OREGON CITY -- The Kerry-Edwards campaign Tuesday trumpeted the endorsement of 31 top executives from outdoor recreation companies that represent a growing economic force. The executives, who work for companies ranging from Patagonia to Washington County-based Columbia Sportswear, claimed the Bush administration has rolled back protections for public lands and parks. Lee Fromson, president of Cascade Designs of Seattle, said Bush has supported policies that "no longer treasure our national parks and forests but mine and drill out the treasures." John Edwards, the Democratic vice presidential candidate, accepted the endorsement for Sen. John Kerry's campaign as he stood in front of a climbing wall outside the Clackamas Community College gym. He praised the companies for creating thousands of jobs and said, "For these goods to continue to be sold in this country, there has to be a place for them to be used. Well, John Kerry and I will make sure that our environment is protected, that our wilderness is protected, that our national parks are protected." Jerod Broadfoot, who heads Oregon Sportsmen for Bush, defended the administration's record of support for outdoor recreation. He praised the president's efforts to thin fire-prone forests and to give the states more control over public lands protection. Frank Hugelmeyer, president of the Outdoor Industry Association, said this is the first time he has seen several business leaders in his field become active in politics. He said that outdoor equipment sales total $18 billion a year and recreation is becoming an important part of the economy in several Western communities surrounded by public lands. The Kerry-Edwards endorsers include Tim Leatherman, president of Portland's Leatherman Tool Group; Doug Phillips, president of Metolius Climbing of Bend; and Peter Bragdon, a former chief of staff to Gov. Ted Kulongoski and now a vice president at Columbia Sportswear. A more in-depth article: http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/040914/145916_1.html
Executives attending today's event included: Lee Fromson, president, Cascade Designs, Inc.(Seattle, WA); Peter Bragden, vice president, general counsel, Columbia Sportswear (Portland, Oregon); Menno Van Wyk, CEO Montrail (Seattle, WA); Paul Fish, president Mountain Gear (Spokane, WA); Carn Nielsen, vice president, Mountain Gear (Spokane, WA); Dan Nordstrom, CEO Outdoor Research (Seattle, WA); Jeff Bowman, vice president, Cascade Designs, Inc. (Seattle, WA); Doug Phillips, president, Metolius Climbing (Bend, OR); Tim Leatherman, president, Leatherman Tool Group, Inc. (Portland, OR); Dunham Gooding, president, American Alpine Institute, Ltd (Bellingham, WA); Brian Bennett, national accounts manager, Patagonia (Ventura, CA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mike D
I hate violence! I hate it so much I am willing to kill anyone who tries to use it against me. -- Mike Waidelich
I believe he is saying that we should not purchase Leathermen products because the CEO is a Kerry supporter...which is a ridiclous way live in the first place. On another note, the companies are right. Bush has done very little to preserve wildlife and various species over the past four years, mainly because his administration has been focused on other issues. This is not really something that can be debated. I'd say though, given current state of affairs, that if Kerry made the team his administration wouldn't have the tree-huggers first on the list either, there are other, more pressing matters.
Oh, I got a million dreams. That's all I do is dream -Duke Ellington
Posts: 794 | Location: Seattle, Wa, USA | Registered: July 19, 2004
yeah, and mikey shouldn't post too much until he answers that question he's been avoiding.
----------------- Conservatives and Liberals typically think the world would be better off without the other. Both, however, serve as checks and balances of each; of the 2 camps, it appears the liberals are more accepting of this truth. -----------------
Posts: 119 | Location: Seattle, WA | Registered: September 06, 2004
I'd disagree with the Gerber. I've had a leatherman for 10 years now and have been using it pretty frequently with ZERO problems. Had a friends' Gerber once and I broke it within a minute. Alloy can't compete with SS. Now, not sure if Gerber has any SS models.
--------------------------------------------------------- "There are five things, above all else, that make life worth living: a good relationship with God, a good woman, good health, good friends, and a good cigar." -- Prince Sined Yar Maharg
Leatherman's customer service is the best in the business. I found a Leatherman at work one day when I was a bit younger and it had a piece broken off of it. I called Leatherman to see about repairing it and they told me they would replace it for free, even after telling them I found it.
Both companies are based in my hometown of Portland, the outdoor sports mecca.
quote:Originally posted by En4cer71: I'd disagree with the Gerber. I've had a leatherman for 10 years now and have been using it pretty frequently with ZERO problems. Had a friends' Gerber once and I broke it within a minute. Alloy can't compete with SS. Now, not sure if Gerber has any SS models.
In this particular instance it would appear you're correct. As a brand on the whole though, I'd lean on the gerber side, their cutlery is amazing. Also, an alloy can be just as strong if not stronger than SS and offer lighter weight, 6061-T6 aluminum comes to mind. But, to each his own, if the Leatherman is your brand, more power to you.
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"Well congratulations on your no prize didn't win nothin' victory." --Thirst
Posts: 2499 | Location: SoCal, USA | Registered: March 06, 2004
quote:Originally posted by Digital_Demon: I believe he is saying that we should not purchase Leathermen products because the CEO is a Kerry supporter...which is a ridiclous way live in the first place.
Ok, i guess i must have missed it cause i got it all wrong.
what was in that drink???
"A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"
Posts: 1798 | Location: Hollywood, CA USA | Registered: September 16, 2003
Have you checked out any of their stores or catalogs? Did you see anything made in the U.S.A.? They and all the other mass merchandisers are responsible for the loss of jobs in the U.S., IMHO.
When all things are said and done, more things will be said than done!
quote:Originally posted by Digital_Demon: I believe he is saying that we should not purchase Leathermen products because the CEO is a Kerry supporter...which is a ridiclous way live in the first place.
For you it may be ridiculous (kerry supporter), but we like to call it the free enterprises system. Take the Dixie Chicks for example. Once many Americans found out they were Bush haters, they did not buy their products. This is the same case here. If I have a choice to buy a product from a company that believes in the same values and supports the things I support, why would I spend MY money with a company that that publicly does not. That, in my opinion, would be ridiculous.
Mike D
I hate violence! I hate it so much I am willing to kill anyone who tries to use it against me. -- Mike Waidelich
