Discussion

• @ron_miller Ron Miller on x

  Wow. That's really taking a principled stand. How much consideration should this decision require? https://twitter.com/...

• @tomgara Tom Gara on x

  These comments from the Microsoft president are amazing — just a very honest and straightforward description of how the political system works in the US, that also sounds like explicit public corruption https://blogs.microsoft.com/ ... https://twitter.com/...

• @juddlegum Judd Legum on x

  1. @Microsoft is one of the largest contributors to the members of Congress who tried to subvert the Democratic process Microsoft has made NO COMMITMENTS to stop funding this group At a company meeting on Thursday, Prez Brad Smith explained why. And it's pretty appalling

• @pinboard @pinboard on x

  Microsoft held an employee town hall today. I obtained a copy of Microsoft President Brad Smith's remarkably candid explanation of why Microsoft will continue to fund politicians whose conduct is completely at odds with the company's stated values https://notes.pinboard.in/... ht…

• @juddlegum Judd Legum on x

  UPDATE: @Microsoft will announce by FEBRUARY 15 whether it will “suspend further donations to individuals who voted against certification of the Electoral College.” (All donations are suspended for now.) https://twitter.com/...

• @steveschmidtses Steve Schmidt on x

  .@ProjectLincoln @Microsoft has sent a crystal clear message about the importance of democracy. I'm confident Microsoft will do the right thing with regard to support for 147 Members who voted to silence millions of black Americans by nullifying their votes. Brad Smith deserves h…

• @jannwolfe Jan Wolfe on x

  Microsoft has joined in halting PAC donations to Republicans who voted against certification. “The company believes that opposition to the Electoral College undermined American democracy and should have consequences.” https://blogs.microsoft.com/ ...

• @hypatiadotca Leigh Honeywell on x

  I wasn't politically savvy enough when I worked at Microsoft to understand how deeply embarrassing MSPAC was. I sure do now. I hope everyone who follows me and works there writes to your leadership about this, because come on. https://twitter.com/...

• @evan_greer Evan Greer on x

  Tbh have to almost admire Microsoft CEO for saying the quiet part loud https://twitter.com/...

• @danielschuman Daniel Schuman on x

  @RobertMaguire_ @JaneMayerNYer I'd read her fantastic article alongside this CNN story: Microsoft President Brad Smith explains *why* it's important for the corporations employees to donate to Microsoft's PAC. It is damning and shows how the system is rigged. https://www.cnbc.com…

• @kenvogel Kenneth P. Vogel on x

  Why hasn't @Microsoft stopped giving to members who voted against certifying the election? BRAD SMITH says members have told him: “Your folks have always shown up for me at my events. And we have a good relationship. Let me see what I can do to help you.” https://www.cnbc.com/...

• @kantrowitz Alex Kantrowitz on x

  Microsoft's President @bradsmith on how he buys access to politicians. It's almost refreshing to hear someone admit, in such plain spoke language, how money corrupts our political system. https://www.cnbc.com/... https://twitter.com/...

• @fxshaw Frank X. Shaw on x

  More context in the full transcript, to include that 80 percent of all MSPAC funding went to members who voted to uphold electoral college. https://blogs.microsoft.com/ ... https://twitter.com/...

• @digiphile Alex Howard on x

  This quote by @BradSmi, transcribed by @Pinboard, is the clearest explanation of how America's corrupt system of monetized access & influence on Congress works that I've read in years. Why do corporations have PACs & donate? They need to “pay to play.” https://twitter.com/... htt…

• @steveschmidtses Steve Schmidt on x

  .@ProjectLincoln will have an announcement forthcoming with regard to the public actions we intend to direct against @Microsoft in the public square. It will consist of a broadcast and digital advertising campaign. It will be aimed at the Microsoft CEO. @satyanadella and the http…

• @azeem Azeem Azhar on x

  20% of Microsoft's US political funding went to US representatives who supported overturning the election results. Weird brag by this communications guy. Cc @KlyngeC https://twitter.com/...

• @wilshipley @wilshipley on x

  Here at Microsoft we'd like to point out *some* of our bribe money to politicians did NOT go overthrowing democracy. We deserve credit for that, right? Right‽ https://twitter.com/...

• @jillwinebanks @jillwinebanks on x

  Read this thread and think about what you can do to hold Microsoft accountable. https://twitter.com/...

