*"Woke" Company Alert*: The pages of the NYT and Wapo this morning:

[demmiblue]

Hundreds of CEOs and more than 110 corporations sign onto effort opposing voting restrictions. Ad taking up 2 full pages in today’s New York Times and Washington Post says: “For American democracy to work for any of us, we must ensure the right to vote for all of us.”

Link to tweet

[Diamond_Dog]

1. Good.

Are they also pledging to halt all donations to Republican legislators and conservative super PACs?

[demmiblue]

3. THAT is what they need to do (and go through with said pledge), but I will enjoy this moment...

because it is probably going to make Moscow Mitch squirm.

[wnylib]

47. Not likely. The ad gives them good publicity

without doing anything to back it up. They are playing both sides.

[DENVERPOPS]

62. After the last four years

of running wild, looting and pillaging this countries people, they feel they need to make nice and pretend that they are the friends of the people.......

Have you seen them lower the price of Insulin? Hell no Have you seen them reinvest profits in their companies infrastructure, rather than off shoring it? Hell no Have you seen them hiring people at decent livable wages hell no

Fuck them, don't fall for it. ...............They are merely trying to regroup after being a millimeter away from their prize goal:

A Corporate Fascist Tyranny..............United Corporations of America...........

[pandr32]

57. They had better!

There is no point to just show-boating for publicity with such an important matter, After all, corporations are people, too.

[LiberalLovinLug]

66. Its at least a shot across the bow

Its a first warning.

Get some Republicans to stop and think for a moment. "Would they dare to defund me?"

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

75. Of course not. It's just PR.

They'll write off the cost and continue donating to RW Republican-supporting PACs.

If Bezos, for instance, cared about democracy, with creative use of a fraction of his fortune, he could practically guarantee that passage of the For The People Act. It's not exactly democratic to have billionaires having so much influence on elections, but he could balance the scales against the RW money influence.

[BoomaofBandM]

2. I really want to believe them, but will wait to see how they handle political donations.

I also would like to know how their ceos and boards and other higher ups donate politically.

[Escurumbele]

24. My thoughts exactly. I want them to tell republicans they will stop all donations until

these crazy laws are reversed...

Stick & stones may break my bones but words will never hurt...Maybe not "sticks & stones", but we know how much the mighty dollar weighs on the republican thugs.

[benfranklin1776]

28. Exactly as talk is cheap.

Political contributions are not. Also, if they were sincere, then then should pressure their Republican recipients of their largesse to let the For the People Act to come to a vote in the Senate.

[Alpeduez21]

4. Put your money with your mouth is CEOs /nt

[50 Shades Of Blue]

5. Republican legislatures' response: Hold our beer...

Republicans know this is all for show so they have every reason to totally ignore it. These CEO's aren't doing and won't be doing anything meaningful to support voters' rights, they're just saying the right words in public and expecting a great big gold star for it. Bur behind the scenes what is really changing?

[Captain Zero]

25. Coca-Cola establishing water stations along

Voter Lines ?

The laws just say you can't bring water to people. What about free water stations. With a few lawn chairs to sit in a couple minutes. And yes, porta-johns too.

Some things need to be tested in the next primaries so we can have ACLU suits to test the laws in the courts.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

27. Where are Coke's and other big corporations' political contributions going to while

They make these purely PR gestures?

[NJCher]

32. I'm not that cynical

If you read the story behind this in the NY Times, there are quite a number of very prominent African American CEOs who put this together. I have to respect the time and effort they put into this. It took a lot of work to get this far. Maybe you've never done any organizing like this but I know from experience that it's not easy.

Furthermore, speaking from the standpoint of communication and psychology, there is a the no small matter of cognitive dissonance. It simply means that you cannot hold two contradictory thoughts or positions at the same time. Now according to all you cynics on this thread, these people are just adding their names for PR value while they will do an end run and donate to republicans when it's all said and done. The problem with that theory is that they've committed themselves in black and white and if they do they are documented hypocrites.

[PortTack]

34. Thank you! A voice of reason. Big business knows they cannot thrive in a fascist state

Their very being is at stake here

[demmiblue]

35. Thank you for the thoughtful response.

Food for thought, indeed. And a wonderful reminder to give credit to the African American CEOs for their hard work in launching this effort.

