A ‘Progressive Victory’? ALEC Disbands Non-Economic Task Force
- Posted on April 17, 2012 at 11:00pm by
Becket Adams
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Some of the sponsors that abandoned ALEC
The campaign against the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has paid off: “The American Legislative Exchange Council will disband the task force that tackled non-economic issues [i.e. voter ID and “stand your ground” laws],” Hot Air’s Tina Korbe reports.
David Frizzell, Indiana State Representative and 2012 National Chairman of ALEC, issued the following statement today (via ALEC’s website):
Today we are redoubling our efforts on the economic front, a priority that has been the hallmark of our organization for decades. Fostering the exchange of pro-growth, solutions-oriented ideas is precisely why ALEC exists.
To that end, our legislative board last week unanimously agreed to further our work on policies that will help spur innovation and competitiveness across the country.
We are refocusing our commitment to free-market, limited government and pro-growth principles, and have made changes internally to reflect this renewed focus.
We are eliminating the ALEC Public Safety and Elections task force that dealt with non-economic issues, and reinvesting these resources in the task forces that focus on the economy. The remaining budgetary and economic issues will be reassigned.
While we recognize there are other critical, non-economic issues that are vitally important to millions of Americans, we believe we must concentrate on initiatives that spur competitiveness and innovation and put more Americans back to work.
Our free-market, limited government, pro-growth policies are the reason ALEC enjoys the support of legislators on both sides of the aisle and in all 50 states. ALEC members are interested in solutions that put the American economy back on track. This is our mission, and it is what distinguishes us.
Translation: because groups like Color of Change and the the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) successfully incited a mass exodus of sponsors, ALEC has been forced to bow out of certain issues.
Unsurprisingly, liberal activists groups who have long targeted ALEC cheered the decision, viewing it, in part, as a victory (with ThinkProgress referring to it as a“progressive victory”) for their campaign to get “corporations and other groups to drop their support for the Washington, D.C.-based organization,” the AP reports.
ALEC believes it has been unfairly targeted as part of a broader campaign against its conservative agenda.
“This is an all-out intimidation campaign designed to promote government-based solutions rather than the free-market principles that we have seen work,” said Ron Scheberle, the group’s executive director.
Lisa Graves, a leader at the Center for Media and Democracy who has been targeting ALEC over the past year, said the announcement was unexpected but likely a public relations move.
So where does this put us?
“ALEC’s decision was an unfortunate one, but, under the circumstances, it does make sense,” Korbe writes. “They have a vested interest in keeping their focus narrow so as to retain support on both sides of the aisle and to continue to be effective at influencing legislation at the state level.”
She continues:
… ALEC’s decision to sharpen its focus on economic issues doesn’t exonerate the corporations who succumbed to outside special interest groups to go against their own interests…McDonald’s, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Intuit, Kraft, Arby’s and Walgreens showed their true colors when they quickly abandoned ALEC. Apparently, they prioritize political correctness above all — even above free and fair elections, not to mention the free markets that enabled the success of such corporations in the first place.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.




















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Comments (75)
barber2
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 8:33amJust more of the Left’s MIC check/ mob speak / Occupy Theater of the Absurd parroted food for their political zombies. Frightening to see so many robots responding to BIG BROTHER. All in the Name of the Race Card and the Van Jones’ latest assault on capitalism Color of Change ( shades of RED ). Wonder when Michele’s Mouse-keteers will design their own salute ? Oh, wait . They already have : it’s that international Lefty signal of the upraised, clenched fist ! Just that old Lefty symbol of “down with capitalism and I Hate America. ” And Barack’s Eva , his head cheer-leader, leading them on .
Report Post »tifosa
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 8:58pmssssshhhhhhhhhh, don’t tell anyone, especially CATB: P&G dropped them today too. Good luck with the boycott. Shop local #ows
Report Post »dsm
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 7:44amWhy doesn’t the right stand up and start giving these companies a taste of their own medicine. I usually don’t believe in boycotts, but times have changed. If conservatives would boycott these businesses and do a mass social media movement asking conservatives not to buy these products, I think these companies wouldn’t be so fast to fold to the left.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 8:17amThe same goes for the cowards that abandoned Rush Limbaugh. Let the welfare recipients support these companies.
