SpamSandwichmaciekskontaktmagman1979doozydozentallest skil
  • Reply 3 of 68
    getvoxoagetvoxoa Posts: 84member
    Pelosi is the worst, but she is elected every two years.
    apple ][latifbpdoozydozentallest skiljbdragonradiospace
  • Reply 4 of 68
    apple ][apple ][ Posts: 9,233member
    Imagine how many outright lies, deceptions and dishonesty must have come from the mouth of such a politician over the course of their entire life?

    The total, overall figure is probably similar to our national debt, and the counter just keeps on ticking.

    I don't really believe in a heaven or hell, but if they do exist, then I'm pretty sure that I know which direction the majority of politicians are heading. :#
    latifbpbrucemcnetmagedoozydozentallest skiljbdragon
  • Reply 5 of 68
    • “Every month that we do not have an economic recovery package 500 million Americans lose their jobs.”
    • “But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it.”
    • “It’s almost a false argument to say we have a spending problem.”
    • “I believe in natural gas as a clean, cheap alternative to fossil fuels.”
    • “Unemployment benefits are creating jobs faster than practically any other program.”

    I mean, I think Nancy's 'intelligence' speaks for itself. Must be all the Botox.




    edited June 2016 latifbpdocno42SpamSandwichicoco3netmagestevehmagman1979tallest skiljbdragonradiospace
  • Reply 6 of 68
    par4par4 Posts: 6member
    another politician that started "serving the people" with small net worths and some time later are worth millions.  She has been in office for 28 years and is worth a bit less than $100 million.  Since 2009 (you know, those tough years), her wealth has grown from 24-100 Million.  Doing the Peoples Work.     Bill & Hillary have done that well too.
    docno42zeus423stevehtallest skiljbdragonradiospacecullyjony0
  • Reply 7 of 68
    bluefire1bluefire1 Posts: 1,301member
    Pelosi once said we had to pass the Affordable Care Act before we could learn what's in it. She sounds like she's related to Foster Brooks.
    The woman totally lacks credibility, which is why her opinions always begin and end in my rearview mirror. 
    SpamSandwichstevehdoozydozentallest skiljbdragonradiospace
  • Reply 8 of 68
    Mr. Cook is a businessman with access to knowledge most people never see. He reads magazines few read ( subscription is only for the very rich and influential) and his marketing, PR, and personal management service provides him information on trends worldwide. I was in political PR and marketing for some time and of these things I am absolutely sure.

    Ms. Pelosi  is making a public statement all the while knowing Tim is doing what he knows is prudent. She knows it too, privately.

    There is really nothing here to see. Just a person keeping her name in the press.
    larryalatifbpuraharastevehdoozydozenjony0
  • Reply 9 of 68
    Tim cook must be one of those log cabin Republicans. kind of like a jew joining the nazi party because he likes what they stand for in regards to business policy, but looks the other way when comes to social issues that involve discrimination again gays. As Steve Jobs told Obama Apple will never bring jobs back to the US. That's the Republican way screw the little guy.
    larryakermit4krazy
  • Reply 10 of 68
    apple ][apple ][ Posts: 9,233member
    "Poor Tim. What a nice guy he is, but somebody gave him bad advice," Pelosi said. "He probably doesn't think that much about politics."

    Wow! That's a pretty brutal and condescending personal attack!

    She's basically saying that she thinks that Tim Cook is clueless about politics and doesn't know what he's doing. The poor chap doesn't know any better.

