Remember the methodology; we explained it here, while writing about the goals of an Effective Progressive Coalition:
The anti-ALEC campaign is a great example of moving the ball. It's also an example of targetting the branding, this time of corps. A group with "position" — Color of Change — painted ALEC support-corporations, one by one, in big bold Trayvon Martin colors. And that color said "racist."Persistence works. While we were watching other bright things (sorry, scandals like LIBOR), the good folks at Color of Change — and each of their progressive associates — kept hitting the corps with an attack that works.
They had timing and position — see why this is the right group to front this? — and ALEC is now branded as racist. The corps are fleeing, since race is still a bridge too far for them. (Nice to know that, by the way. Stash that one for later.)
The anti-ALEC campaign is a one-off, but it works. The groups running it are implicitly following the rules (do you see any violations?) and I don't expect them to stray. Great work.
That attack — Are you still a supporter of the racist group ALEC?
Why stop something that works?
Now five more corps have joined the "I don't want to appear racist" group — HP, Deere, CVS, MillerCoors and BestBuy. I know, some of these groups are troglodytes from way back (I'm looking at you, Coors Family) but still, these are wins and should be celebrated.
The International Business Times:
Five more companies, including Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ), the No. 1 computer maker, have left the controversial American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) since the Feb. 26 killing of Trayvon Martin, 17, in Sanford, Fla.Color of Change and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee deserve huge props for their work.
ALEC is a Washington, D.C.-based group that lobbies for laws in state legislatures, including the "stand your ground" law. George Zimmerman, 28, who's been charged with second-degree murder in the case, has cited the law as part of his defense.
The others to resign are CVS Caremark (NYSE: CVS), Deere & Co. (NYSE: DE), private MillerCoors LLC and BestBuy (NYSE: BBY), respective giants in drugstores, tractors, beer and electronics retailing.
Last month, Dell (Nasdaq: DELL), the No. 3 PC maker, quit ALEC after the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and other liberal groups launched anti-ALEC activities. Nearly 30 companies and nonprofits have quit by now.
Here's what caputulation looks like. From the article:
In a letter to ColorOfChange, part of the coalition, HP's deputy general counsel, Gregg Melinson, wrote: "Although HP appears to have worked with ALEC in the past, HP is not currently a member of the organization."Weasels. But weasels that did what we needed them to do.
How did we win? By using force; by threatening something these companies needed — the appearance of standing against racism.
We can win with Democrats the same way, you know. We just have to want to.
Would you like to say Thank You to Color of Change? Click here. Would you like to help them? Go here.
And thanks!
GP
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