BREAKING: Johnson & Johnson Drops ALEC, the right-wing group behind "Stand Your Ground" laws thkpr.gs/LiIi2O
—
ThinkProgress (@thinkprogress) June 12, 2012Johnson & Johnson, the Fortune 500 company specializing in pharmaceuticals and medical products, became the latest company to cave in to left-wing pressure and cut ties with the American Legislative Exchange Counsel (ALEC).
“We have been in dialogue with ALEC for some time, and while we acknowledge ALEC’s recent decision to focus only on innovation and growth-supporting policies, we have decided to suspend our participation and membership,” Carol Goodrich, the company’s director of corporate communication, said in a statement. No mention has been made of the decision on Johnson & Johnson’s Twitter account, @JNJComm.
ALEC’s dedication to federalism and limited government has long made it a target of shadowy left-wing groups like Color of Change, and pressure on its members was ratcheted up in the wake of the George Zimmerman-Trayvon Martin incident in Florida. Earlier this year, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, and other companies broke ties with the nonpartisan organization, and today the left claimed another scalp.
The hate flowed freely from the left side of the twittersphere – and, as you might expect, the left was no more hesitant to crow about this latest capitulator than they were to continue making inaccurate claims about ALEC’s supposed partisan leanings, legal status, and supposed role in the Trayvon Martin case:
SMELLS LIKE VICTORY: Johnson & Johnson Drops ALEC thkpr.gs/LiIi2O #ALECexposed #ALEC #GOPfail #FOXfail #FOXisnotnews—
Kate (@Apphouse50) June 12, 2012
Johnson & Johnson becomes the latest major corporation to leave radical #ALEC group goo.gl/fb/80vjc—
Cotton Mouth (@cottonmouthMS) June 12, 2012
BREAKING: Johnson & Johnson Drops ALEC thkpr.gs/LiIi2O WOOHOO! TY @TPJustice! UGLY- @NRA! @TheOinL_VE @Nupe117 @JAMSRIDE @cfreelakers24—
Kelli Smith (@KelliSmith15) June 12, 2012
Look at all the big corporate rats scurry for cover when a spotlight was focused on their #ALEC hideaway. Corruption thrives in secrecy.—
1 Nanoski of many (@DarthWeiner75) June 12, 2012
NEWS: ColorOfChange Applauds Johnson & Johnson's Decision to Cut Ties with ALEC colorofchange.org/press/releases… #ALECExposed—
ColorOfChange.org (@ColorOfChange) June 12, 2012
Great news: Johnson & Johnson decides to listen to consumers & drop right-wing corporate-funded #ALEC bit.ly/LSr2Cz #alecexposed—
CREDO Mobile (@CREDOMobile) June 12, 2012
#ALEC = Stand Your Ground (Legalized Murder), Voter Suppression, Anti-Union, Pro-Pollution, Anti-Hispanic, & Pro-Austerity. #ALECexposed #p2—
(@TheNewDeal) June 12, 2012
The left’s lack of understanding about ALEC’s structure and its role in legislation was on full display, as was the strange belief that ALEC secretly pulls the Republican Party’s marionette strings:
So I guess Alec is now castrated RT @thinkprogress: BREAKING: Johnson & Johnson Drops ALEC, thkpr.gs/LiIi2O—
Nima (@nimaastani) June 12, 2012
Trumka: Walker Did Not Lead in Wisconsin, He Followed ALEC Agenda Right After 2010 Election shar.es/sXD3m via @sharethis—
Michael Galvin (@MichaelGalvin01) June 12, 2012
#ALEC is a Group of Corps That Writes Laws & Sets the Agenda for the GOP. If We Stop ALEC, We Stop the GOP's Brain. #ALECexposed #OWS #p2—
(@TheNewDeal) June 12, 2012
However, some concern did penetrate the jubilation:
My only concern re stop ALEC campaign, what will stop withdrawn companies from forming new Conservative PAC? Who is monitoring this?—
P. Mimi Poinsett MD (@yayayarndiva) June 12, 2012
Clearly it’s imperative that somebody keep an eye on recovering ALEC supporters like Johnson & Johnson, lest they fall off the wagon and go back to their old (*gasp!*) conservative-supporting ways.
Johnson & Johnson’s cave-in also inspired a renewed call for other groups to drop their affiliation with the limited government-oriented organization.
#Retweet to Tell @StateFarm to End it's Membership with Right-Wing Front Group #ALEC Rt #ALECexposed #OWS #p2—
(@TheNewDeal) June 12, 2012
UPDATE, 6/13/2012:
Johnson & Johnson tweeted this comment this morning:
@jeffemanuel We acknowledge ALEC’s recent decision to focus on innovation & growth policies but decided to suspend participation/membership—
Johnson & Johnson (@JNJComm) June 13, 2012
