(RightWing.org) – In recent weeks, Texas and Georgia GOP-led legislatures moved to reform election laws that led to the 2020 election issues in their respective state. However, on March 25, during Joe Biden’s first press conference of his presidency, the president called the reforms “sick” and “un-American.” He blatantly mischaracterized Georgia’s election reforms laws, and he doubled down on his lies in a speech in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, March 30.
The president wrongly claimed people aren’t allowed to have water or food while standing in line to vote, that voting would end at 5 PM on election day, and absentee ballots are now prohibited by law. None of it’s true, as we detailed in this story. Regardless, his talking points stuck with Democrats and left-wing activists who began pressuring companies with the false narrative in Georgia and Texas. They demanded that the massive corporations take a stand against the election reforms, of which several obliged them. That forced the Georgia House to respond in kind — with legislation.
Big Companies Condemn Voting Laws
Delta Airlines and Coca-Cola are headquartered in Georgia. After Republican Gov. Brian Kemp signed the election reform bill into law, over 50 left-wing groups began targeting Georgia businesses. Some even called for boycotts. The activists hope that the large companies will use their political muscle to send a message that they stand against the bills.
On Wednesday, March 31, 27 Black executives published an open letter in the New York Times calling on corporate America to stand in public opposition to the laws. Delta Airlines CEO Ed Bastian initially praised parts of the new law. However, as pressure mounted from the Left, he changed course and condemned the bill for its alleged impact on Black voters.
Coca-Cola’s CEO joined in hours later and said it was a “step backward.” However, while the CEOs used the left’s talking points, neither referenced the new law’s requirements nor specifically backed up their claims.
In Texas, it was more of the same as American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Amazon, and AT&T condemned a proposed law in the Texas legislature similar to Georgia’s, claiming the proposed election reforms disenfranchised Black voters. Company CEOs said any election reforms must ensure “ballot integrity.”
Hello? Did they read the laws and study the issues before commenting?
That’s exactly what the two states are attempting to do in the wake of voter distrust over how the pandemic was used to twist voter laws in 2020.
Could Statements Backfire on Companies?
More and more, companies are weighing in on issues important to them, and that’s their Constitutional right to do so. Up until now, businesses generally weighed in on issues that impacted their organizations in some capacity.
However, this is new. The CEOs caved in the face of left-wing pressure to weigh in on an issue that didn’t impact their business operations. Worse still, they appeared to be using left-wing talking points to make the case instead of making specific recommendations of what they thought was good and bad in the laws.
Could this end up hurting their businesses? It depends on how the public views their actions and what their competitors do or don’t do.
One thing is certain: in Georgia, the state House didn’t wait for the public’s viewpoint. Lawmakers voted to strip Delta of its tax break for jet fuel that benefited the company at $35 million per year. Republican House Speaker David Ralston acknowledged it was meant as a reprimand. He said the legislature shouldn’t feed a dog that bites them.
In the coming days, there could be serious fallout as Georgia and Texas election officials who represent GOP districts are immune from the pressure of the left. They may apply their own pressure back on the companies who mistakenly misrepresent their election reform efforts with leftist talking points.
Stay tuned!
Don Purdum, Independent Political Analyst
Copyright 2021, RightWing.org