• @wmiddelkoop Willem Middelkoop on x

  Want Proof of a Corrupt Political System? #conspiracyfact https://twitter.com/...

• @fxshaw Frank X. Shaw on x

  Full transcript related to MSPAC donations at an employee townhall. Worth reading. https://blogs.microsoft.com/ ...

• @pinboard @pinboard on x

  A while back I compiled this long list of Microsoft's public statements on issues like immigration, climate, and LGBTQ rights, juxtaposed with their actual political giving https://idlewords.com/...

• @juddlegum Judd Legum on x

  @Microsoft 2. In a transcript of the meeting leaked to CNBC, Smith said that @Microsoft needs to make contributions to politicians because sending these politicians money allows him to “pick up the phone” and get “help” https://www.cnbc.com/...

• @stevesi Steven Sinofsky on x

  The real point is PACs continue to be highly problematic: * Corporate PACs even more so as they ultimately cross purposes. * They pry contributions out of employees in what amount to shakedowns. * There aren't that many “retreats.” Sure just “hate the game,” but is that enough?

• @bendreyfuss Ben Dreyfuss on x

  Yeah I mean this is how it works? doesn't seem very shocking at all https://twitter.com/...

• @marietjeschaake Marietje Schaake on x

  To understand why @ProjectLincoln is going after a tech giant next ↘️ https://twitter.com/...

• @ifindkarma Adam Rifkin on x

  @SteveSchmidtSES @GOPLeader Please keep pressure on Microsoft for funding 147 white members of the GOP Congress who voted on January 6 to overturn democracy by attempting to throw out the votes of Black Americans in a fair election. #SeditionCaucus https://twitter.com/...

• @revolutionwifi Andrew on x

  Folks, the U.S. has legalized bribery for politicians. It's just that simple. And it's horribly wrong. We need publicly financed elections and independent oversight of Congress. https://twitter.com/...

• @razhael Raphael Satter on x

  This is *so* similar to arguments I've heard from French businessmen who privately acknowledge paying bribes to secure contracts in the Africa. Almost verbatim. “You have to write a check to participate ...” It's just “the way the political process works.” https://twitter.com/...

• @markruffalo Mark Ruffalo on x

  WTF?? So much for authenticity, or scruples, or even having corporate values. Where you put your money speaks volumes about who you are. Is what they mean about corporations being psychotic? https://twitter.com/...

• @juddlegum Judd Legum on x

  @Microsoft would like you to know that it mailed Hawley's check a few days before Hawley received it. It has not ruled out future contributions to Hawley. Nor has it asked for a refund, which is what @Hallmark did https://twitter.com/...

• @edzitron Ed Zitron on x

  I assume this is why all political donations happen https://twitter.com/...

• @reedgalen Reed Galen on x

  .@fxshaw you are really, really bad at this. This means that 20% of your money - 1/5 of it - went to support people who openly instigated an insurrection. Hope you have your crisis PR agency on speed dial. You're going to need it. @Microsoft https://twitter.com/...

• @juddlegum Judd Legum on x

  .@Microsoft would like you to know that JUST 20% of Microsoft PAC contributions went to members of Congress who were attempting to undermine democracy https://twitter.com/...

• @aaschapiro Avi Asher-Schapiro on x

  Microsoft's Brad Smith gave a frank explanation to employees for why its PAC donated to GOP politicians who tried to overthrow the election: They give money to get invited to events, to form relationships, so they can pick up the phone & ask for favors. https://www.cnbc.com/...

• @reedgalen Reed Galen on x

  .@BradSmi - you run @Microsoft. You're telling me if you call @GOPLeader he won't pick up the phone? I have a hard time believing that. Your continued support for people like @HawleyMO? That I believe. https://twitter.com/...

• @slpng_giants @slpng_giants on x

  This is everything that's wrong with corporate donations, especially in tech. You cannot simultaneously post messages of support for issues like racial equality while giving actual money to people who stand firmly against it. https://twitter.com/...

• @dhh @dhh on x

  Corporations funding politicians is just bribery with extra steps. BuT iT'S lEGaL... https://twitter.com/...

• @gregmannarino Gregory Mannarino on x

  Best Corporate Government structure money can buy.. https://www.cnbc.com/...