On Wednesday, California Democratic Party Chair Eric Bauman tweeted a call to boycott beloved SoCal burger chain In-N-Out because of it’s donation to the California GOP.
Et tu In-N-Out? Tens of thousands of dollars donated to the California Republican Party... it’s time to
- let Trump and his cronies support these creeps... perhaps animal style!
— EricBauman (@EricBauman)
Et tu In-N-Out? Tens of thousands of dollars donated to the California Republican Party... it’s time to #BoycottInNOut - let Trump and his cronies support these creeps... perhaps animal style!https://t.co/9zkdFaG5CJ
— EricBauman - The UnCommon Sense Democrat (@EricBauman) August 30, 2018
In-N-Out had made a $25,000 donation to the California Republican Party Monday, listing it as a contribution for the November midterm election. The chain responded to criticism by pointing out it made equal contributions to a Democratic Political Action Committee. According to reports, Democratic PAC “California for Jobs and a Strong Economy” received donations from the burger chain.
How will this affect In-N-Out and will consumers care? How should a business navigate political donations in a time of hyper partisanship? And is there a way for a business to make donations without affecting their brand?
Guests:
Robert Winsor, professor of marketing and business law at Loyola Marymount's College of Business Administration
Abby Wood, campaign finance expert and associate professor of law, political science and public policy at the USC Gould School of Law