A lot of corporate feathers are being ruffled today, you can almost hear the rustling. Definitely you can hear the squawking. Toyota got itself in the crosshairs of the Lincoln Project when it was found out that Toyota was contributing to members of the Sedition Caucus, who contributed to the Big Lie that Trump in fact won the 2020 election.
That prompted Lincoln Project to air this ad, which Comcast refused to air, because it said it violated their terms of service. More about that is explained below in the Lincoln Project’s statement.
.@Comcast is refusing to air this ad — opting instead to shield corporate advertisers.
Comcast, like @Toyota, is prioritizing their bottom line over supporting and defending democracy.
Send Comcast a message and share this video. We will not be deterred. pic.twitter.com/Qkvl79Oc7k
— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) July 8, 2021
Here’s the Lincoln Project statement about the Comcast issue.
Today, The Lincoln Project released a new ad holding Toyota to account for their continued political contributions to those members of Congress who tried to overturn the 2020 election and who now seek to cover up the January 6th attack on the Capitol. The Lincoln Project was informed by Comcast that they would refuse to run the commercial because it did not meet their guidelines:
An advertisement may be rejected if it is merely an attack of a personal nature, a direct attack on an individual business or comment on a private dispute. Advertisements may be accepted if the attack is on a business that is in the public forum or the issue is one of public concern.
Based on their own guidelines, our ad falls squarely under their description of a business that is in the public forum or the issue is one of public concern.
It is clear Comcast would rather act as a shield for their corporate advertisers than air a factual critique of one of the largest corporations operating in America today. Comcast, like Toyota, is prioritizing their bottom line over supporting and defending democracy.
The Lincoln Project will not be deterred by corporate censorship. Indeed, we will continue to hold corporations accountable for funding those who seek to weaken our democracy — and Comcast may be among them.
Then Toyota decided to roll over, just a short while ago this morning.
New — Toyota announces it will stop contributing to members of Congress who opposed the election certification https://t.co/V55ycn6qgE pic.twitter.com/Y19BeGvQWV
— Riley Beggin (@rbeggin) July 8, 2021
Good choice. Good for Toyota for making it. I wonder what took them so long? Or, for the cynical amongst us — not saying the cynical are wrong, by the way — it’s possible that they’ll “find a back door, a work around or a brown paper bag” as one tweeter put it. Perhaps.
Just one more rock on the pile, illustrating the larger proposition that the Big Lie is the most divisive conspiracy theory in American culture right now.
I fear that just like the first time around they will wait a while until the heat goes down – and then start quietly contributing to the sedition caucus again. Or, worse do what you suggested they might do and find some kind of work-around to hide what they are up to.
About a year ago, I was considering buying a Prius with some funds inherited from my father. Now, I am glad that I decided against that purchase. I don’t care if Toyota never donates to any politician or cause that is trying to destroy our democracy, I would not ever buy any Toyota, even a used one!
Just like I will never vote for ANY republiQanon (there is no more republican party anymore)!
We have bought Toyotas for many years. I think we’ll buy something else next time.
Their cars are excellent. Their political judgement is poor.
Good ad, good idea. I heard Toyota had backed down, but that is not the end of the battle. So did a number of other corporations that have since begun to feed into PACs that support the rethug cause, threby sill indirectly supporting those they profess to have cut off. A good investigation into thi situation might be warranted, followed by a fairly strong boycott movement.