Carly Fiorina’s frequent talk about her experience as a top technology executive isn’t winning her much support from Silicon Valley, where many of her former counterparts are deeply at odds with her positions on tech and social issues.
Decade-old memories of Fiorina’s stormy tenure as CEO of Hewlett-Packard have certainly blunted her appeal within the industry, as a recent flurry of media commentary attests. But just as important may be the stances she’s taken on policy issues — from gay marriage to government surveillance and net neutrality — that differ starkly from those of her former tech colleagues.
One major liability in the Bay Area is her conservative position on gay rights, an issue that prompted her to lambaste Apple CEO Tim Cook earlier this year. And on policy debates that tech executives and engineers care about most, including patent reform and NSA snooping, she finds herself on the opposing side, as well.
Members of both parties agree she’s not in step with the Valley’s liberal and libertarian outlook.
