Will GOP Presidential Candidates Take Money From ‘Woke’ Companies?

(TeaParty.org Exclusive) – There appears to be two sects within the Republican Party. The “mega MAGA” sect (as Joe Biden would call it) and the RINOs (as the mega MAGA sect would call them). The GOP presidential field reflects this division.

One interesting litmus test was the Daily Caller News Foundation asking each Republican candidate whether or not they planned on accepting contributions from “woke” corporations.

Interestingly, Republicans have traditionally been allies for Corporate America, however, big corporations are increasingly finding themselves at odds with the GOP and its base because of the embrace of the left’s woke agenda.

In response to the inquiry from the DCNF, the outlet reported the following:

“The campaigns of South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson declined to comment. The campaigns of former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez didn’t respond at all. The campaigns of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, talk radio host Larry Elder, former Vice President Mike Pence and former President Donald Trump did respond, but none said they’d refuse “woke” corporate PAC donations.”

“Governor DeSantis enjoys broad support, including from Disney expats and even a former Soros employee who rejects the woke and embraces law and order,” Bryan Griffin, DeSantis’ press secretary, told the DCNF in a statement. “We will gladly utilize any contributions to oppose Soros’ (or Disney’s, or Fauci’s) agenda and benefit the American people.”

Open Secrets explains that large corporations can’t directly contribute to candidates, political parties or PACs, their employee-funded, affiliated corporate PACs can. Surprisingly, Target and Anheuser-Busch‘s corporate PACs contributed to more Republican than Democratic campaigns in the 2022 midterms, and Disney’s gave $61,000 to GOP candidates.

DeSantis has a notoriously rocky relationship with Disney and has gone head-to-head with the corporation over their brazenly woke agenda.

“Nobody has done more to defeat the woke onslaught than Governor Ron DeSantis,” Griffin told the DCNF. “He stood up to Disney even when other Republicans criticized him for doing so and took Disney’s side. Thanks to Governor DeSantis, Florida is where woke goes to die, and he will bring that same fight to the White House.”

Elder criticized companies for alienating many Americans though he didn’t close the door to accepting campaign contributions from their corporate PACs.

“Target and Bud Light have a lot of explaining to do to the American people, and a lot of making up to do with freedom-loving Americans and caring parents,” Elder told the DCNF in a statement. “If they’d like to spend money to reach more patriotic Americans, have civil discussions and respect parental rights, I’m here to have that discussion. Unlike the radical left, I won’t be closed off to new ideas nor anyone who wants to have a civil, reasonable discussion — whether they’re woke or not.”

Pence’s campaign was less-direct and told the DCNF that campaign contributions are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

“Donations to the Pence campaign are evaluated on an individual basis to determine if there is alignment on principles and values,” a spokesperson told the DCNF in a statement.

Trump’s campaign ignored the question altogether and instead gave a statement to DCNF attacking DeSantis’ record.

“Ron DeSantis is basing his entire existence on fighting woke culture, but he is a walking hypocrite that tries to gaslight the American people in order to cover up his background,” Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung told the DCNF. “As more and more voters learn about his abhorrent and disgusting past, the more he continues to sink in the polls like he’s done since getting into the race.”

Haley previously slammed the governor for accepting “$50,000 in political contributions from Disney,” at a CNN town hall on June 4. DeSantis responded to Haley’s remarks the following day, telling Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade the contributions don’t mean he condones Disney’s politics.

“Somebody does a campaign contribution and you’re supposed to lay down for them? That is not how I operate,” stated DeSantis. “People can support me or not support me. I call them as I see them, and if you have supported me but you’re wrong, I am going to do what’s right.”

There’s nothing wrong with taking money from woke Corporate America as long as it doesn’t come at the cost of a candidate’s principles and values. There’s a difference between accepting donations and selling out.

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