Whole Foods CEO Is In a Whole Lot of Trouble With Shoppers

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:

Whole Big Problem

Some unions are mobilizing against Whole Foods CEO John Mackey.

We told you last week Mackey is taking fire for an opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal about health care reform costs and his belief that health care is not an intrinsic right. That did not sit well with some left-leaning shoppers who called for a boycott of the grocery chain.

Now a federation of unions called the CtW Investment Group is asking the Whole Foods board to remove Mackey as chairman. CtW Investment Group Executive Director Bill Patterson says: "Mr. Mackey attempted to capitalize on the brand reputation of Whole Foods to champion his personal political views — but has instead deeply offended a key segment of Whole Foods consumer base."

But political commentator Armstrong Williams at the Washington Times writes: "The case of Mr. Mackey is the most recent evidence that American liberalism has morphed into intolerance toward competing ideas."

Unlikely Welfare Recipient

A well-paid United Nations official who works in a department that promotes ethics, transparency and accountability is under investigation for lying about his address to illegally obtain welfare funding.

French authorities say Bruno Bastet listed himself, his then common-law wife and two children as residents of a Paris housing complex designed for the less-fortunate, so he could pocket a $2,000 per month rental housing subsidy.

But Bastet earns an estimated tax-free salary of $180,000 a year working for the U.N. He has lived in a posh New York City apartment since 2004 and his former companion and kids have lived in the Dominican Republic for the last four years.

House of Pain

Alabama Democratic Congressman Parker Griffith says he will not support Nancy Pelosi as House speaker again. The Huntsville Times newspaper reports that during a town hall meeting Monday, Griffith said: "I would not vote for her. Someone that divisive and that polarizing cannot bring us together."

One attendee suggested Pelosi may not let Griffith back into the House if she learns of his criticism. But the freshman Democrat responded: "If she doesn't like it, I've got a gift certificate to a mental health center."

Pelosi received unanimous support from House Democrats in both her 2007 and 2009 elections for speaker. Her office has not responded to a request for comment.

Burned Ben

Even Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is not immune to being scammed. The central bank chief was the victim of an identity fraud ring that stole more than $2 million from individuals and financial institutions.

Newsweek reports a thief stole Bernanke's wife's purse last year and began cashing checks on the family's bank account. The purse snatcher worked for a crime ring that had been under federal investigation. The feds have made a number of arrests and at least one ringleader has pleaded guilty.

Bernanke called identity theft a serious problem: "Our family was but one of 500 separate instances traced to one crime ring."

— FOX News Channel's Zachary Kenworthy contributed to this report.