Chamber to 'Populist' Candidates: We'll Bite You Until You Bleed

Chamber to 'Populist' Candidates: We'll Bite You Until You Bleed The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has issued a warning to those pesky "populist" candidates for president: If you consider workers' rights anywhere near as important as the right of businesses to make money hand over fist, we're going after you.

No, those weren't the exact words of Chamber President Tom Donohue. These were: "We plan to build a grass-roots business organization so strong that when it bites you in the butt, you bleed," Donohue told the Los Angeles Times last week in a story about the Chamber's plans to spend more than $60 million to defeat any candidate it deems "anti-business."

Donohue told the Times the Chamber plans to be active in 140 congressional districts, nearly four dozen state attorney general and supreme court races, as well as the presidential race.

"I'm concerned about anti-corporate and populist rhetoric from candidates for the presidency, members of Congress and the media," Donohue said. "It suggests to us that we have to demonstrate who it is in this society that creates jobs, wealth and benefits -- and who it is that eats them."