Waffle House Donates $100,000 to American Crossroads Super PAC
You want a 30 second ad to go with that ham and cheese omelet?
The next time you go to Waffle House, that’s basically what you’ll be getting. In May, Waffle House Incorporated donated $100,000 from its corporate treasury to American Crossroads, a super PAC run by Republican strategist Karl Rove.
The donation is easy to miss—it’s listed as “WHI Inc” on the FEC filing and just one of many big checks.
The company, which owns or franchises 1,600 stores in 25 states, is no stranger to politics. In the 2006 Georgia Lieutenant Governor race, Waffle House said that only signs for Ralph Reed would be allowed at its restaurants around the state.
Most of the corporate money that has into super PACs this cycle is from unknown holding companies or shell LLCs that don’t have a popular public brand. Waffle House is different. With its yellow exterior and striped awning, it’s an iconic restaurant for many. This author has even visited a few in his time.
Will it face a backlash similar to Target did in 2010 for donating to an anti-gay political group? Stay tuned.