Rand Paul Calls for Boycott of Coca-Cola: Here's a Better Idea

Rand Paul

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is calling on Republicans to boycott Coca-Cola after the company stated its disapproval for a new voting law in Georgia. 

"If they want to boycott us why don't we boycott them," Rand said during an appearance on Fox News today. "This is the only thing that will teach them a lesson. If Coca-Cola wants to only operate in Democrats states and have only Democrats drink them, God love 'em. We'll see how well they do when half the country quits drinking Coca-Cola."

After the controversial bill was passed by Republicans in Georgia late last month, Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey called the measure "unacceptable," reports The Hill.

“Let me be crystal clear and unequivocal, this legislation is unacceptable, it is a step backward and it does not promote principles we have stood for in Georgia, around broad access to voting, around voter convenience, about ensuring election integrity, and this is frankly just a step backwards,” Quincey said. 

I am not against the boycott call and I cheer Rand on for this effort. Woke companies really should stay out of politics but a boycott is very difficult to pull off when it comes to a popular product. And I hasten to add that what a company says about Georgia elections is not a high priority concern for me but we can use Coca-Cola as an object lesson on how to go after woke companies.

The way you really go after Coca-Cola is with a multifold organized campaign with leverage.

First, you need to set a goal: Coca-Cola Chairman James Quincey must resign or be fired.

Then start something that will really make Coke nervous,  call for a "Switch to Pepsi." (sales leverage)

Then write to all hotels and tell them that you will now be staying exclusively at Marriott Hotels because they are the only chain that features Pepsi as its primary beverage. (angle leverage)

Marc Bolland of Blackstone Group is on the board of Coca-Cola, call on all pension funds etc. to disinvest from Blackstone until Quincey resigns or is fired. (make a power player nervous leverage)

Same with board member Chris Davis of  Davis Selected Advisers-NY, Inc. (make a power player nervous leverage)

You get the picture, understand leverage and use it wisely. These clowns will buckle.

Throughout my life, I have used leverage to resolve problems that couldn't be solved by normal customer service channels. I understand how to get to the power players. I have managed to discuss a cell phone problem directly with the General Counsel of ATT, a hotel problem directly with Barron Hilton, a website problem with a board member of Yahoo.  It goes on.

Know how to use leverage and you can get an awful lot accomplished.

I would  really like to see a lot of woke CEOs given the "leverage treatment." They would stop their woke nonsense real fast. These execs are really weak for the most part when it comes to this stuff. They blow with the wind. All that is needed is to change the direction of the wind. They are not going to die on Woke Mountain.

Likewise, if you want to go after Major League Baseball go after their sponsors. This is how you play the game. "Hey, hey, ho, ho, baseball commissioner Rob Manfred has got to go."

-RW