Editorial: McConnell to businesses. Show us the money, then go away
Monday, April 12, 2021 -- Rather than threatening these corporations for the responsible stand they've taken, Sen. Mitch McConnell and others seeking to restrict voting should recognize their own overreach. One thing successful businesses - such as MLB, Coca Cola and Delta - usually understand is their customers and what they need to do to keep them.
Posted — UpdatedWhen it comes to American corporations expressing themselves, Republican U.S. Sen Mitch McConnell would rather these businesses put their money where their mouths are than listening to them when they speak and act up.
McConnell’s fine with taking the corporate campaign money, but if they dare to take a stand contrary to McConnell’s they’d best shut up or watch out.
McConnell is all for unfettered corporate speech when it’s about cozying up to him and his political allies in closed-door briefings. He’s their biggest cheerleader when these businesses act in their corporate interest to funnel millions into campaigns and political action committees that pursue ideological and partisan agendas that help him stay in office and maintain his power.
But when they act as matter of conscience, as they’ve done to stand against laws that restrict access to voting, he demands they shut up. Like Victorian children, McConnell’s corporations should be seen and not heard.
The reality is that corporations rarely act as they did against the Georgia law. North Carolina knows that all too well. As the state’s legislative leaders lavished pro-business legislation and corporate tax cuts, they and former Gov. Pat McCrory mistakenly believed it gave them immunity from overreaching.
But the HB2 debacle shows that there are limits as businesses stopped planned North Carolina expansions, big-name entertainers cancelled performances and major professional and collegiate sporting events – including the NBA All-Star Game – moved to different venues.
At issue here is not the behavior of the business community, as McConnell would like it, but the actions of the Kentucky senator’s partisan allies in Georgia.
Rather than threatening these corporations for the responsible stand they’ve taken, he and others seeking to restrict voting should recognize their own overreach. One thing successful businesses – such as MLB, Coca Cola and Delta – usually understand is their customers and what they need to do to keep them.
The problem here is McConnell and the off-the-charts election manipulations of his allies – not the businesses that are speaking up about it.
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