[ShazzieB]

40. Adding my thanks to the others.

Sometimes the cynicism here at DU is too much for me. I understand where it comes from, but it's just so damed depressing. Healthy skepticism is one thing, but it can be taken too far. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, and good news really is good news.

Call me a cockeyed optimist if you want, but I just can't get on board with the tendency to automatically assume the worst Every. Damned. Time.

Thanks for giving us a different and much more positive way to look at this!

[Collimator]

44. Thumbs up on this.

Cynicism has value when it is part of an engaged thinking process. As a default perspective, it can actually stop people from giving much thought to anything.

I hear people in my household saying things like, "You can't trust the news media, etc., etc. . ." But then they make comments about issues and situations that are biased and judgmental. Clearly, they are getting their ideas and opinions from somewhere.

Take the issue of resistance to the Covid vaccines within Black communities. The Tuskegee syphilis study was a horrible violation of human rights. It's important that people learn the facts of what happened and cast a cynical eye on the medical profession and its treatment of marginalized people. And it's also important for people to learn what they can about the current scientific consensus and accurately weigh the risks of refusing the vaccine.

And the point about cynicism and depression is spot on. There is a story over at the Huffington Post about the role that optimism played in resolving the HIV crisis.

I know that corporations exist to make profits and aren't generally concerned with making a better world. But those profits come from our participation in their business outreach. In this situation, hardcore cynicism is tantamount to giving up our power altogether.

So, unleavened cynicism is like throwing up your hands in exasperation over the dismal state of the world, then letting them dangle at your side and doing nothing else instead of lifting those hands again to address the task at hand. . . Getting very preachy and possibly pedantic here. . . need to shut up.

(Love the IDIC symbol, btw.)

[littlemissmartypants]

73. +++

For the acronym police

Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations
IDIC was an acronym for Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations, the basis of Vulcan philosophy, celebrating the vast array of variables in the universe.
memory-alpha.fandom.com › wiki
IDIC | Memory Alpha | Fandom

https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/IDIC

❤

[ShazzieB]

78. Thrilled that someone recognized the IDIC! 😁

Star Trek, and especially Mr. Spock, was one of the things that got me through my geeky teen years, and it means a lot to me!

[Collimator]

88. Star Trek offered a lot of us a vision of a world worth building.

Mae Jemison, Whoopie Goldberg and MLK saw that. I'm proud to be a Trekkie and that vision is why I prefer Trek to Wars.

[littlemissmartypants]

76. Agree. There are naysayers a plenty here.

Don't let them steal your joy, ShazzieB. The "Ignore" function is recommended for the repeat offenders. I didn't use it when I first got here but when I did start using it and discovered the difference it makes in content, I became hooked.

Stay encouraged.

❤

[50 Shades Of Blue]

41. I am. And I'll believe it when I see it. Where have these civic minded CEO's been until now?

Voting has been being suppressed for years! It's just way more blatant now. So even though it wasn't exactly a secret before, now it's becoming a major issue and product boycotts are in the air. These people's only concern is the bottom line and they're looking out for it by publishing - gasp! - ads.

They aren't afraid of being seen as hypocrites! Do Republicans fear that? Hell no. They are utterly shameless. So are big corporations. Their only fear is not raking in as much money as they can. Behind the scenes they still want the things only Republicans will give them - lower taxes, protection from consumer lawsuits, etc., etc.

And no, I can't read the article because I don't subscribe to the NYT.

[NJCher]

46. you're talking about CEOs

your scenario might have a little plausibility if they were simple minded crooks, but they're not. They're not all republicans,either, and many of them have demonstrated more than "rake in the cash" thinking. Warren Buffett, for example.

I've worked with many CEOs and I can tell you they have a great deal of confidence in themselves. They are putting themselves on the line in print, which is no small thing.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

52. I'll defer to Mark Elias, who successfully fought in court so many Republican attempts to

overthrow the last election.

https://www.democracydocket.com/2021/04/hundreds-of-corporations-publish-toothless-voting-rights-ad/

[NJCher]

85. of course you will

I'll defer to Mark Elias

It's so much easier to let others do your thinking rather than do it all on your own.

