WASHINGTON — When employees in a McDonald’s restaurant in Canton, Ohio, opened their paychecks this month, they found a pamphlet urging them to vote for the Republican candidates for governor, Senate and Congress, or possibly face financial repercussions.
The message on the pamphlet appeared to be calculated to intimidate workers into voting for Republican candidates by making a direct reference to their wages and benefits, said Allen Schulman, a Democrat who is president of the Canton City Council. Schulman said he obtained a copy of the pamphlet Wednesday.
The pamphlet said: “If the right people are elected, we will be able to continue with raises and benefits at or above the current levels. If othersare elected, we will not.”
It then named three Republican candidates after stating, “The following candidates are the ones we believe will help our business move forward.”
The store’s owner, Paul Siegfried, did not return a call for comment, but a spokesman for McDonald’s USA, the parent company, said: “It was an unfortunate lapse in judgment on Siegfried’s part. He’s disappointed with himself.”
The spokesman, Joe Woods, e-mailed a statement on Siegfried’s behalf. “For those that I have offended, I sincerely apologize,” the statement said.
Woods said Siegfried’s action did not represent the policy of McDonald’s.
Schulman said he had forwarded a copy to the authorities in Canton, requesting that they investigate.
Front Section, Pages 3 on 10/31/2010