Wal-Mart is becoming for Democrats what al-Qaeda is for Republicans: the source of all evil.

The Democratic presidential candidates – even including moderate Senator Evan Bayh – are attacking the big retailer.

Its sins include low pay, scarce benefits and big success.

All this while Wal-Mart – with Al Gore’s help – is trying to paint itself green.

Corporate America take note: Your company might be next on the firing line.

Wal-Mart is fighting back aggressively – putting up tough websites and hiring gun-slinging political consultants.

The attack is orchestrated by the Change To Win labor coalition. That’s made up of newly aggressive, politically oriented unions like Service Employees International Union and United Food and Commercial Workers. UFCW also targets Kroger and Smithfield Packing in North Carolina.

John Edwards is working hard to make the coalition part of his presidential base. And Hillary Clinton, who along with Bill got a lot of money and help from the Arkansas company in years past, is backing away fast.

Andy Young Backfires

To fight back, Wal-Mart had hired Andy Young, the Georgia civil rights leader, as a spokesman for the past six months.

But Young shot himself and Wal-Mart in their collective feet this week.

In a newspaper interview, he said Wal-Mart “should” replace small community stores:

“You see those are the people who have been overcharging us, and they sold out and moved to Florida. I think they’ve ripped off our communities enough. First it was Jews, then it was Koreans and now it’s Arabs.”

Oops. Andy resigned as Wal-Mart’s mouthpiece.

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