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Walt Disney World has spent nearly $2.5 million on almost exclusively GOP candidates and groups in Florida so far this election cycle in an attempt to stop casino gambling. So says the Orlando Sentinel after a review of state records showing Disney’s political contributions:
Disney’s political spending in Florida has ballooned to unprecedented levels … as the giant resort attempts to influence elections from the Keys to the Panhandle. Nearly 90 cents of every dollar that Disney has spent on Florida campaigns in this election has gone to Republican candidates or Republican-leaning interest groups, according to the Sentinel‘s analysis. Republicans control the Governor’s Office and Florida Legislature. Disney’s goal? To elect politicians who will support its legislative agenda in the state Capitol — especially those who commit to voting against any plans to allow Las Vegas-style casinos in South Florida.
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Good for them. Of course you are going put your dollars towards things you believe in and/or support your best interests.
Yet another reason why we can’t afford to go to Disneyland/world… their politics suck!
Talk about gambling in south florida.
If true, this is a helpful counterweight to the usual Hwd trend. For example, the WGA PAC–augmented by possibly illegal aid from the WGA itself, using member dues and/or resources–supports Democrats exclusively, no Republicans, ever. I know that a dissident group of WGA members is investigating this, and plans a series of legal challenges that, from what I’ve heard, will be vocal and quite energetic. Hope they succeed!
Why don’t they want gambling?
Disney doesn’t want gambling in Florida because people will spend their dollars in casinos and not at Disneyworld. Florida needs casinos like it needs rats.
Its not only Disney….Las Vegas interests do not want casinos in Florida, either….as casinos all over Florida would wreck Vegas
Note that there are already casinos in South Florida, run by the Seminole and Miccousukee tribes. A few years ago they were allowed to have regular slot machines, which has facilitated their growth. The Seminoles also have bought the Hard Rock Cafe chain, and own all the properties named Hard Rock. They have nice Hard Rock casinos in Tampa and Hollywood, Florida
In a way Disney is being stupid and hypocritical in regard to casinos….they could have full-bore casinos on their properties making huge $$$….and they have casinos on board their Disney Cruise Line ships that sail out of Florida
“In a way Disney is being stupid and hypocritical in regard to casinos….they could have full-bore casinos on their properties making huge $$$….and they have casinos on board their Disney Cruise Line ships that sail out of Florida.”
Actually, you are completely wrong in this statement. Disney Cruise Line has made strides to make their experiences more rounded for the whole family. While there are indeed adult-oriented venues like bars and nightclubs, NOT A SINGLE Disney Cruise ship has a casino on board.
Actually, there aren’t casinos or slot machines on ANY of the Disney Cruise Line ships–sailing out of Florida or not.
If this is the case – with a Board of Directors and the like in 2012 – and with Roy Disney gone – how, in one form or another, does Disney persist in being associated with such Republican activities? The family still? And surely there can’t be a coincidence between Florida being such an important swing state; early Republican malfeasance regarding Florida voting forms; and what some people will construe as a “cover” having to do with gambling in South Florida? It would be a terrible thing – for the Republican party even as well as the parks – if Disney can be closely associated with voter suppression. Walt Disney was “Disney,” in part, because he was the only original studio owner who remained in control of the company and its vision until he died. His Red bitterness was specifically about unionization (it was communism was his position) and what he felt that veiled “ism” (as far as his company was concerned) had done to the close-knit family quality OF his company. (Neal Gabler’s excellent biography. Gabler, a Jew, stares down the oft-leveled charge of anti-Semitism in the man as well. He points out that the company’s works while the man was alive were almost uniformly secular with very few instances of the practice of religion. While Disney was alive he produced a small but very good film called “A Tiger Walks” – which is difficult to find on DVD – which takes less than subtle digs at the fake piousness of so-called Christian folk – an unusual foray out of the secular veering into social comment even. [Great movie for young girls too.] His lifelong personal interest in nature – so crucial to the success of many of his movies – doesn’t exactly square with the traditional Republican platform. You wonder what the man himself might think/feel/say about global warming. But he would have done so within the context of a movie. I think you could argue that he already has.)
Greg,
Why so serious? The only issue here is that Disney doesn’t want casinos pulling business from its parks. Cut and dried. Next time focus on the real issue and spare us the rest.
