Kerby Anderson

I believe that corporations should stay out of the culture wars. Unfortunately,companies like Apple and PayPal just can’t help themselves. In doing so they leave themselves open to three different forms of hypocrisy and double standards.

First, they focus on states in America but turn a blind eye to what is happening overseas. PayPal canceled its plan to build a global operations center in Charlotte, North Carolina. On the other hand, PayPal built a global operations center in Malaysia. The country’s penal code punishes homosexual conduct with whippings and up to 20 years in prison.

In previous commentaries, I have talked about how Disney and Apple ignore human rights injustices in other countries (like China and Singapore) while trying to punish states in the U.S. for standing up for traditional morality. And I should mention that New York Governor Cuomo issued a travel ban for state employees to North Carolina just after his returned from a trip to Cuba.

There is a second hypocrisy. Ryan Anderson reminds us that while liberals denounce corporations trying to influence politics, they cheer the actions of Apple, PayPal, and Salesforce that threaten legislators and governors with boycotts as they pass popular laws that uphold moral and social values.

Third, liberals applaud Bruce Springsteen for taking a moral stand. He and other entertainers have the right to follow their conscience. But liberals don’t want to extend that same right to people with moral questions about same-sex marriage. Liberal politicians and bureaucrats want to punish bakers, florists, and photographers who try to follow their conscience. These individuals, as well as adoption agencies and marriage counselors, want the same liberty to follow their conscience.

Corporate bullies would be wise to stay out of politics and the culture wars. They leave themselves open to charges of double standards and a lack of common sense.