Report Post »encinom
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 11:02amWhy doesn’t the right stand up …
Because the people, other than the brainwashed ditto heads , beckerheads and fox news zombies, realize that they rather stand up for the people and not support political insiders and political machines.
Report Post »Fat Man Chew
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 1:33pm6 out of the 7 companies listed mostly market to the welfare low income groups. Good thing I don’t use any of the companies above.
Report Post »obersaber
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 6:21amMy eyes have been opened.
Report Post »McDonald’s, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Intuit, Kraft, Arby’s and Walgreens showed their true colors when they quickly abandoned ALEC.
These companies do not support my best interest.
I will not do business with them again.
Gonzo
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 8:15amAgreed.
Report Post »happ77
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 8:30amAdd GE, GM, & Levi’s
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 9:01amIt would be more American… to organize a Mutual Fund… which has Stock in these Corporations… and vote out the Leadership!
Report Post »Gypsy123
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 5:24amIf you support the take over of your country buy these products
Report Post »spikebu
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 6:05amI am a pepsiholic. I will not buy it again. That’s not a boycott, it’s a personal statement. I’m switching to a non-branded tea I brew myself.
Report Post »spikebu
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 6:16amFor those of you in Arizona, APS abandoned ALEC. Give me SRP any day!
Report Post »hidden_lion
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 6:18amCowards. They caved.
Report Post »chazmo
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 2:07pm@SPIKEBU. i’m with you brother.. I was a COKE fiend.. now f’em. Tea for me.. And yes it‘s my wife’s brew.. :) Chamomile.. relaxing.. ahhhh..
No Micky D’s, Arby’s, Walgrens, GM, etc etc.. Just my choice. You all can do your own soul searching.
Report Post »NutterButter79
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 3:30amI thought boycotts were un-American? I mean, people went off when Rush’s advertisers were faced with pressure from boycotts. Read quite a few comments on here calling it un-American.
Stop being divided by dumb distractions, there’s bigger fish to fry. ALEC is the least of our worries. We should be on the look out for this out of control society. Attacks on farmers, family values, religion, etc. The people involved with ALEC don’t care about us, they just want to push along their agenda and make more money.
How about handcuffing 6 year olds?
http://revolutioninmedia.com/2012/04/17/shocking-georgia-says-its-okay-to-cuff-6-year-olds/
There are many stories that are getting unreported, or reported with an extreme bias and snarky comments. Educate yourselves. I’ve got my guns and ammo ready for whatever may come.
Report Post »GoodSis
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 6:07amGlenn needs to hear the bad news–Kraft makes OREO COOKIES (darn!). Sad to see Chips Ahoy, Vanilla Wafers and Nutterbutters there, too. One could try boycotting the entire Kraft line of products, but there’s a bunch of them. Maybe focusing on avoiding the biggest sellers would be most effective, I’m guessing KRAFT MAYO, OREO, JELL-O. KOOL-AID. (they all have O’s)
Incidentally, I think supporting companies who advocate ideas beneficial to the country and rejecting those who don’t is patriotic. It’s legal and non-violent—capitalists voting with their feet and their wallets. You are right about there being many important matters to concern ourselves with right now, but it won’t take long to “reach for the other brand” on the shelf.
Report Post »hidden_lion
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 6:20amNutter-
Report Post »that 6 year old was possessed, she was out of control and trashing the principle’s office. She required restraining.
lassiegirldawn
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 3:11amObamas aunt on welfare and living in government housing in Chicago
Report Post »http://soquelbythecreek.blogspot.com/2010/11/is-america-great-country-or-what.html
lassiegirldawn
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 2:45amObamas dog was really bought for sunday dinner.
Report Post »http://dailycaller.com/2012/04/17/obama-bites-dog/
70S_KIDS_FIGHTING_SOCIALISM
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 2:18amThis is why the progressive commies love big huge companies. Ive said it before – Its very easy for them to control huge companies and corporations. But very hard to control small businesses. We must focus on the upcoming election then after we win we can focus on this problem. We will have much maybe even more to do after winning the election.
