# Timeshare tycoon: If Obama re-elected, "I'll have no choice but to reduce the size of this company." **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 10, 2012, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeshare-tycoon-if-obama-re-elected-ill-have-no-choice-but-to-reduce-the-size-of-this-company/637270 "2012-10-10T00:33:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeshare-tycoon-if-obama-re-elected-ill-have-no-choice-but-to-reduce-the-size-of-this-company/637270/1 "2012-10-10T00:33:37Z")
David Siegel, CEO of timeshare company Westgate Resorts sent a lot a letter to his employees yesterday warning them of the apparent dangers of re-electing Obama. A few choice bits: > [@](#): > > The current administration and members of the press have perpetuated an environment that casts employers against employees. They want you to believe that we live in a class system where the rich get richer, the poor get poorer. They label us the “1%” and imply that we are somehow immune to the challenges that face our country. And > [@](#): > > So where am I going with all this? It’s quite simple. If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, as our current President plans, I will have no choice but to reduce the size of this company. Rather than grow this company I will be forced to cut back. This means fewer jobs, less benefits and certainly less opportunity for everyone. > > So, when you make your decision to vote, ask yourself, which candidate understands the economics of business ownership and who doesn’t? Whose policies will endanger your job? Answer those questions and you should know who might be the one capable of protecting and saving your job. And > [@](#): > > You see, I can no longer support a system that penalizes the productive and gives to the unproductive. My motivation to work and to provide jobs will be destroyed, and with it, so will your opportunities. If that happens, you can find me in the Caribbean sitting on the beach, under a palm tree, retired, and with no employees to worry about. There’s also this gem: > [@](#): > > I started this company over 42 years ago. At that time, I lived in a very modest home. I converted my garage into an office so I could put forth 100% effort into building a company, which by the way, would eventually employ you. We didn’t eat in fancy restaurants or take expensive vacations because every dollar I made went back into this company. I drove an old used car, and often times, I stayed home on weekends, while my friends went out drinking and partying… My friends refinanced their mortgages and lived a life of luxury. I, however, did not. I put my time, my money, and my life into this business —-with a vision that eventually, some day, I too, will be able to afford to buy whatever I wanted. A bit ironic coming from a guy who makes his living selling people property (or rather “property”) they don’t need at inflated prices and usually saddling them with a heap of debt in the process. Believe me I know, because I got suckered into one of his company’s timeshare presentations years ago. Fortunately, I didn’t buy anything, but when I kept insisting I couldn’t afford what they were selling, they kept suggesting various payment plans. We left with a certificate for a few free nights at some nearby hotel, but it wasn’t worth the headache. Anyway, now that I think about it, I kind of wish he’d close up shop. It’d mean fewer timeshare assholes bugging me while I’m on vacation. ---
**Author:** ![Tarwater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de0a6/32.png) [@Tarwater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarwater)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeshare-tycoon-if-obama-re-elected-ill-have-no-choice-but-to-reduce-the-size-of-this-company/637270/2 "2012-10-10T00:38:34Z")
And then, of course, he plagiarized his attempt to bully his employees from a spam chain letter. Dude is classy. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeshare-tycoon-if-obama-re-elected-ill-have-no-choice-but-to-reduce-the-size-of-this-company/637270/3 "2012-10-10T00:41:48Z")
What I posted when a FB friend started a RO thread about it: > [@Facebook Kaylasdad](#): > > This situation DOES bring up a moral quandary, btw. Guy’s business is roping people into buying TIMESHARES. Any outcome that results in fewer people doing THAT for a living is like Good Karma in the bank. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeshare-tycoon-if-obama-re-elected-ill-have-no-choice-but-to-reduce-the-size-of-this-company/637270/4 "2012-10-10T00:43:39Z")
> [@Tarwater](#): > > And then, of course, he plagiarized his attempt to bully his employees from a spam chain letter. Dude is classy. :rolleyes: Oh, I’d love a link to a copy of that chain letter spam. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeshare-tycoon-if-obama-re-elected-ill-have-no-choice-but-to-reduce-the-size-of-this-company/637270/5 "2012-10-10T01:21:55Z")
he is threatening his employees jobs if they don’t vote his way?! if that isn’t illegal, it should be. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeshare-tycoon-if-obama-re-elected-ill-have-no-choice-but-to-reduce-the-size-of-this-company/637270/6 "2012-10-10T01:22:16Z")
I like how he opens his letter with _“The current administration and members of the press have perpetuated an environment that casts employers against employees”_ and then threatens to fire his employees. Because nothing brings employers and employees together like threats. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeshare-tycoon-if-obama-re-elected-ill-have-no-choice-but-to-reduce-the-size-of-this-company/637270/7 "2012-10-10T01:29:56Z")
So long as he gives them all raises and bonuses if taxes are lowered or the economy otherwise improves to the point that his company shows a profit… ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeshare-tycoon-if-obama-re-elected-ill-have-no-choice-but-to-reduce-the-size-of-this-company/637270/8 "2012-10-10T01:34:57Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Oh, I’d love a link to a copy of that chain letter spam. 😃 Wonkette has it: [Overcompensating Millionaire With Cartoonishly Large House Threatens Employees With Chain Letter](http://wonkette.com/486318/capitalist-overlord-steals-chain-letter-to-threaten-employees-for-voting) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeshare-tycoon-if-obama-re-elected-ill-have-no-choice-but-to-reduce-the-size-of-this-company/637270/9 "2012-10-10T01:36:05Z")