Those Disney liberals are so manipulating they will even support republicans if it prevents anyone else from making a buck. Very crafty.
I happen to own a few shares of Disney (I got them after they purchased Marvel) and I think that I will contact them about this. It may not do much good, but I’ll at least feel better.
I own quite a few shares of DIS and you bought yours kinda late.
But hold onto the company, buy some more and you’ll have a well-funded retirement.
Look at the Yahoo Finance chart Nikki has on the right side of your computer screen. Look at that incredible, beautiful DIS chart. And in this lousy, screwed-up economy!
In the meantime, STFU and let the people who know about business and making money run our company. Don’t let your politics screw up your IRA.
Investment Advice, just because you apparently lack any kind of social conscience and it’s all about profitability on Wall $treet, you really DO NOT HAVE ANY RIGHT to criticize Brian for possibly acting on right to CHOICE in who cares to invest in. In fact, there are about 34 other key media stocks and hundreds of other non-media stocks that Brian can EASILY choose to EXCHANGE his Disney shares for something else.
It’s Wall $treet casino players like you who simply turn a blind-eye when a publicly-traded company decides to go practice RAMPANT CRIMINALITY the run-up to the 2008 economic meltdown and 400-plus banking, Wall $treet investment firms and insurance companies that BILKED the tax payers (thanks to their OWNERSHIP of the Federal Reserve) for $800-plus billion. But I’m glad your keeping Disney and are happy with your IRA’s performance despite the pervasive, un-prosecuted criminality of Wall $treet. Bravo for you!
Sincerely, Your Friends from the Unwashed, Huddled Masses of the Other 99%
Nothing is as black and white as you describe it. We all live in the gray. You can invest in the gray areas and do very well.
For instance, DIS is a tremendously Gay-friendly company, and was way out front in extending benefits to Gay employees and their families. They also rightly recognize Gay people are an important part of their fan base and treat them with the respect they deserve. That’s not a “Far Right Agenda.” DIS endures a number of “conservative” boycotts over these policies, yet they don’t back down on their LGBT fans and employees.
Also, DIS is not a bank or insurance company. They haven’t bilked anyone, unless you have a five year old daughter devoted to The Princess-Industrial Complex. It’s stable, diverse and well-respected. If you invest in DIS, you get ABC, ESPN, theme parks, hotels, cruise lines, PIXAR, Captain Jack Sparrow, Mickey Mouse and Spider-Man. That’s an outstanding portfolio, ready for future growth.
As I said, don’t let your narrow politics destroy your financial future. We’re entering a brutal period financially, and if you don’t invest in solid, well respected stocks, you will likely fall behind. The government – Bush and Obama – have taken the value out of family real estate and now they’re taking all the value out of cash.
So educate yourself on the American financial system on-line and at your local public library. Follow Nikki’s Yahoo Finance chart, check out CNBC, read INVESTORS’ BUSINESS DAILY. It’s not as complex or immoral as you seem to think. See for yourself what this aspect of life can do for you and your future.
Wow. Didn’t know this family friendly company supported Republicans. Wonder how they would like it if all Democrats suddenly boycotted their theme parks?!!
Disney doesn’t give a rat’s ass – mouses’s ass? – which party is in charge, as long as it doesn’t interfere with their business model. Their bottomline is all that matters, even at the expense of any state or region they may be in.
Walt may not have felt this way, but his company is not him anymore. And by the way, the same can be said of Universal, MGM, and any other corporation if they perceive any hint of a threat to their billions in revenue.
What am I missing here? Aren’t they free to donate to who they want and whatever cause they want? They’re not doing anything wrong. It’s the same as when Ben & Jerry’s creates Hubby Hubby ice cream, the proceeds of which go toward gay marriage rights… isn’t this the same thing? Aren’t companies allowed to use their money as they want?
And kudos to the GOP for this support!
Hummmm … I thought republicans supported free enterprise and capitalist free markets?
This does put the lie to the oft-repeated GOP claim that Hollywood only supports the left.
Yes, that’s the answer. Boycott them unless they agree with your every dim-witted thought
Years ago some family Christian group tried to boycott Disney, that went real well, lol It never works, Disney is ingrained in everything we do in one way or another. From Parks to Networks, from toys to sports, from Cruise ships to technology they are the largest entertainment company in the world.
The only thing that could be better is if Disney merged with Apple.