Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Lessons Learned: Nike vs In-n-Out


Not all ventures into politics are equal.  Take the story of In-n-Out versus Nike.

Let’s start with In-n-Out Burgers.  Liberals decided to call for a national boycott because California-based In-n-Out committed the “sin” of donating to the GOP.  How stupid is the idea of boycotting a company for making a political donation?  [BTW – In-n-Out gave equally to the Republicans and Democrats.]  Almost every company, even the small businesses you buy from, is run by someone who has a political opinion.  Having that opinion is protected by free speech clause of the U.S. Constitution.  It’s fundamental to America; it’s what so many millions of fellow Americans have died for on bloody battlefields all over the world.

Most businesses or their CEOs give political donations.  Most of us never know who the businesses we buy from donate to … or much care.  If we like a product, we buy it.  But boycotting businesses who give to the GOP is idiotic.

Nationally syndicated conservative TV and radio host, Wayne Allyn Root, makes these three points:

First, the GOP controls both the Executive and Legislative branches of the federal government, a large majority of Governors, Lt. Governors and state legislatures.  In short, the GOP dominates America.  As a matter of fact, polling proves “conservatives” outnumber “liberals” in 47 out of 50 states.  Yet liberals and their media suggest us as either “extreme” “racist” “Nazis” or criminals.  Liberals are delusional and out of touch. Conservative views are common sense and mainstream.

Secondly, the GOP is pro-business, pro-Capitalism, and as President Trump has proven (just like Reagan before him) great for the economy, jobs, small business and the average middle class American worker.  So, how can it be a “sin” for a business to donate to the GOP?  We are benefiting from GOP policies.  So are the majority of our customers. That’s precisely why consumer confidence is the highest in 18-years.

Thirdly, polls prove small business owners are the 2nd most optimistic in modern history. Only Reagan made them happier and that was almost four decades ago.  Like it or not, the owner of almost every small business you buy from is a Republican and fan of Trump.

So, the liberals think we’re going to boycott all 28-million small businesses in America for donating to the party that’s great for the economy, helps our businesses succeed?  That could be why the In-n-Out boycott failed so disastrously.  No one cares about a political donation.

But now we come to corporation number two – Nike.  They just made a disastrous decision … and they will pay for it with a massive sales decline and billions in lost stock value.  Nike may have fatally damaged itself last week.  Nike didn’t make a political donation, but just made former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick the face of their company.  That is a combination of stupid, ignorant, offensive and tragic.  Nike just sided with what half of America (and all 63-million Trump voters) thinks is a vile, ungrateful, America-hater.  Now that’s bad business.  Here’s a guy who had a $150-million contract, but thinks America is “unfair” to minorities.  Here’s a guy who spits in the face of vets, cops and our flag.  Here’s a guy who gives the black power salute at the US Open from a luxury box.  You’d think Nike would have learned from the NFL’s terrible decision to allow players to kneel for our national anthem.  The NFL lost hundreds of millions with massive ratings declines, empty seats and lost merchandise sales.  Kaepernick was the face of that disaster.

As I write this blog, In-n-Out is in great shape and Nike just destroyed a billion-dollar brand. The ‘Silent Majority’ is speaking … and liberals and corporations had better listen.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

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