This blog by Steve Rubel has sparked a lot of comment, including this from Shel Holtz. I must say that I think Steve is right and that Shel and Jeremy Pepper (who comments on the blog) have it wrong. Steve was right for so many reasons including:
1) He makes it clear that it is a personal opinion and not that of his company.
2) Companies do not exist in a vacuum. Corporate social responsibility is about companies facing up to their responsibilities to society and the wider community, just like individuals but usually with a lot more influence. This means you can't divorce politics from business. The difference between Kerry and Bush will have a profound effect on the economy, society and the world.
3) Jeremy Pepper talks about the negative effect the endorsement might have on the ability of Steve's company to win new business and says: "Now, you have possibly alienated half (more than half?) of potential clients for Cooper Katz, and gave publicity to a movie that was a divisive issue for many in the country."
Well personally I wouldn't want to do business with anyone who felt alienated by the endorsement. I'd be happy to do business with either Republicans or Democrats but I'd be unhappy about working with people who wouldn't work with me because of my political beliefs. That smacks of political extremism of the worst kind and I wouldn't want to taint my corporate reputation by association with them.
In my business in the UK I'm quite up front about being a Labour Party supporter and that my business also supports the Labour Party. This doesn't stop us working with clients that are Conservative Party supporters.
