Posted on 11/26/2010 6:07:22 AM PST by eartotheground
Jesse Jackson isn't the only activist that can use corporate boycotts for political purposes. Starting next year, the huge Tea Party organizer FreedomWorks will urge supporters to punish huge corporations like General Electric and Johnson and Johnson for backing President Obama's progressive agenda.
FreedomWorks president Matt Kibbe says: "Tea Party activists are willing to tackle progressive CEOs just as they tackled progressive politicians. Judging by the results of the midterm elections, progressive CEOs should buckle up, because Tea Party activists are going to give them a very bumpy ride."
His project partner, Tom Borelli, director of the National Center for Public Policy Research's Free Enterprise Project, added: "Big businesses are now on notice that there is a measurable business risk for actively supporting the Obama, Reid, and Pelosi progressive public policy agenda."
Their initial focus will be on consumer firms that lobbied for passage of Obama's agenda items that helped their firms. "We are going after the rent-seeking corporations feeding at the public trough," said FreedomWorks' spokesman Adam Brandon.
The groups released a new Wilson Research Strategies poll which shows how companies could suffer when conservatives are told of their support for Obama's agenda. The poll found that when customers are told of a consumer product firm's support for healthcare reform, bailouts, cap-and-trade energy policies or other issues pushed by the administration, their favorability among conservatives plummets.
A few examples:
-- General Electric. The firm has a 51 percent favorable image, but when poll takers were told of it's support for the Obama economic stimulus plan, only 20 percent had a favorably impression of the consumer giant.
-- Johnson and Johnson. Nearly 69 percent had a favorable impression of the health company before Johnson and Johnson's support for health reform legislation was detailed to survey-takers. Afterward, that favorability dropped to 16 percent.
The poll also found that 81 percent of conservative voters active in the Tea Party would be "less likely to buy products from companies that actively lobbied to pass Obama's $787 billion stimulus plan," and 61 percent would blog, Facebook, or upload a YouTube video urging backers to boycott their products.
FreedomWorks and the National Center for Public Policy Research's Free Enterprise Project will first start by releasing the poll on Tuesday. It will then urge bloggers and other activists to spread the news about how companies lobbied for Obama's agenda. And soon after look for the groups to list the ties of major firms to the Democrats and progressives. "To break up this unholy alliance between government and business, we have to shine a light on it," says Kibbe. "This is a next step in a series of battles," adds Borelli.
Consumer boycotts by activists such as Jesse Jackson have a long record of success. But a Tea Party boycott could be bigger and impact the political world in Washington where corporations are generally viewed as supporting Republicans. "For too long, big business elites have leveraged their special interest group politics to profit from the size and growth of government. The poll demonstrates that the days of easy money through back room deals are over," says Kibbe.
* Michael L. Ainslie, CEO of Sotheby’s 1984-94 * Arthur Blank, Co-founder of Home Depot * Maxine Clark, CEO of Build-a-Bear Workshop * Michael Eisner, CEO of Disney, 1984-2005 * Alan Feldman, CEO of Midas * Bill Gates, Co-founder of Microsoft * Stephen F. Gates, Former EVP Conoco-Phillips * Jack M. Greenberg, CEO of McDonald’s 1998-2002 * Lawrence V. Jackson, Wal-Mart Executive * Sidney Kimmel, CEO of Jones Apparel Group, 1975-2002 * James Kimsey, AOL’s founding CEO * Philip Marineau, CEO of Levi Strauss, 1999-2006 * Norman S. Matthews, President and COO of Federated, 1987-88 * Thomas J. Meredith, CFO of Dell, 1992-2000 * George MrKonic, Jr., Former President of Borders * Craig Newmark, Founder Craigslist * Paul Orfalea, founder of Kinko’s * Dan Rosensweig, COO of Yahoo, 2002-2007 * Howard Schultz, founder of Starbucks * Terry Semel, CEO of Yahoo, 2001-2007 * James Sinegal, CEO of Costco * Tom Stemberg, Founder and CEO of Staples, Inc. * Marvin Traub, CEO of Bloomingdale’s, 1978-1992 * George Zimmer, founder and CEO of Men’s Wearhouse
Bump ... high time ...
Johnson and Johnson has done itself in with the constant recalls of their products.