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 3:07amPersonally, I am boycotting “PAM WICK”
PepsiCo
Arby’s
McDonald’s
Walgreens
Intuit
CocaCola
Kraft
I have written to each and told them so.
I even got banned by Arby’s twitter account for expressing my disapproval (politely and professionally).
We have been down this road before in the 70′s.
We took the “high road” back then, and we were completely ignored and silenced, while the left gained strength and numbers and influence and seats at the table.
Well, this time I’m out of cheeks to turn, and I’m speaking with my wallet and keyboard.
Enough is enough!
“To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him, it is sin.”
The only thing corporations understand or respond to is MONEY. Thus, the ONLY way to get their attention is with money.
Chic-Fil-A is a great company. So is What-A-Burger.
PepsiCo is still deeply tied to my old favorites, the “Yum” brands of PizzaHut TacoBell KFC A&W etc.
so I’m doing without those until Pepsi corrects its course.
Dr. Pepper may be a good alternative, but water may be better.
As for Kraft? It’s all processed junk, so no big loss. Intuit? I’ll use HRBlock. Avoid Quicken, QuickBooks, & TurboTax. Walgreens? Try WalMart for cheap RX.
Money Talks, & we know who has the $ ! Let’s just remind THEM!
Report Post »Nobody thinks smelly, basement-dwelling occupiers spend $7 on a hamburger, but WE DID!
Yep, we may end up growing our own, but, we will have our ethics intact & be healthier for it.
barber2
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 9:13amTOM: that you for being an organized doer rather than a lazy whiner.
Report Post »Excomunicatedmarine
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 1:50amThe attacks against what has been good about the US are many, from all sides. I can think of only one entity that could be so widespread ………. Satan does indeed have many faces.
Unless we turn back to God we will suffer the same fate as many old testament nations ……..
I don’t see a lot of repenting going on……
Beware, you who do have faith and walk the walk, that you are not caught in the purging.
Report Post »13th Generation American
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 1:05amWell you all need to quit using Facebook, Google, Yahoo, IBM, Apple, Cisco, Oracle, HP any number of Wall Street Firms and basically all television because these are all ardent Obama supporting companies and institutions. The only thing you will be left with is GBTV and growing your own food with those Survival Seeds whilst wearing that Jingoistic 1791 clothing..
There are about 100 Million registered Democrats in this country and about 80 Million Independents and 30 percent of the population has a College Degree. $2 million Americans live in poverty the highest since Bush 1 left office.
Good luck in 2012, you’re going to need is badly
Report Post »WeekendAtBernankes
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 1:09amlolwut?
Report Post »cookcountypatriot
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 1:12amdamm i hope your wrong
Report Post »WeekendAtBernankes
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 1:12amThine cheese hath done slid off thy *******.
Report Post »WeekendAtBernankes
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 1:19amWell apparently TPTB here at The Blaze have found my word choice unfit for public consumption. Therefore, allow me to rephrase:
Thine cheese hath done slid off thy dry, flat, salty biscuit.
Report Post »13th Generation American
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 1:28amType, that’s 42 Million living in Poverty about the same percentage as when Bush 1 left office.
and if you people are for cutting Social Security and Medicaid what are your parents going to do? They will slide into poverty with no healthcare. Or you could go with the GOP and QUOTE“ invest your SS in the stock market” Do you really want to see the next bubble be the Social Security System? Those guys and Wall Street with invest your SS dollars in the same crap they did with the housing bubble and BAM, all gone now followed by, hey Mr. tax payer, can you bail us out again because we stole all your money and hid it and now we are broke
Report Post »survivorseed
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 2:15amDon’t forget to put in your order for my seeds. We are all doomed you know and I need to live in the manner i’m accustomed to.
Report Post »milez5
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 2:42amWell the real problem is that conservatives have no counter to groups like “color of change,’ Van Jones outfit. In fact conservatives often take the tack that you can’t counter bad behavior with bad behavior.
Report Post »But that’s only true if you are dealing with Honorable people. However, in this case you are dealing with the most vile and ruthless communist thugs against whom you must not bring a knife to the gunfight.
