Empower Wisconsin  | May 18, 2022

A new poll shows what Corporate America should already know: Americans aren’t interested in the woke interests of business.

The Convention of States Action poll, conducted by respected pollster The Trafalgar Group, finds 87 percent of American voters say they are likely to stop using a product or service of a company that openly advocates for a political agenda they disagree with. Of that sweeping majority, nearly 52 percent are very likely, and 35 percent are somewhat likely to disengage with a brand over politics. Just 12.8 percent say they don’t really care.

“The progressive left’s insistence that everybody and everything adhere to their agenda and politics is now coming home to roost,” said Mark Meckler, president of Convention of States Action. “When an overwhelming majority of Americans, from all political backgrounds say they are now likely to boycott companies they disagree with, it’s an indicator that regardless of what side they choose to take, this is a losing battle for the companies.”

Despite some public-relations beatings, the biggest offenders appear to have learned nothing.

Disney CEO Bob Chapek told a gathering of advertisers Tuesday that his painfully woke company is “the most powerful force in the industry” and “the most enduring and beloved name in entertainment.”

On April 19, CNN reported Disney stock had plunged 15 percent on the year, making it one of the worst performers in the Dow at that point. A few days later, Fox Business reported the mass media and entertainment company had seen its stock value plummet 33 percent over the year. As of Tuesday, the stock was down nearly 30 percent this year. The market beating is in no small part related Disney’s woke agenda and its battle with Florida lawmakers over its privileged tax status.

Other companies with a lust for playing social re-engineer are experiencing pushback, too.

Some are getting the message.

As Liz Peek recently wrote:

Former McDonald’s CEO Ed Rensi, fed up with woke corporate activism, has launched The Boardroom Initiative. He encourages companies to butt out of politics, saying, “Corporations have no business being on the right or the left because…their sole job is to build equity for the investors.”

A vast majority of Americans agree.

“Unless they want to be continuously in the middle of a culture war, it’s time for companies to leave politics and activism behind, and return to simply providing products and services to their customers,” Meckler said.

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