Oh, do leave the Google CEO's politics alone

I understand that some people might be upset that Google CEO, Eric Schmidt, has decided to personally endorse Barack Obama for President.

I have heard echoes that this taints the Google brand, that McCain-supporting Google employees (yes, both of them) are upset and that Mr. Schmidt just might be using this endorsement to foster his company's, or even his own, ambitions in the event of an Obama victory (Gosh, no. Really?).

Here is the news. Every CEO is political. Being CEO is, in its very essence, something of a political position. With a small 'p' and sometimes with a larger 'p'. Most of the time, employees will have a pretty clear idea of which political winds their CEO might be helping to blow.

"Eric Schmidt has endorsed me. That should carry Florida, right?"

(Credit: CC Aficio2008)

But criticism of Mr. Schmidt opens up wider issues.

Do we really think of brands as Republican or Democrat? No more than we think of JetBlue or Marriott Hotels as Mormon brands. Think about it- Tide: Republican or Democrat? (Stain removal suggests Democrat, no?). What about Honda? (Those eight-seater people carriers surely suggest Democrat, don't they?)

And should we really believe that a CEO's political proclivity determines how he or she goes about their daily work?

I wonder if some of the whining at Mr. Schmidt carries with it a suggestion that a CEO's politics determine what kind of company leader he or she might be. Republican-leaning CEOs are frightfully mean authoritarians, while deeply Democrat CEOs are cuddly, feely, people-friendly, all-listening altruists. Didn't you know?

It strikes me that the one thing, perhaps the only thing, all CEOs have in common is a remarkable fondness for amassing money. Their political bent doesn't generally dictate how they view their employees or their brands.

I've seen avowedly Republican CEOs who were immensely sensitive and talented managers and Democratic CEOs who were venal, insensitive numbskulls. And vice-versa. I once encountered a CEO who voted as often as possible for Ralph Nader. She was a very fine CEO.

The truth is surely quite simple: Some CEOs are good, some are not so good. And the performance of their brands reflects their personal performance, not their personal politics.

The fact that Meg Whitman is a Republican doesn't affect in the slightest what people think about eBay.

Neither will Eric Schmidt's admission of Democratic tendency (goodness, he contributed $229,216 to Democrat candidates and a vast $6500 to Republicans, so surprise!) drive millions of Republicans to Yahoo or Ask (wait, they might be run by Democrats too..).

Personally, I am far more concerned about what Mr. Schmidt's company is doing with all the intimate information we are allowing it to collect than about whether he rides a donkey or an elephant.

Disclosure: I once voted for the Monster Raving Loony Party. Does that make me a...oh, well, perhaps.

[wapotank]

I wonder what Schmidt's golden balloon looks like? Obama is against all these CEO"S golden balloons right? Oh, except when they endorse Obama. Google is also part of the huge wallstreet greed and corruption the Messiah Obama is talking about. Maybe Schmidt is looking for a new job with the DNC? I think it's fine if Schimdt has a political belief, but it directly reflects on google. It is also impossible to doing a daily job and not let your politics influence it. Maybe Schidt and google need the media attention their stocks are sure down. Oh, and I has also canceled my account.

[ChrisMatyszczyk]

How does it make you think differently about Google, wapotank?

Chris

[georgeincincy]

This is the first CEO to announce support for a candidate publicly that I am aware of.

Others typically do not.

The fact that Google conspires with dare I say Communist China on censoring search activity might be of concern.

Julian Pain, internet spokesman for campaign group Reporters Without Borders, said Google's decision to "collaborate" with the Chinese government was "a real shame".

If the Obama USA turns socialist and big brother like, can Goog be neutral? Heard of the fairness doctrine Chris. Dems want it back to stifle free speech of conservatives. They only talk of applying it to talk radio and maybe some cable TV like FoxNews.

Is that suspicious Chris? Will you take up the fight for conservatives in this event?

Sorry I made Yahoo my homepage. Yahoo has not endorsed anyone yet.

Google can go to China!!! It also sucks as a stock.

[ChrisMatyszczyk]

I am all for fairness, George. Especially when it comes to honest definitions about socialism.

And, yes, suspicions will always abound in the business world.

But, um, wasn't it Yahoo which also had a few little problems in China?

So now you'll change your account to....hotmail?

Chris

[sylvonne]

I would like for sarah palin to explain exactly what and/or who is Pro American and who is not. Sarah palin is such a joke. She is a heartbeat away from being president of the United States and she hasn't got a clue about nothing. Now that in itself shows what type of judgment John McCain has.