John, Toyota just broke its pledge to stop bankrolling Republicans in Congress who tried to overturn the 2020 election – AGAIN.
That’s right: this was the second time that Toyota executives promised to halt this funding – and it’s the second time they blatantly went back on that pledge.
Sign the Petition: Condemn Toyota’s shameful flip-flopping – and urge the company to keep its promise to put our democracy first >>
Here’s what happened, John: after the deadly January 6th insurrection, Toyota – like many other companies – said it would stop funding the 147 congressional Republicans who, by peddling Donald Trump’s lies and refusing to certify the 2020 election, encouraged the rioters.
But the company changed its mind just weeks later – and by spring 2021, Toyota’s corporate PAC had donated more than $60,000 to help re-elect 39 GOP election deniers. [1]
Rightfully, Toyota’s hypocrisy was publicly lambasted by activists and advocacy groups alike. Unable to evade the backlash, the company eventually announced that it would once again stop funding these Republicans – a decision that was broadcast in several major news publications.
But it appears Toyota was just buying time. In March, the company quietly broke its promise for a second time – when its PAC contributed to the campaigns of four 2020 election objectors.
SIGN NOW: Companies like Toyota should be ashamed of their refusal to put the fate of our democracy over their profit margins. Demand they keep their promises.
Unfortunately, John, Toyota is not alone. PACs of companies – like AT&T, General Motors, UPS, and more – that promised to halt donations to GOP election deniers in the wake of the insurrection have since collectively kicked in more than $2,300,000 to help re-elect them. [2]
We need to shine a spotlight on these companies and demand better from them. They’re particularly worried about their public images right now – and by speaking out, we can strike a powerful blow for corporate accountability.
Thanks for all you do,
Devon Nir, Digital Strategies Manager
and the team at Common Cause
P.S. The harmful behavior of these companies is proof that we need a campaign finance system that puts everyday Americans – not unaccountable corporations – at the helm. To learn more about how to make it happen, check out Common Cause’s report Amplifying Small-Dollar Donors in the Citizens United Era.
1) https://popular.info/p/toyotas-second-u-turn
2) https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-reports/the-corporate-insurrection-how-companies-have-broken-promises-and-funded-seditionists/
