Obama Responds to Bookseller Criticism

Aug 28, 2013 - PW

In late July a number of regional booksellers associations as well as the American Booksellers Association wrote to the White House to express their concerns about his nationally televised appearance at an Amazon fulfillment center in Chattanooga, Tenn as part of his tour promoting his economic recovery agenda. There was no immediate White House response to the issues that booksellers raised about Amazon’s predatory pricing, its decision to fight state sales tax, and other tactics that booksellers view as hurting all small businesses.

In a wordy, form letter, with no mention of Amazon, President Obama replied to Steve Fischer, executive director of the New England Independent Booksellers Association, last weekend. He, or more likely a staffer, used the letter to highlight Obama's commitment to job creation and particularly to helping small businesses, hit hard by the economic recession, grow. In closing, he noted, “I will continue to do everything in my power to ensure America remains the best place on Earth to turn a great idea into a successful business.”

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