Evidently quality control at J&J is equal to the quality control at the White House.
companies who back either party openly are not very smart. Way to shrink your market share/ potential customers by half
Its unfortunate that its come to this but they chose to get into bed with the marxists.
Retail CEOs Who Supported Barack Obama in the 2008 Presidential Election:
Some of the dates used with those CEOs indicate they no longer are in command at the companies listed with their name. Are they still there and in another executive job?
“Its unfortunate that its come to this but they chose to get into bed with the marxists.”
In a perfect world we would respect corporate America.
Many of us in our senior years were brought up to believe that giants like GE, really did bring good things to our lives.
Today, however, big business, as well as government, has been taken over, and run by the Communist.
I truly fear for America, and those of you that are still there should be afraid, very afraid.
Add: Progressive Insurance
Don’t know, just pulled a quick list off of Google. Can obviously do lots of research on this topic.
BTW, JNJ is the stock symbol for Johnson and Johnson if you want to go over to Schwab and dump any shares you might have.
The year 2011 is an excellent time for people who attend tea parties to stay political active even when national elections are not taking place.
It adds variety to the movement and as the saying goes "Variety is the spice of life".
lets not forget that 90% of Hollywood directly supported this Marxist Muslim, as well as Muslim Extremists in general. They have hated America for a Long Long time. Everytime you PURCHASE A MOVIE TICKET, you are DIRECTLY SUPPORTING COMMUNISTS AND TERRORISTS WORLDWIDE. ANd yes this includes people like outgoing Governor Shriver in California. Need proof?? How about the latest from the daughter of Jon Voight, who said the other day that she will not celebrate Thanksgiving with her children because it casts a bad light on COMMUNISM.
The alinsky tactics work in both directions.
The TEA party CAN wreak havoc on the little commy wannabes companies IF they will apply the tactics.
WE HAVE THE POWER !
If a Republican was running and appeared he/she was going to win these same CEO's would be supporting them. Many of these CEO's have no political alliance other than making money and getting on ones good side regardless of party.
* Michael L. Ainslie, CEO of Sotheby’s 1984-94
* Arthur Blank, Co-founder of Home Depot
* Maxine Clark, CEO of Build-a-Bear Workshop
* Michael Eisner, CEO of Disney, 1984-2005
* Alan Feldman, CEO of Midas
* Bill Gates, Co-founder of Microsoft
* Stephen F. Gates, Former EVP Conoco-Phillips
* Jack M. Greenberg, CEO of McDonald’s 1998-2002
* Lawrence V. Jackson, Wal-Mart Executive
* Sidney Kimmel, CEO of Jones Apparel Group, 1975-2002
* James Kimsey, AOL’s founding CEO
* Philip Marineau, CEO of Levi Strauss, 1999-2006
* Norman S. Matthews, President and COO of Federated, 1987-88
* Thomas J. Meredith, CFO of Dell, 1992-2000
* George MrKonic, Jr., Former President of Borders
* Craig Newmark, Founder Craigslist
* Paul Orfalea, founder of Kinko’s
* Dan Rosensweig, COO of Yahoo, 2002-2007
* Howard Schultz, founder of Starbucks
* Terry Semel, CEO of Yahoo, 2001-2007
* James Sinegal, CEO of Costco
* Tom Stemberg, Founder and CEO of Staples, Inc.
* Marvin Traub, CEO of Bloomingdale’s, 1978-1992
* George Zimmer, founder and CEO of Men’s Wearhouse
I wouldn’t buy from P just because of the blitz of their stupid commercials.
GE has been on my OFF list for a long time. Since before they shut down share holder protests at their meeting in 2009.
J&J is not to be confused with SCJohnson.
I am NOT defending these CEO’s but:
Very large corporations will give money to both democrats and republicans. Often it will be to the one who is in power or the one that will likely be in power.
I’m wondering the same. A corporation will typically back both horses to ensure “success” no matter the outcome. There are some on the list, however, that can’t lose by backing the lefty. Starbucks comes to mind.
I avoid ANYTHING they do like the plague.
Dick Armey Inc would be a more appropriate name.
A pox upon him, and the horse he rides.
Blank was retired from Home Depot for years before Obama ever ran for office. He also built the largest aquarium in the world without using a nickel of taxpayer money. As a private citizen he can support whoever he wants, no matter how bad.
bttt
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