Not Only The Left. Now Conservatives Embrace Boycotts and Regulations
Ron DeSantis is using all the tools he can to fight Disney and other firms accused of a "woke" agenda.Long seen as the purview of the political left, boycotts and calls for regulation of big business are now being adopted by some culture war Republicans in a paradigm shift for a party long seen as unquestioningly pro-business and a recipient of its money.The tactics are dividing the GOP, with some traditionalists arguing that business should be left alone—and that making a fuss can discourage political donations.
But the party's grassroots support has shifted since the era of former President Donald Trump."It is ironic how social issues now trump the free market and preferring deregulation over regulation," said Robert Shapiro, a professor of government and public affairs at Columbia University. "It shows how the GOP base has changed due to the influence of voters without college degrees, and its leaders worry about maintaining their anti-woke support."The success of the Bud Light boycott has been the biggest yet from conservatives that had also called for Hershey's chocolate to be shunned over its celebration of a trans influencer.Transgender issues have become a hot topic in America.
Many conservatives say they do not oppose gay rights, but object to trans women presenting themselves as women or taking part in women's sports and to so-called "gender affirming" surgery and drugs for trans-identifying youths.Bud Light's partnership with 26-year-old Mulvaney was announced on April 2 on her Instagram account to coincide with the beer's partnership with the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) March Madness tournament.The backlash from the right was swift with widespread media and social media coverage of the.
