By now we know that former Hillary Clinton supporter Lynn Forester de Rothschild has snubbed Barack Obama and publically thrown her support behind John McCain and Sarah Palin.
Yesterday AFP wrote:
Appearing on CNN Wednesday, Rothschild backtracked somewhat to stress that she didn't not like Obama, but "I said critical things about him because I don't think he should be president in this election."
Rothschild said she was resigning Wednesday from the Democratic National Committee's platform committee, but that she would remain a registered Democrat.
Story Here.
SteinL's excellent diary urging a boycott appeared here on Wednesday and got me moving.
More after the fold.
New Jersey born de Rothschild, (nee Forester), has called Obama elitist. Yesterday she referred to people who cling to guns and religion "rednecks" and then identified with them as such, sort of.
Her idea of middle class is rather akin to McCain's. See what she said in an interview with Conde Nast Portfolio last year:
L.G.: Give me a hint. I know you're on the Estée Lauder board, and I know you're very interested in luxury goods in India...(snip)
L.R.: Well, we're looking at those. You know India has luxury in its DNA. All you've got to do is look at the maharajas and look at the Taj Mahal. There's no Hermès or Louis Vuitton that's going to tell India anything about luxury. Luxury is a very interesting, undeveloped piece of India. I don't think it will be a big piece for a long time, because of the income level, but I think it's interesting. We do think luxury when we think retail, but we also think more mainstream, aspirational brands and opportunities
L.G.: And the country obviously has an exploding middle class, so that could be a good market internally-or are you thinking for export as well?
L.R.: I am thinking more about the domestic markets, more about the growth of the domestic market, because 10 million people are entering the middle class every year in India. You know, there are more billionaires in India than anyplace else. Let me put it this way: Every day in India, the entire nation of Great Britain is on the train, one way or another. So the numbers are pretty colossal. Seventy million people in India can afford anything they want. It's a small percent, but that's a reasonable number.
I went to the Estee Lauder Companies website's Brands page and was shocked how many of their products I have or use regularly. As an medical professional with a prep school upbringing, I was determined to let the conglomerate know how I feel as I henceforth boycott their products, and I sent the following letter via the Contact page on their site and encourage others to do the same.
Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild
Estee Lauder Companies, Inc.
767 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10153
Dear Lady de Rothschild: from one woman of privilege to another, I remind you that noblesse oblige or in essence where much is given much is expected. I am disappointed and angry that you now embrace McCain/Palin, neither a friend to women with their stated object to overturn Roe v. Wade. Palin is nothing like Senator Hillary Clinton. Their only similarity is having vaginas. As a prominent Democratic donor and supporter you have betrayed both the party and your sex.
As long as you maintain this position and still remain on the board of directors of Estee Lauder Companies, Inc., I will no longer purchase any of your products. I say this sadly. My mother wore Azuree and Aliage and my father wore Aramis. We have the following in our home: Jo Malone fragrances, Prescriptives makeup, MAC lipsticks, Aveda skin products and Aveda tea, Bumble and Bumble hair products, and Tommy Hilfiger, Michael Kors and Missoni clothing, and Coach. I will not waste what I have, but I will not buy more and will donate what I can to the less fortunate.
Sincerely, (my name, title, and address)
UPDATE: I have just received the following reply to my letter, by email:
Thank you for the opportunity to clarify an inaccuracy in the recent DailyKos and CNN report concerning Lynn Forester de Rothschild and The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. Lynn Forester de Rothschild is not a member of our Company's management team and has no role in the day-to-day operations of the Company. She is, however, an independent member of the Board of Directors of The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.
Lynn Forester de Rothschild's views are personal and do not reflect the views of The Estee Lauder Companies.
Sincerely,
Marie Pubenc
Response Representative
Global Consumer Communications
Hmm.