It isn’t easy being a Republican these days. First it was the crazy liberals on the left, followed by the biased media that were the problem. Now there is another opponent taking aim at the GOP and it’s coming from an unlikely source; big business.

It all started in Georgia (where the devil looks for souls to steal) when the state Legislature decided that they needed to tackle voter fraud (and free water/pizza) at the polls. Atlanta, home to Delta Airlines and Coca Cola took notice and issued statements opposing the legislation.

Ed Bastian, Delta chief executive officer wrote an internal memo saying “I need to make it crystal clear that the final bill is unacceptable and does not match Delta’s values”.  Not to be outdone, Coca Cola also joined with James Quincey, Coca-Cola’s chief executive saying “I want to be crystal clear the Coca-Cola Co. does not support this legislation, as it makes it harder for people to vote, not easier.” (Are we clear? Crystal clear.)

The response from the leaders of the Republican party was swift. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said “corporations will invite serious consequences if they become a vehicle for far-left mobs to hijack our country from outside the constitutional order. Businesses must not use economic blackmail to spread disinformation and push bad ideas that citizens reject at the ballot box.”

What stands out is to me is the word “disinformation”. I am reminded of a line from Jesus Christ Super Star where Pontius Pilate asks Jesus “we both have truths, are mine the same as yours?”. I guess McConnell forgot about the “Big Lie” which resulted in attacks on the Capitol in January, or maybe he still believes it.

I also have to think this really stings for many Republicans after passing the “Trump Tax Act” in 2017 cutting the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% (et tu Brutus?).

McConnell is walking a very small tight rope these days trying to balance between the right and the money. Do you risk shutting off campaign contributions (some being very large) by telling corporations to mind their own business? Let’s not forget it was Mitt Romney who quipped “corporations are people my friends” after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Citizens United allowing unlimited corporate and union spending on political issues back in 2010.

It also leaves many Republicans in the lurch on deciding if they need to boycott Delta, Coca Cola, AT&T, American Express, Merck, Major League Baseball, Aflac, Dell and Amazon. Even Houston Texans owner Janice McNair has joined in to oppose laws that are designed to restrict voting rights (but nobody is really interested in seeing them play anyways so is that really a big deal?).

Elected officials are free to pass laws they feel are in the best interest of their constituents, but people and big business are also free to speak their mind when they disagree. It seems many people still wants us ‘to shut-up and dribble’ when it comes to public discourse.