AdWeek: “Why Brands and Politics Don’t Mix”

ldanielson — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:53:29 +0000

Here’s a good article from AdWeek’s Steve Simpson on the potential impact of the Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn a provision of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act that prohibited corporations and unions to expressly endorse political candidates. He suggests that businesses will play less of a role than many think:

The great irony is that this ruling comes at the exact moment when corporations, and brands, have become more “activist” than ever. As their operations and policies have become more transparent, they have had to become better citizens. Generally, the best corporations and brands have risen to the task, making commitments to social good core to their mission and key to their corporate communications. It’s no longer just tax-beneficial stuff relegated to the sponsorship department.

But these efforts are studiously neutral, rigorously apolitical: support of the environment, of education, of the arts. These corporations and brands — sensitive to a diverse marketplace, responsive to highly communicative customers — may have new rights given to them by Citizens United, but they will never use them. It is terrible HR, disastrous PR and unthinkably bad business.

Head on over to AdAge.com to read the full article

Full article url: http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/community/columns/other-columns/e3i6f1a697eee327ba0da5e1421ef470b58

North Woods Advertising » Politics & Business

AdWeek: “Why Brands and Politics Don’t Mix”