The Change To Win Investment Group is calling for the removal of the CEO of Whole Foods John Mackey. The reason, in part:

Following the publication of Mr. Mackey’s op-ed piece opposing President Obama’s health care reform proposal on August 16, 2009, Whole Foods customers have reacted with outrage: at least 26,000 have now joined a Whole Foods Boycott page on Facebook. Numerous commentators have noted that a boycott of Whole Foods by politically progressive customers could cause a significant loss of shareholder value.  We note with apprehension that the Company’s letter of apology to customers – the necessity of which reinforces our concerns – appears to have done nothing to soften the backlash against Mr. Mackey, and unfortunately, Whole Foods itself.

While we respect Mr. Mackey’s First Amendment right to express his political views, as he did for instance in noting that the Constitution contains no “right” to health care, we hasten to point out that neither the First Amendment nor any other provision of the Constitution give Mr. Mackey or any other CEO the right to retain their position regardless of behavior or performance.  Moreover, Mr. Mackey’s article was not a citizen’s “letter to the editor,” but a lengthy op-ed that explicitly tied him to Whole Foods by identifying him as the CEO.  Given Whole Foods’ unique exposure to a key segment of the customer base, Mr. Mackey’s decision to express his views in such a public way, and on an issue of such enormous moment, seems ill-advised at best.

   Yes.