Upset that over a dozen pro-life states are actively protecting babies from abortions, a pro-abortion group tried to get Coca-Cola shareholders to agree with a measure to have the huge beverage company stop selling protects in those states.

But shareholders rejected the radical measure so overwhelmingly that 87% of owners of Coke stock voted to reject the resolution.

The measure would have pressured the company to oppose, and perhaps divest from, states that offer legal protection to the unborn. The proposal came from investors, not from the company itself, as shareholders have the right to make such policy proposals at annual shareholder meetings and leftist groups like As You Sow, which was behind this measure, often try to get corporations to take liberal stances on contentious political issues.

[13% of shareholders wanted to abandon entire markets to the competition? I’m surprised that it got this much support. Still, it’s clearly a fringe, and it might be a salutary example of proper focus by a corporate entity on shareholder value rather than extremist political posturing. Let’s hope this example takes root. — Ed]