In the weeks following last year’s riot at the U.S. Capitol, Amazon suspended all campaign donations to the 147 Republicans who objected to certifying the election that day, calling their behavior “unacceptable.”
That includes lobbyists for Microsoft, Google, Meta, Allstate, Toyota, Nike and Dow Chemical Company. The big tech companies were the largest group, highlighting Silicon Valley’s balancing act as it faces increasing scrutiny from both sides of the aisle. Most of the 13 companies either did not offer a comment on their employees’ donations or declined to comment. Those who did emphasized that the money was given in the employee’s capacity as an individual, using their own money. Sean Smith, a General Electric spokesperson, said that it would “respect that our employees’ personal decisions on donations are their own.
“The reality is the contribution from the lobbyist is just as important in terms of the Washington access and influence-buying game,” she said. “The access and influence buying is kind of the lubrication of how policy gets made in Washington, and the reality has been that so far very little political price has been paid by those Republicans who were objectors.”
More than a dozen companies that originally banned donations to these members have changed tack since. A POLITICO analysis identified 60 corporate and trade association PACs that made such promises; 15 ended up reversing and donating to the objectors or their leadership PACs. “Unfortunately, despite the ‘outsider’ image Big Tech companies like Facebook and Amazon try to project, the truth is their lobbying posture in Washington represents the cynicism too many Americans sadly expect,” she added.
Companies have no rights to interfere with what an employee votes for or gives money to. Worked my hospital for years and we could not do any campaigning wear buttons etc? Yet they could do and back whoever. So stop getting into ones business as long do their job?
Does Politico write whatever stories Dems tell them to write. $28k in donations is not even a remote blip when campaigns now cost millions and millions. Are you suggesting a ban on tech lobbyists 1st Amendment rights. Really stupid story
Sure but these donations, as your story states, were personal donations from individuals. Pretty sure neither lobbyists nor companies can stop individuals from contributing to the politicians they want. If these weren’t company/lobbyist funds what’s the issue?
Now do the bailout fund by Kamala