Today, the American people witnessed a strange series of events in the campaign to change Wal-Mart. In the end, Wal-Mart and its industry lobby association, the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), made multiple flip-flops on whether or not they oppose raising the minimum wage.

This morning, in an article in Roll Call, Wal-Mart committed its first flip-flop. Lee Culpepper, Wal-Mart’s chief Washington D.C. lobbyist, said Wal-Mart’s previous statements on the minimum wage were “misinterpreted” by the media and Wal-Mart did not support a minimum wage increase.

This afternoon, in a statement provided to the Associated Press, Wal-Mart’s CEO Lee Scott flipped-flopped on Culpepper’s earlier flip-flop and said Wal-Mart once again supports raising the minimum wage. According to Mr. Scott, Lee Culpepper must have “misinterpreted” Wal-Mart’s position, even though Wal-Mart entrusts Mr. Culpepper to represent its legislative positions to members of Congress everyday.

Surprisingly, both Mr. Scott and Mr. Culpepper seem to agree on one thing - Wal-Mart would still not lobby a single Member of Congress in favor of a minimum wage increase.

Now, the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), which Wal-Mart is the largest member, flip-flopped as well. This afternoon, RILA changed its public position on the minimum wage from openly opposing a minimum wage increase to not having a declared position. In fact, RILA changed its website and took down its minimum wage position.

In light of today’s strange series of flip-flops, Paul Blank, campaign director for WakeUpWalMart.com issued the following statement:

“The American people deserve to know whether or not Wal-Mart believes what it says and says what it believes. If Wal-Mart is sincere about its support for the minimum wage, it must either ask Lee Culpepper, Wal-Mart’s chief lobbyist, to resign or fire him. If Lee Culpepper is allowed to stay at Wal-Mart, Culpepper’s word and Wal-Mart’s credibility will have little to no value with the American people or with our elected representatives.

Wal-Mart should seek a lobbyist who understands how important raising the minimum wage is to millions of working families, not continue to employee a well-known opponent of the minimum wage with long ties to right-wing radicals like Rick Berman.

Finally, we call on Wal-Mart and CEO Lee Scott to walk the walk, not just talk the talk. Wal-Mart should join with us in support of the Kennedy-Miller bill which would increase the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour and improve the live of millions of working families, the very same working families Wal-Mart is trying to convince America it cares about.

It's time for Wal-Mart to stop talking about change, and start acting like a company that is truly changing for the better.”

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