Over the past week and change, multiple corporations have pledged to withdraw funding to Republicans who have supported Donald Trump’s election challenge. Corporations have done this in the past for other reasons, but the breadth this time around is pretty staggering. Giants such as Walmart, AT&T, BlueCross BlueShield, Commerce Bank, Ford and Comcast, among others, have all pledged to end their campaign contributions to these politicians.
Multiple large companies involved in the travel industry, such as Marriott, Citigroup, American Express, Disney, Hilton and Mastercard have also withdrawn their financial support of members of Congress who voted in favor of objecting to the election results, if not to all PACs in general. Delta Airlines, meanwhile, is “reviewing” their contributions, according to CNN Business.
So it was a little surprising to see that the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel was allowing itself to be the location of a, “Fun-Filled-Family-Friendly Orlando Weekend Event” paid for and authorized by Fighting for Missouri PAC, where it sounded as if Senator Josh Hawkey (R-MO) was going to be in attendance. From Twitter:
Let @Loews_Hotels know we don’t like businesses that work with traitors. https://t.co/Iz6Q7f29x7
— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) January 16, 2021
Josh Hawley was, of course, the first senator to publicly state he would vote against the certification of President-Elect Joe Biden’s win over president Donald Trump. Hawley’s reasoning was based on false claims and conspiracy theories about widespread voter fraud that had been rejected by multiple courts ahead of the January 6 vote. Hawley has also been accused of encouraging the pro-Trump supporters who attacked the U.S. Capitol last week.
From our Francis Chung, Sen. Josh Hawley greeting protesters in the east side of the Capitol before riots began. pic.twitter.com/I8DjBCDuoP
— Manuel Quinones (@ManuelQ) January 6, 2021
Loews Portofino Bay is one of the hotels located at Universal Studios Orlando Resort (all of the hotels on Universal property are run by Loews Hotels). And it was an interesting situation since Comcast, which is one of the companies we mentioned above as ending contributions to dissenting Republicans such as Josh Hawley, is Universal’s parent company.
Anyway, the backlash they were receiving on Twitter was brutal:
Family Superspreader Event with a Traitor? I don't think so @Lowes_Hotels. Not even your "warm smiles, thoughtful gestures and food that’s made with love" will erase the stain that attaches to the insurrectionist Josh Hawley (who's dropped his @Twitter acct.) @SenHawleyPress https://t.co/8xTHpnoAXL
— Peta Naylor Richkus (@peta_richkus) January 16, 2021
@Lowes_Hotels If it’s Insurrectionists you promote then I’ll never stay in your hotel again. Hollywood & Highland is one of my favorites but I like Democracy more. Maybe you want to rethink this whole Covid super spreader thing? https://t.co/fzanwyOMns
— FreeSpeechEmp (@FFedemp) January 16, 2021
It is so disappointing to hear that @Lowes_Hotels is making poor choices. My kids loved their Minion room a few years back but we are teaching them to vote with their wallets. pic.twitter.com/YisrQ1BV4H
— Ducks and Cats (@TravelCrazyMom) January 16, 2021
Yep, me and my teams will not book an event or stay at @Lowes_Hotels . @HawleyMO is an anti-American terrorist who's nascent career is now in its death throes.
You need to realize how angry and determined those of us that have not succumbed to @FoxNews lying are.
— Robo65 (@robopolitics7) January 16, 2021
Even the big guns got involved:
I wonder if @Loews_Hotels knows they're hosting a man who encouraged a violent mob with a raised fist salute just hours before they stormed the Capitol and murdered a cop? https://t.co/JCbjsRpKoT
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) January 16, 2021
Day trip to Universal Studios. If @Loews_Hotels would welcome a gathering of the Klan, white supremacists, neo Nazis, extremist militias and insurrectionists then by all means they should host @HawleyMO. @ProjectLincoln looks forward to telling the story to America @MSNBC
— Steve Schmidt (@SteveSchmidtSES) January 16, 2021
Of course, hotels, and hotel brands, can do whatever they want. But this is a time when any entity in the travel industry should be trying to establish good will for guests to come back as soon as possible. This politician’s alma mater, Yale Law School, is calling for him to be disbarred. Many of his peers are saying he should be expelled. Most revealing, the majority of his own Republican constituents are calling for his resignation. Hosting an event for him might not be the smartest business decision right now. #wrongsideofhistory
As it turned out, Loews Hotels finally came to their senses and bowed to the pressure:
We are horrified and opposed to the events at the Capitol and all who supported and incited the actions. In light of those events and for the safety of our guests and team members, we have informed the host of the Feb. fundraiser that it will no longer be held at Loews Hotels.
— Loews Hotels (@Loews_Hotels) January 16, 2021
Well, good!
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
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