This post has been updated.
The news about Land O’ Lakes’s donation was amplified by prominent liberals: Former presidential candidate Howard Dean and former ThinkProgress editor in chief Judd Legum tweeted about it, as well as TV host Soledad O’Brien. Each of their tweets has hundreds of replies calling for a boycott.
Or we can boycott LandOLakes products. No need to wait for an explanation.
— Ruth Dorgan (@dorgan_ruth) October 29, 2018
I've always used Land o Lakes. I'm going to miss it but I will not see one hundredth of one cent of my money in that fool's pocket.
— Suzanne Johnson (@snmij1) October 29, 2018
I used @LandOLakesKtchn Butter my whole life for the last 52 years! I’m now switching!😡😡 Why, because they endorse a Racist @SteveKingIA
— Nasty Woman Voter (@buzzzbea) October 21, 2018
In the wake of the Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, King’s white nationalist statements are once again under scrutiny. Fast Company reported that Intel, another company that donated to King, has dropped its support for his campaign.
After this and other outlets published stories about the calls for a boycott on Oct. 29, Land O’Lakes issued a statement withdrawing support on Oct. 30:
“The Land O’Lakes, Inc. PAC has traditionally contributed to lawmakers of both parties that represent the communities where our members and employees live and work and are also on committees that oversee policies that directly impact our farmer owners. We take our civic responsibility seriously, want our contributions to be a positive force for good and also seek to ensure that recipients of our contributions uphold our company’s values. On that basis, we have determined that our PAC will no longer support Rep. Steve King moving forward.”
The company’s CEO, Beth Ford, is the first openly gay female CEO of a Fortune 500 company, according to Fortune. She took on the role Aug. 1 after the donation was issued. Under the leadership of the former CEO, Chris Policinski, the company’s PAC donated twice as much to Republicans as to Democrats during the 2016 election cycle. The company has channeled 64 percent of its $363,500 in donations this year to Republicans, and the remainder to Democrats.
It’s not the first time Land O’Lakes has found itself warding off controversy. The company has been criticized for its longtime logo, which depicts a Native American “maiden.” An investigation by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals claimed that cows for one of the company’s suppliers were abused and kept in deplorable conditions.
Other food companies have been subjected to boycotts for their political actions on both sides of the spectrum in recent years. Starbucks is a frequent target from conservatives for its nondenominational holiday cups. Republicans smashed their Keurig coffee makers into bits after the brand dropped its advertising with Fox News host Sean Hannity. Progressives abandoned pizza company Papa John’s after its founder used the n-word. Infowars host Alex Jones encouraged his far-right followers to boycott yogurt brand Chobani for its support of refugees and immigrants (the company later sued him). Democrats called for a boycott of burger chain In-N-Out after the company donated $25,000 to the California Republican Party. The list goes on and on.
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