Democrat, Republican, Big Box Mart

Wal-Mart, under attack now from unions and prominent Democrats, yesterday introduced a marketing campaign that closely resembles the television advertisements used by political candidates.

The ads, running in Omaha and Tucson, underscore Wal-Mart’s transformation over the last several years from an insular company obsessed with low prices and technological efficiency to one that openly acknowledges its public relations troubles and has introduced numerous programs to counter them.

In the last year, the company has expanded health care coverage to the children of part-time workers, has committed to sweeping reductions in energy use and has promised to work with competing retailers in urban areas where it builds stores.

Later, the narrator ticks off a list of Wal-Mart’s benefits: “Last year alone, Wal-Mart created tens of thousands of new American jobs — many in areas where they’re needed most. And we offer eligible associates health insurance for less than a dollar a day.”

It looks like the negative attention they've received in the past has had an effect. They've beefed up their health insurance benefits a ton. This should be important to everybody because we'll all be working for Wal-Mart one day :)