“Mr Siegel, Sir, me and the lads just wanted to make sure we understood you. Are you saying that if Barack Obama is re-elected, we’ll all lose our jobs?” “That’s right. I’ll have no choice.” “But if Mitt Romney is elected President we’ll get to keep our jobs?” “No, I’ll fire all of you anyway. But then it’ll be for the profits not because I have to.” ---
**Author:** ![Rollo\_Tomasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/58956e/32.png) [@Rollo\_Tomasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rollo_Tomasi)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeshare-tycoon-if-obama-re-elected-ill-have-no-choice-but-to-reduce-the-size-of-this-company/637270/10 "2012-10-10T01:48:24Z")
If you really want to confirm your suspicion that this guy is an asshole, see this year’s documentary **The Queen of Versailles**. It’s ostensibly about the freakishly large house (the largest single residence in America) that Siegel and his wife were building before his timeshare empire collapsed, but there are plenty of other opportunities for ridicule. His cretin son even brags about getting the customers (whom he calls “mooches,” for real) to pay more than they can afford for shitty timeshare deals. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeshare-tycoon-if-obama-re-elected-ill-have-no-choice-but-to-reduce-the-size-of-this-company/637270/11 "2012-10-10T02:04:35Z")
So if his taxes are raised, he shrinks his company, to make even less money? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeshare-tycoon-if-obama-re-elected-ill-have-no-choice-but-to-reduce-the-size-of-this-company/637270/12 "2012-10-10T02:10:46Z")
I recall reading that in the 1896 election, a lot of factory owners were telling their workers that if William Jennings Bryan should beat William McKinley, they needn’t bother showing up for work the next day. _Plus ca change_ . . . ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeshare-tycoon-if-obama-re-elected-ill-have-no-choice-but-to-reduce-the-size-of-this-company/637270/13 "2012-10-10T03:09:25Z")
Link to the original letter on Snopes: [Letter from the Boss | Snopes.com](http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/valuedemployees.asp) ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeshare-tycoon-if-obama-re-elected-ill-have-no-choice-but-to-reduce-the-size-of-this-company/637270/14 "2012-10-10T03:09:36Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I recall reading that in the 1896 election, a lot of factory owners were telling their workers that if William Jennings Bryan should beat William McKinley, they needn’t bother showing up for work the next day. _Plus ca change_ . . . I recall reading that in 1860, some states said that if Abraham Lincoln won the election, they’d secede. . . _plus c’est la même chose_. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeshare-tycoon-if-obama-re-elected-ill-have-no-choice-but-to-reduce-the-size-of-this-company/637270/15 "2012-10-10T03:10:49Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Link to the original letter on Snopes: [Letter from the Boss | Snopes.com](http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/valuedemployees.asp) Ta. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeshare-tycoon-if-obama-re-elected-ill-have-no-choice-but-to-reduce-the-size-of-this-company/637270/16 "2012-10-10T03:16:50Z")
This is blowing up all over my Facebook page (Westgate is headquartered here). I posted the following; now to watch the fireworks: > [@](#): > > Bad news of the day: Westgate Resorts owner Dan Siegel is going to fire you if Obama wins. [FOX 35 Orlando | Local News, Weather, and Live Streams | WOFL](http://www.myfoxorlando.com/story/19778007/timeshare-mogul-threatens-layoffs-under-second-obama-term) Better news: you can can start a timeshare business and become a billionaire even if your communication skills don’t extend to writing your own letters: [Letter from the Boss | Snopes.com](http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/valuedemployees.asp) ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeshare-tycoon-if-obama-re-elected-ill-have-no-choice-but-to-reduce-the-size-of-this-company/637270/17 "2012-10-10T03:22:22Z")
Bitch wouldn’t stop talking, so I had to hit her. I \*had \*to. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeshare-tycoon-if-obama-re-elected-ill-have-no-choice-but-to-reduce-the-size-of-this-company/637270/18 "2012-10-10T03:38:05Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I recall reading that in 1860, some states said that if Abraham Lincoln won the election, they’d secede. . . _plus c’est la même chose_. So Dan Siegel might attempt to secede and then declare war on the United States? Best. War. Ever. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeshare-tycoon-if-obama-re-elected-ill-have-no-choice-but-to-reduce-the-size-of-this-company/637270/19 "2012-10-10T04:18:42Z")
> [@Tarwater](#): > > And then, of course, he plagiarized his attempt to bully his employees from a spam chain letter. Dude is classy. :rolleyes: He admitted to [Gawker](http://gawker.com/5950189/the-ceo-who-built-himself-americas-largest-house-just-threatened-to-fire-his-employees-if-obamas-elected) that he copied the chain letter. He said, “I did use the letter that had circulated before as a guideline, but I changed it [to fit my circumstances].” ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeshare-tycoon-if-obama-re-elected-ill-have-no-choice-but-to-reduce-the-size-of-this-company/637270/20 "2012-10-10T04:22:11Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > He admitted to [Gawker](http://gawker.com/5950189/the-ceo-who-built-himself-americas-largest-house-just-threatened-to-fire-his-employees-if-obamas-elected) that he copied the chain letter. He said, “I did use the letter that had circulated before as a guideline, but I changed it [to fit my circumstances].” The original wasn’t assholey enough? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeshare-tycoon-if-obama-re-elected-ill-have-no-choice-but-to-reduce-the-size-of-this-company/637270.md?page=2)