Survey: Anti-Obamacare Threats Hurt Restaurant Chains

Surprise surprise, it looks like wading into politics is a bad idea for restaurants everywhere. YouGuv Brand Index conducted a consumer perception survey of Papa John's, Applebee's and Denny's — all of which made some variation of public statements against President Barack Obama and his so-called "Obamacare" — revealing that people seem to be not all that crazy about their fast food chains making political statements.

For example, perception levels of Papa John's "continued to experience one of its sharpest drops of the year" after CEO John Schnatter criticized Obamacare and made a Jon Stewart-lampooned threat to raise pizza prices in response. Meanwhile, the Applebee's Buzz score dropped from 35 to 5 in the month of November after Apple-Metro CEO Zane Tankel threatened that Obamacare would force him to halt expansion and hiring plans. As Slate points out, political activism is the reason trade associations exist, okay everyone?

· Anti-Obamacare rhetoric and restaurant Buzz [YouGuv Brand Index via Slate]
· All Chains Coverage on Eater [-E-]