    Donald Trump only went after Apple as a company, Pelosi is going after Tim Cook personally.


    latifbpbrucemcdocno42SpamSandwichuraharaicoco3netmagestevehmetalcasecully
  • Reply 11 of 68
    lkrupplkrupp Posts: 10,557member
    Remember, this is the same Nancy Pelosi who very recently proclaimed that the Government, not Steve Jobs, invented the iPhone. Wow, between the government (her) and Al Gore they invented the iPhone AND the Internet.
    edited June 2016 latifbpbrucemcdocno42zeus423icoco3netmagestevehmetalcasejbdragoncully
  • Reply 12 of 68
    pigybankpigybank Posts: 178member
    OMG, somebody call the WAAAAMMMMMBULANCE!  
    latifbp
  • Reply 13 of 68
    apple ][apple ][ Posts: 9,233member
    lkrupp said:
    Remember, this is the same Nancy Pelosi who very recently proclaimed that the Government, not Steve Jobs, invented the iPhone. Wow, between the government (her) and Al Gore they invented the iPhone AND the Internet.
    Wow, somehow I must've missed that gem coming from her.

    She must be related to Barack "You didn't build that!" Hussein Obama!

    Spoken like true fascists.
    docno42SpamSandwichnetmagestevehmetalcasejbdragon
  • Reply 14 of 68
    dewmedewme Posts: 5,335member
    Dear AI - why do you burden us with such sadness?

    We are deeply traumatized knowing that Nancy is disappointed. 

    At times like this we find ourselves struggling to find true meaning in own own lives - knowing that Nancy is disappointed yet we continue to lead our little lives outside of the struggles, hardships, and burdens of the 1% Lives Matter victims.

    Stay strong Apple enthusiasts, this sadness too will eventually pass.

    Try to smile Nancy.






    latifbp
  • Reply 15 of 68
    EsquireCatsEsquireCats Posts: 1,268member
    Apple aligns itself with issues which it believes are best ethically, environmentally and financially.

    If Apple chose to shun a political party then they are giving up any opportunity to influence those members - effectively forcing those members to become further entrenched with individuals/businesses that request policy that Apple does not agree with.

    It's not a scenario where shunning the GOP will suddenly make them change course, one must create change through cooperation.

    Pelosi should be familiar with this because it is precisely how the USA uses aid with governments it doesn't agree with.
    latifbpflaneur
  • Reply 16 of 68
    jfc1138jfc1138 Posts: 3,090member
    Wow, defensive much? Hey Nancy, it's politics. Grow a pair. 
    latifbp
  • Reply 17 of 68
    flaneurflaneur Posts: 4,526member
    Tim cook must be one of those log cabin Republicans. kind of like a jew joining the nazi party because he likes what they stand for in regards to business policy, but looks the other way when comes to social issues that involve discrimination again gays. As Steve Jobs told Obama Apple will never bring jobs back to the US. That's the Republican way screw the little guy.
    More likely Tim Cook is making a statement against Trump by keeping Apple away from the convention, and making a realist's gesture to Ryan that says he would appreciate a return to a sane Republican Party — for a change. 

    This might be too subtle for Pelosi, just as it's too subtle for right-wing nut jobs here. 
    edited June 2016 netmagelatifbp
  • Reply 18 of 68
    larryalarrya Posts: 606member
    It does baffle as to why Tim Cook would help to raise money for any participant in a party who's presidential candidate says Apple should be boycotted and that he is going to force Apple to move manufacturing from China to the U.S.  I guess I'm the naive one.
    kermit4krazy
  • Reply 19 of 68
    waltgwaltg Posts: 90member
    And the BIG question is,,,,,,,,,,, What the HE** is she still doing in office?!?!??!!??!!?!?!?!
    netmagestevehjbdragon
  • Reply 20 of 68
    Herbivore2Herbivore2 Posts: 367member
    larrya said:
    It does baffle as to why Tim Cook would help to raise money for any participant in a party who's presidential candidate says Apple should be boycotted and that he is going to force Apple to move manufacturing from China to the U.S.  I guess I'm the naive one.
    Maybe it's because Elizabeth Warren is saying that Apple has too much monopoly power and that something needs to be done about it. 

    Trump wants Apple to manufacture its products in the US. A far cry from threatening action against a monopolist like Warren intends against Apple. 

    Apple will do what's in its best interests. Even if it is about sending a message to the democrats that their so-called progressive agenda needs to be realigned. 
    jbdragoncullypigybank
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