So easy to pan everything. No thinking, no new emotions to deal with. Easy peasy.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

87. I'll defer to people who KNOW WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT. Like Mark Elias.

If that means, according to you, that I'm not thinking for myself, I'll consider that an attempt to shame me from expressing a different opinion from yours. But I have every right to do that and not be shamed and belittled and baited for it because you don't agree.

I evaluated what Elias said versus the history (example: Link to tweet
" target="_blank">) of corporations saying one thing and doing something else, and I certainly did make an informed decision.

[uponit7771]

84. Corporate leaders don't mind being openly hypocritical, let's watch what they do

[jalan48]

6. Sounds good.

[hatrack]

7. How many are still members of the US Chamber?

Plenty, I'd wager.

[HootieMcBoob]

82. That's my question as well

If they are then they need to either convince the chamber to switch from lobbying against HR1 to lobbying for or withdraw from the chamber withholding all funding. The US Chamber of Commerce has been a powerful lobbying organization against progressive policies for generations.

[KS Toronado]

8. Is this a "Put on a show for the voters"?

So they'll keep buying our stuff & not blackball us? wink wink, follow the money.

[stopdiggin]

60. some of it certainly

corporations recognize a need for balance between profit and PR. Serve the stockholder and the bottom line without being seen as 'evil.' (and the wise voter/consumer sees, and always assumes, the compromise) Still -- a corporate culture that is even modestly engaged with social and societal concerns -- is better than one that is completely blind to them? Racism? LGBTQ? Maybe they've done some good?

By the way -- this is a pretty easy one, in that HUGE majorities of American are in favor of easy and accessible voting. And say so every time they are asked. So -- it doesn't cost much to get on board with that.

[KS Toronado]

86. Good points, well spoken

[dianaredwing]

63. People are probably

going to keep buying stuff anyway, for the most part. I am certainly not self-sufficient. Some people will note the names in the papers and keep up with the individuals who signed this and will chastise them for hypocrisy when it appears. But, face it, most people don't even read the papers and most who get their news on line get it from a source they already agree with. This won't change a lot of minds, EXCEPT for those in government and I assume that is who they (the signers) are aiming the ads at. It is basically saying to the pols that I don't want my name openly associated with yours if you openly support voter suppression. Naturally, the sneaky behind the scenes stuff will still happen, but it says to me that if you as a pol decide to support voter suppression I will not support you and if you decide to come to your senses I will reward you because I have a verifiable reason to do so.

[COL Mustard]

9. Awesome!

For those companies not on the list, why not?

[NJCher]

33. story in the Times

explains that. Some said they'd already said it once, felt no need to say it twice.

Chase and Jamie Dimon said they support it but didn't want to commit to saying in the ad. Maybe aware of cognitive dissonance theory, as I write about upthread.

Here's a link to the story:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/14/business/ceos-corporate-america-voting-rights.html

[AZ8theist]

10. The LAST THING the Reich wing wants is Democracy...

The Trumptards want DICTATORSHIP.

With the stupidest motherfucker in human history in charge.
Good on the CEOs for trying, but until they stop funding Repukes, nothing will happen.

[area51]

19. +1 n/t

[Takket]

11. Companies I don't see in this list

Drumpf international
Goya
My pillow
Hobby lobby
Barilla

[bucolic_frolic]

16. Goya! LOL

I was in a national closeout supermarket 2 weeks ago and they had GOYA canned beans - 79 or 89 cents, and it's all sitting there undisturbed. Regional super same thing, with more and more shelf space. Time was you never saw Goya discounted, only promos were maybe 20 cents off twice a year, and the retail was ... $1.19? $1.29?

I'm guessing the company won't admit what's happening because they don't have to - privately held, and

this is one of the most successful boycotts ever.

[SWBTATTReg]

54. Good. And they will continue to be boycotted too, as far as I'm concerned, until I hear anything of

an apology, a take back, something of remorse, etc. My Pillow is going down the same way too.

Thanks for the heads up news on the goya boycott.

