Summary: <p>When social controversy strikes, good business sense says companies should sit in nonpartisan silence. Customers could fall on either side of a debate.</p> <p>But this week, just as Indiana passed a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/01/us/politics/context-for-the-debate-on-religious-freedom-measures-in-indiana-and-arkansas.html">"Religious Freedom" law</a> and Arkansas considering passing a similar law, a tidal wave of strong denouncements from Fortune 500 CEOs — from Apple's Tim Cook to Wal-Mart's Doug McMillon — was almost immediate. In their view, the laws would let businesses refuse service to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender customers. Marriott's CEO Arne Sorenson went as far as to call Indiana's move "an idiocy." </p> <p>Money Talking host Charlie Herman asks why corporations would suddenly feel the need to speak out, and guests <a href="https://twitter.com/cardiffgarcia">Cardiff Garcia</a> of the Financial Times and <a href="https://twitter.com/heatherlandy">Heather Landy</a> of Quartz suggest the outpouring of CEO opinion could mean the role of American business in social politics is shifting.</p> <p>Our statement on Arkansas <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HB1228?src=hash">#HB1228</a> <a href="http://t.co/KFPd91ejdo">pic.twitter.com/KFPd91ejdo</a></p> — Walmart Newsroom (@WalmartNewsroom) <a href="https://twitter.com/WalmartNewsroom/status/583032659787448320">March 31, 2015</a> <p>"Our internal policies have and will continue to stand up against <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/discrimination?src=hash">#discrimination</a>" <a href="http://t.co/vfXmIGzZKy">http://t.co/vfXmIGzZKy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/s4egala?src=hash">#s4egala</a> <a href="http://t.co/IW25DYXwws">pic.twitter.com/IW25DYXwws</a></p> — Marriott Internat'l (@MarriottIntl) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarriottIntl/status/582943420253114368">March 31, 2015</a> <p>There’s something very dangerous happening in states across the country. <a href="http://t.co/QJTkCuZVdo">http://t.co/QJTkCuZVdo</a></p> — Tim Cook (@tim_cook) <a href="https://twitter.com/tim_cook/status/582364374985113602">March 30, 2015</a> <p>Today we are canceling all programs that require our customers/employees to travel to Indiana to face discrimination. <a href="http://t.co/SvTwyCHxvE">http://t.co/SvTwyCHxvE</a></p> — Marc Benioff (@Benioff) <a href="https://twitter.com/Benioff/status/581108959337136129">March 26, 2015</a> <p>Angie's List will withdraw campus expansion proposal due to passage of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RFRA?src=hash">#RFRA</a> <a href="http://t.co/N4s7mFhhl6">http://t.co/N4s7mFhhl6</a></p> — Angie's List (@AngiesList) <a href="https://twitter.com/AngiesList/status/581852050708930560">March 28, 2015</a> <p>An Open Letter to States Considering Imposing Discrimination Laws <a href="http://t.co/2iNMMP0aIt">http://t.co/2iNMMP0aIt</a></p> — Jeremy Stoppelman (@jeremys) <a href="https://twitter.com/jeremys/status/581267531295539201">March 27, 2015</a> <p>Statement from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FinalFour?src=hash">#FinalFour</a> coaches regarding the Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act ... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RFRA?src=hash">#RFRA</a> <a href="http://t.co/zOiX8oh99Q">pic.twitter.com/zOiX8oh99Q</a></p> — NCAA (@NCAA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NCAA/status/583352090946338816">April 1, 2015</a> <p>Unacceptable. "Defying Criticism, Arkansas Legislature Passes Bill on Religious Freedom", via <a href="https://twitter.com/nytimes">@nytimes</a> <a href="http://t.co/wLn98jt42E">http://t.co/wLn98jt42E</a></p> — Jack (@jack) <a href="https://twitter.com/jack/status/583006256278867968">March 31, 2015</a> <p>Joint Statement from NBA, <a href="https://twitter.com/WNBA">@WNBA</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Pacers">@Pacers</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/IndianaFever">@IndianaFever</a> <a></a></p>
