The Patriot Post® · In Brief: Woke Capitalism, Georgia, and China
Stephen Miller of the Spectator takes on the new “wave of woke corporatism” that he notes “has been sweeping America.” Much of this is a result of the latest Georgia election law, which Democrats led by Joe Biden have falsely labeled as “Jim Crow.” Meanwhile, there’s a huge blind spot when it comes to China and its genocidal practices.
While appearing on CNBC, Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey called SB-202 “unacceptable” and “a step backward.” He said the company would work to remedy the legislation, through both public and private advocacy.
Yet Coca-Cola is very selectively “woke.” Miller adds:
In March 2020, a Congressional Executive Commission on human-rights abuses in Xinjiang listed Coca-Cola as a major American company with ties to forced labor camps in the Chinese province. Other companies on the list included Nike, Adidas, Calvin Klein, Campbell’s Soup Company, CostCo, H&M (who has since distanced themselves from China and paid a price for it), Patagonia and Tommy Hilfiger. The report went on to specifically name Coca-Cola’s COFO Tunhe sugar facility in Xinjiang as having direct ties to forced labor. It was reported in the New York Times in November of last year that Coca-Cola was one of the primary companies lobbying against congressional legislation targeting companies who engaged with China’s forced labor policies. The New York Times piece said “Lobbyists have fought to water down some of its provisions, arguing that while they strongly condemn forced labor and current atrocities in Xinjiang, the act’s ambitious requirements could wreak havoc on supply chains that are deeply embedded in China.”
The media is no better, Miller says.
Quincey will likely not have to answer for these corporate hypocrisies while appearing on friendly media outlets who also do not want to see Chinese threats to their valuable media markets.
Miller goes on to explain similar hypocrisy from Atlanta-based Delta Airlines, which is building its relationship with China while condemning its home state. Naturally, Miller moves to Major League Baseball and its despicable punishment of Georgia, also while expanding operations in China. Then there’s Hollywood, which has a growing presence in Georgia … and China. Guess which one is facing Hollywood’s wrath.
What about President Biden himself, who struck a harsher tone with the state of Georgia than he and his State Department have over genuine human rights abuses in China? … Biden and his team can whisper in quiet grandpa-voice “Jim Crow” terminology all they want, but until he and his administration begin to strike a stronger tenor on China, he should be wheeled off into the corner of the home and ignored.
The corporations bowing to woke online mobs should be willing to cut ties with the real authoritarian regimes around the world that commit the most brutal atrocities. Will it happen? I guess the market will decide…