[sarchasm]

12. kick

[gab13by13]

13. So, a letter to the NY Times gets them off the hook.

Talk is cheap.

[littlemissmartypants]

77. Seriously, I would prefer to have read it in the Washington Post.

Maybe their ad rates were too high...



For the record, I'm halfway joking.

[bucolic_frolic]

14. Joe's right, the best ideas win

"all of us" is a best idea. "everybody's cheating because we're not winning" is transparently private interest of ideologues, crooks, liars, cheats, and vested monied interests.

[dlk]

15. When corporations stop political donations to Republicans, then we'll know they're serious

Until then, nothing will be any different.

[joetheman]

17. They can put their money where their mouths are by seeing to it that their companies hold the line

on unnecessary price creep for consumers. It is largely their call on inflationary behaviors. Their profits are STILL at record levels despite the pandemic.

[speak easy]

20. A lot of leftists there - Bank of America, Deloitte, GM, IBM, MasterCard, Salesforce

Suss. Very Suss, if you ask me. Just say no to socialism

[global1]

18. So I Have To Ask This Question.....

If timing is everything - Is it time to mount a campaign to overturn Citizens United?

I know that the Repugs like the money they get from the Corps - but isn't this a chance to have both the Corps & the Repugs (i.e., Moscow Mitch, Hawley, Fox News, Laura Ingram, etc) to put their money where their mouth is?

Would we be able to garner some bipartisan support?

It is one way to keep the Corps out of politics - isn't it.

[lark]

21. So is this just bullshit for the masses & they continue to fund repugs candidacies?

Until I hear that none of them are donating to the anti-American repugs who tried to tear down our constitution to install their favored guy, I call bullshit. Sorry, corporate America, you earned our scorn and disbelief. Prove me wrong - Please.

[Deb]

22. Wow! It reads like Sen Susan Collins has a large family.

[romana]

23. Good start

But they need to walk the walk and not donate to anyone supporting voter suppression or the Big Lie. Full stop.

[ecstatic]

26. I appreciate that, as one of the individuals

whose entire county has been disenfranchised by Georgia's qop. One of my fears is that the qop's intimidation/shakedown tactics will be successful and all the companies will fall in line and STFU. It's comforting to know that that has not happened... yet.

It's sickening to hear ignorant people talk about how Georgia's law is better than New York's as it allows no excuse absentee voting. How does that help me when the qop has the power to fire my county's election officials and replace them with qop flunkies who will throw out my absentee vote? I never had to worry about that before. My best bet now is to brave the 5 hour lines in the hopes of finding a working machine that will properly record my vote. Same with my parents, who are both 65 and older. It's impossible for their signatures to match their driver's licenses (which were signed using faulty electronic pens at the DMV).

[Ligyron]

43. I wonder if the courts will be able to help.

Because to me, an admittedly a a non legal type, ridiculous laws like no water, etc. seem unconstitutional, unamerican, downright unfair and quite obviously designed to deprive certain citizens of their sacred right to vote.

For any fair minded judge to rule otherwise would seem impossible.

[SWBTATTReg]

55. You make a hell of a good point in the signature verification craps that gop thugs use to

verify that voters are who they say they are. Over time, signatures do change, among other things, in my case, after working in IT and systems design (computer hardware/software), for almost 4 decades, I can barely write w/ my hand w/ a pencil or pen, my writing is that bad.

This is one of the most ridiculous and unrealistic proofs of voters that I can think of.

[blm]

29. Put the ad in West Virginia, Arizona papers.

[Duppers]

38. +100

[meadowlander]

80. Dear Red States: This is why you don't get high tech jobs.

Serious value-added industries aren't going to locate someplace where they can't recruit and retain minority talent.

[Fiendish Thingy]

30. Good first step. Now, what will the CEO's do if a state passes Jim Crow 2.0 laws anyway?

That’s where the rubber hits the road...

[Wounded Bear]

31. Nice, but I hope they do more than just sign up to a list...

[Thunderbeast]

36. Yet, the AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Came out yesterday against federal election reform legislation.

These folks need to tell their lobbyists to get on the same page.

