In-N-Out Donation Causes Political Hubbub in California

But calls for a boycott over money to GOP seem to be fizzling
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 31, 2018 8:51 AM CDT
Dem's Call for In-N-Out Boycott Seems to Be Fizzling
In-N-Out Burger signs in Baldwin Park, Calif.   (AP Photo/Adam Lau, File)

Californians love their In-N-Out burgers, and a Democratic leader's attempt to drum up support for a boycott isn't exactly taking off. The brouhaha started when journalist Gabe Schneider tweeted a state filing showing that the chain had donated $25,000 to the GOP, reports USA Today. That prompted California Democratic Party Chairman Eric Bauman to tweet the following: "Et tu In-N-Out? Tens of thousands of dollars donated to the California Republican Party... it’s time to #BoycottInNOut - let Trump and his cronies support these creeps... perhaps animal style!" But if Bauman was hoping to rally opposition to the chain similar to that of Chick-Fil-A, he doesn't appear to have been successful. The Los Angeles Times notes that the state party has made a point to say that Bauman's boycott call was "just his personal view," and not an official position of the party.

The original tweet has gotten its share of support online, but the LA Times also finds sentiment among Democrats that boycotting the chain over a political donation might be a little much. Republicans, meanwhile, were quickly trying to take advantage with public shows of support for the chain, while In-N-Out says it has contributed equally to both parties in 2018. Fortune notes that the chain's founder, Rich Snyder, was an evangelical Christian, which explains the Bible verses on wrappers. "However, it’s not clear that the company’s current leadership is nearly as aligned with the Republicans as that of Chick-fil-A, a company that has backed organizations that restrict LGBT rights," writes Grace Dobush. And Los Angeles Magazine reports that In-N-Out does indeed donate to Democratic-backed political groups. (More In-N-Out stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X