Microsoft gay rights flip flop tied to right winger Ralph Reed
With Microsoft's image for fairness and equality in the toilet, things get worse with the discovery that Microsoft has social conservative Ralph Reedon the payroll, and he's earning $20,000 a month! Reed got his start in politics by running the Christian Coalition for super homophobe Pat Robertson. Reed also had a senior role in the 2004 Bush campaign. Microsoft spokesman Mark Murray said Reed was hired to provide advice on "trade and competition issues" and the consultant relationship extends back "several years."
Seattle Post-Intelligencer Columnist Robert Jamieson Jr. writes, "The man dubbed 'The Right Hand of God' has fingerprints all over Microsoft," and it is those fingerprints we see all over Microsoft's suddenly backtracking their support for the gay rights legislation it had embraced just a year ago. Jamieson agrees: "Microsoft's backpedaling has the mark of fundamentalist zealotry and (his company) Century Strategies stamped all over it. The consulting company has a reputation for rounding up Christian opposition to dish out a right-wing force-feeding. And Microsoft swallowed."
Nevertheless, now that the bill is dead, having failed by one vote the day after Microsoft pulled its support, Chairman Bill Gates says he may be rethinking the decision, telling the Seattle Times he was "surprised by the fierce criticism." He says, "Next time this one comes around, we'll see." Queer Day can translate his statements for you easily. He said nothing at all.
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