[BradBo]

37. Won't make a bit of difference.

Unless they put their money where their mouth is and don’t contribute to repugs.

[RainCaster]

39. Now they have to stop all conservative funding

GOP, any PACs, or individual candidates. They must all starve for funding in order to get a clue.

[geardaddy]

42. I noticed that the only airline companies on the list are

American Airlines
United Airlines

and Lyft is on there, but not Uber.

[stopdiggin]

61. Uber? aren't they pretty much a black hat all the time outfit?

(I'll admit to being pretty uninformed, but ... NEVER had a great opinion ...)

[Bluethroughu]

45. An AD is one thing, work and money for the cause is another.

If you really believe in Democracy then fight for it companies...it is now or never!

[seta1950]

48. Take Facebook of the list

They need to support congress to pass the bill.

[tiredtoo]

49. This is a good move for PR but,

Lets see if they put their money where their mouth is.

[Blue Owl]

50. Sounds like a big "FUCK YOU" to the GOP

[BobTheSubgenius]

51. The fantastic amount of economic power represented will get some serious attention.

At the moment, largely symbolic, but if they start using threats that have teeth, the GOP can't help but listen. Imagine a R campaign with 20% or less of their normal warchest. They can't risk that.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

53. Needs to be reported on tv, too; MAGAts won't read NYT or WaPo.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

56. They need to buy ad time on Murdoch's network.

Can't imagine the people who need to see this reading newspapers.

[Midnight Writer]

58. We already know they can talk. It's when I see their walk that I will be impressed.

Many also pledged to withhold donations after Jan. 6. Then after the show was over, they went back to "business as usual".

[SheltieLover]

59. They need to back this with action

Restraint in campaign donations to pukes for starters.

Even donate to canddates who support voting rights! Gasp!

What a concept, right?

[Rocknation]

64. TRANSLATION: Hundreds of CEOs, More Than 110 Corporations Sign On To Effort

To Appease Biden Into Not Rolling Back Decades' Worth of Tax Cuts


rocktiviity

[soldierant]

65. Just because it's insufficient doesn't mean they shouldn't do it.

People are commenting as though it's a bad thing. It isn't. It may not be anywhere nearly enough. It may have ulterior motives behind it. But it still needs to be done.

[BigmanPigman]

67. As Maddow says, "Watch what they do".

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

68. "Woke"? Or just jumping on a bandwagon.

I'm sure it's a mixed bag.

[calimary]

69. Well, well, well.

Perhaps the worm is turning - several hundred times.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

70. Oh, and uh...fuck you Mitch McCONnell

[maliaSmith]

71. Voting rights and Big Business

Let's see if they really mean it. Are they still giving money to the GOP who voted in many states to attack voting rights? If the answer is Yes, then then I'm not buying it. Toyota said they don't support attacking voters rights, but then turned around and gave money to GOP who voted to overturn our sacred elections. Home Depot and UPS have also not come out strongly against the racist voting new law. UPS and Home Depot are huge GOP supporters with UPS behind the GOP's attempts to destroy our Post Office. They want all the PO business and GOP (Trump) really helped them by installing corrupt DeJoy at PO.

[tclambert]

72. Aw, they are going to make Mitch McConnell's chin sack quiver.

[Demovictory9]

74. excellent!!!

[littlemissmartypants]

79. Who'd like to see them having roll call on the Capitol steps?

I think I'll reserve judgment until then.

Great post, demmiblue. Thanks.

❤

[riversedge]

81. k and R

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

83. The former guy and his army of foolish slack jaw insurrectionist QOP

morons are an unstable element that is bad for business, democracy, children, and everything else, everywhere.

Any reasonable person who watches footage of these enraged, vacuous unfortunates attacking the Capitol can see, and hear, that there is something seriously wrong with them.

No reasonable person wants to be governed by these unstable, reality challenged nutjobs who are passing voting laws that will lead to a minority of these mean, incompetent, angry, bumbling douchebags controlling their lives.

I'll take every ally I can get in the struggle against Qpublican Idiocracy.

[FakeNoose]

89. Are these names available as a text file?

Does anybody know if it's posted, either on DU or elsewhere?

I'd like to bookmark the info and check back in a few months.