TomFerrari
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 2:47amJust ignore “survivorseed”
Report Post »He’s a TROLL and is just baiting.
Don’t give him what he wants, which is to distract us from the issues.
The best way to get his goat is just to ignore him and stay focused.
Salamander
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 2:51amOne of the problems with Social Security is that it is now called ‘a tax’! Rather, it is FICA, the Federal Insurance Contributions Act, an ill-conceived, but long-established program to force workers to set aside 15% of their pay (half directly from them and half as an additional payroll contribution from their employer–unless self-employed in which case they get to fund the entire contribution). In a subtle sleight-of-hand, FICA has become ‘payroll tax’, and NOW THE FUN BEGINS! What we are seeing in the arguments, both pro and con, is what happens when we allow ‘The Government’ to do something for us that we ought to be doing for ourselves! Worse still, ‘The Rich’ include ALL THOSE RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS who have set aside in investments their hard-earned cash, so they can more assuredly fund their own retirements. Now, what the government doesn’t tax into oblivion, the progressives, the press, ‘The Poor’ and others who haven’t been prudent with their earnings, want to grab the rest of it in the form of ‘Pay Your Fair Share’! That ‘Fair Share’ has ALREADY BEEN PAID!
Report Post »hogtrashhd
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 12:57amsomebody needs to start working of getting rid of color of change. believe me.. if it’s headed by van jones it has to be criminal and i bet the ricco act would cover it.. put these destructive communists out of business.
Report Post »cookcountypatriot
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 1:15amthe only way out of this is to defeat obama and then totally dismantle progressivism in this country…they want thier revolution…we can beat them in the spirit of dr martin luther king..they were taught by alinsky ..we were taught by king…and jesus christ….wake up people
Report Post »rsanchez1
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 12:48amThey couldn’t take down Rush, so now they’re settling for a consolation prize.
Report Post »SandyfromChesterfield
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 12:38amPolitical correctness was developed by marxists. So that is whom these companies are now in bed with.
Report Post »goengo
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 12:35amI feel sorry for the companies involved…they are caught in the middle. First, they are attacked by the racist progressives at Color of Change who threaten the companies with a boycott, using race to up the ante. When the companies give in to the Color of Change, they anger the rest of us….But we MUST get the attention of the companies who caved in to Color of Change, else this group will destroy our free market economy!
Report Post »trueamerican40
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 12:16amThey don’t care, OLDGUY. They are rich and prosperous just like the Bilderbergs…money has blinded their eyes and has bloated their stomachs.
Report Post »trueamerican40
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 11:39pmI just think that these companies don’t have the balls…we’ve seen this before etc. the bakery in a small German town who refused to sell any bread to Jews due to the LAWS of the time. Human nature.
Report Post »oldguy49
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 11:59pmwho is on their board of directors ?? don’t they realize that a socialist country will not be able to buy their products in the quanaties that a free one will !!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »GoodStuff
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 11:36pmThe greatest threat to American is politically correct thought police.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 11:34pmevery single one of those companies who bowed to the Left and its obama-communism and dumped ALEC can now watch our all-American hard-earned dollars disappear because we will NEVER buy their commie products or go in their yellow commie stores again.
Report Post »13th Generation American
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 12:41amYou sound like the paranoid schizophrenia version of Archie Bunker. You are calling Coke, Pepsi and this one makes me LOL McDonald’s, the epitome of Capitalism, communist companies?
Come on man :) hahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahhahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
whoo
Report Post »Anse
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 11:32pmmore persecution of the white christians…. soon there will be nothing left for us….. we must take a stand
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 11:28pmSo all those companies would rather piss off 70% of buyers for 20% of the revenue capable Liberals? Talk about dumb moves and marketing idiocy.
