October 01, 2010 10:00 PM UTC

The "E-Harmony" of Outsourcing?

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• by: Colorado Pols

9NEWS’ Adam Schrager takes a look at Rep. Ed Perlmutter’s new ad, hitting GOP opponent Ryan Frazier over his partnership in Takara Systems. Takara Systems advertises itself as a ‘matchmaking service’ between American businesses and ‘counterparts’ in Asia and Africa. Which, as Schrager explains in his affirmative Truth Test, does sound an awful lot like outsourcing:

QUOTE: Frazier’s company, Takara Systems, boasts about helping outsource American jobs overseas.

TRUTH: Whether the company is boasting or not is a matter of opinion, but it does advertise its “outsourcing” services to potential clients. [Pols emphasis]

The company describes itself as an Information and Communications Technology firm that provides software and consulting services to facilitate international trade and business. It is headquartered in Denver with operations in Africa and Asia.

On the company’s website, under the section called “Services,” there is an area Takara advertises called “Outsourcing.” (Source: Takara Systems) In that section, which has its own page on the site, the company writes, “In an increasingly open and competitive trading environment, most companies need to develop global marketing, technology and production alliances, to be successful… Many do this by seeking out strategic partners through whom they can leverage their key competencies for expansion and prosperity in their chosen line(s) of business.”

Frazier spokesman TQ Houlton said the company has never “outsourced American jobs overseas.” Further, he wrote an e-mail to 9NEWS stating, “Takara Systems develops software that is a relationship-based tool to help small businesses find partners. It’s almost like an eHarmony website for small businesses. It’s up to the businesses to find the best fit. Takara Systems isn’t advocating for outsourcing.”

In truth, what Frazier’s company does is more like facilitating outsourcing. Judge that how you want, but to say that this company has “never outsourced American jobs” is like saying a mortgage broker doesn’t loan money. You know, maybe not personally, but certainly involved in the process.