The Wall Street Journal asks some interesting questions about the decision by so many technology bosses to openly back candidates in the upcoming US election.
"Microsoft's chairman, Bill Gates, and its CEO, Steve Ballmer, are supporting President Bush for a second term. So are WalMart CEO H Lee Scott Jr, eBay CEO Meg Whitman and Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina.
"On the other side of the political aisle, Warren Buffet, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, and Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computer, are economic advisers to Senator John Kerry's campaign and plan to vote for him."
"Prior generations of America's business leaders tended to keep their political choices private... but backing a candidate in a divisive election could put CEOs and their companies in a difficult position."
Comment: I can't say that knowing Bill Gates plans to vote Bush really helps me warm to either of them, but I'm suspicious of any powerful business leader who openly backs a political party. Are they true believers, or are they after a few breaks further on down the line?
Or are they just after a little bit of glory? The WSJ quotes a Washington insider with an insightful take: "We're in the age of CEO as rock star, so more executives want the celebrity status of endorsing a candidate".