All those companies are on my no buy list. I don’t drink Pepsi, so that is a no brainer, but now I can’t buy Dr. Pepper. I don’t drink Coke. I can give up McD’s no problem there. I can stop shopping Walgreen’s, I hardly shop there anyway. Stopped Arby’s a long time ago. So frankly I rarely gave these companies my business anyway. Kraft, might be my hardest. I think I have a few Kraft items in my pantry or frig. Once they are gone, they are gone.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 11:38pmsame here!! almost exactly the same!! ~~~~ we have a huge ”Kraft NO-BUY” list on the frig, and have already found a LOT of great quality substitutes for Kraft-owned brands. none of us need to ever buy Kraft-owned again!!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 11:48pmYes ..and most store brands I am finding are as good .. if not better than the brand names that you pay extra for … yes .. I have my will not buy list also .. and that includes Hollywood elites who talk the the talk but don’t walk the walk in their own lives .. do as I say not as I do liberals …
http://www.amazon.com/Hollywood-Hypocrites-Jason-Mattera/dp/1451625618/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1334720883&sr=1-1
Report Post »CatB
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 11:55pmAnyone who missed it before .. here is the Kraft list …
http://www.pirg.org/ge/reports/kraftproducts.pdf
Report Post »Salamander
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 2:54amWanna bet that ‘Kraft’ makes a bunch of private label stuff? You’re probably eating Kraft products without even knowing it!
Report Post »barber2
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 9:07amSAL: Yes. Wonder who makes the Kroger brands ? Safeway ? We need more info AND people need to write letters/ emails / make phone calls. Remember the COMMUNITY ORGANIZING that Alinsky taught and Obama and Company studied ? It works. That is why the minority Left has become more powerful than the majority. They are ORGANIZED and very AGGRESSIVE. They plan to steam-roller over the “complaisant ” majority. Please wake up and GET MOVING ( as Michele herself advises ! )
Report Post »truthseekerusa
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 3:32pmCatb thanks for the list–don’t buy many of these but have printed out the list and will circulate it to others.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 11:18pmJust like the banks who gave into the Left’s Discrimination Card intimidation to give home loans to the ” poor minorities .” That turned out swell. Now the Left is using the Discrimination Card to prevent employers from looking into the credit histories and criminal records of potential employees. That will work out just swell also. People have been giving into this over reach of the Discrimination Card for years . All to the detriment of this country. Since Lefties hate capitalism, they must be thrilled by the damage these destructive policies cause. Too bad someone doesn’t play the Discrimination Card to protect the rights of the Tax Payers : the biggest mistreated class in this country which is being Occupied by the takers.
Report Post »JohnLarson
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 11:13pmGood news.
Castle Laws are fine, being able to kill anyone who scares you is stupid. Trayvon could have just as easily shot Zimmerman and claimed he was standing his ground.
Report Post »GoodStuff
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 11:35pmSpeak english!
Report Post »marine249
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 11:43pm@GOODSTUFF
johnlarson he no know how
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 11:13pmThe progressives have won.
Report Post »vox_populi
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 11:50pmIn the long run, we usually do.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 12:11amOnly one battle .. not the war … wait until their business drops off .. like Carbonite and the Rush Limbaugh effect. It is easy to avoid most of the businesses above .. for Kraft here is a list of their products.
http://www.pirg.org/ge/reports/kraftproducts.pdf
Report Post »Cemoto78
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 11:13pmThis is why our country continues to decline; political correctness. How many reasonable persons will now quietly boycott these weak corporations who caved to the minority and champions of political correctness. Money isn’t everything but freedom is. Those above listed corporations will be hearing from me and I will no longer associate with them. Personally, I’d like ICE to take a closer look at them….
Report Post »barber2
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 8:51amAnd don‘t forget the Left’s greatest tool in their Destroy Capitalism/ America toolbox: The Race Card. Ruined public education ; ruined the housing/ bank markets; trying to repeal gun laws ( Martin Case ) ; using it to prevent border control; could go on…. Just the Left’s twisted “ social justice ” which actually boils down to ruining this country in their anger and ” revenge.” Scores are being settled. Sad as it hurts everyone – regardless of color or class. Destroying American capitalism for what ? What is this Brave New World that they in-vision ?
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 11:08pmSo where is the comprehensive list of the companies that jumped ship? come on Blaze tonight i am lazy and do not wanna do the research……………..
tomorrow i will.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 11:57pmhttp://www.pirg.org/ge/reports/kraftproducts.pdf
Here are the products for the KRAFT LIST
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