Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell threatened “serious consequences” for corporations that retaliate against Republican-led efforts to pass new state election laws.
No neutral ground
Corporate America weighs in on Georgia’s voting-rights law
Politically engaged consumers increasingly push companies to take sides in political disputes
United StatesApr 10th 2021 editionDonald Trump’s populism, the power of the consumer and accelerating American polarisation are tearing at the age-old partnership between Republicans and business
Apr 8th 2021
NEW YORK
Though the divide has never been tidy, for the past century Republicans have been seen as the party of big business in America and Democrats as the party of labour. Under Bill Clinton and Barack Obama the Democrats found friends in Silicon Valley and on Wall Street, but they never overcame the Republican formula of cutting taxes, opposing regulation and reaping corporate campaign support.
Donald Trump’s populism and the growing power of the consumer are tearing at the old order. Companies are coming under tremendous new pressure from the left. Some fear customer boycotts if they fail to take stands on divisive social questions. Others, less vulnerable to consumers, fear revolts by their progressive mbas and software engineers.
