As more and more Americans go to the Internet to get information from varied, credible, trusted sources, Wal-Mart is committed to participating in that online conversation.

This decision makes clear that he was fired for repeatedly making threats of violence against his co-workers and supervisors.

This isn't really anything new. The unions have tried to organize Wal-Mart associates through the Internet for more than five years . . . with no success. . . . We might be concerned if this group was offering solutions to some of the issues working people face each day, but that is not the case.

This isn't simply a public relations strategy to pretty up an image. Rather, it is an energetic attempt to tell our story and also become a better company in the process.

This is a way to offer medical care ... that is accessible and affordable.

Someone we expected to operate with the highest integrity let us down in a very public way. Wal-Mart has high ethical standards and the way we handled this matter makes it clear that every associate will be held to these standards with no exception.

We are trying to make our plans more relevant, accessible and affordable.

We help give struggling families a sense of pride, because our prices enable their children to start school with fresh supplies and new basketball sneakers, so they are no different from other kids. Wal-Mart is good for America, because we are the great equalizer for the people of this country, and no one else has stepped up to that role.

You can immediately see what's in the top of that closet and pull it down the next season.

This whole episode has been embarrassing and painful to us as a company and as individuals.