Wed. Seattle P-I: Microsoft defends ties to Ralph Reed (new info)

[Newsjock]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/221811_msftreed27.html?dpfrom=thead

By CHARLES POPE
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT

WASHINGTON -- Microsoft Corp. is paying social conservative Ralph Reed $20,000 a month as a consultant, triggering complaints that the well-connected Republican with close ties to the White House and to evangelist Pat Robertson may have persuaded the company to oppose gay rights legislation.

... Microsoft spokesman Mark Murray said the company has hired Reed on several occasions to provide advice on "trade and competition issues." He said Reed's relationship as a consultant with the software company extends back "several years."

... Nor is Reed the first prominent Republican hired by the company. Records show that Microsoft paid Grover Norquist $60,000 in 1999. Norquist is founder of Americans For Tax Reform, an influential conservative group that has close ties with the White House and with Republican leaders in Congress.

The company also hired Barbour, Griffin & Rogers at a cost of $180,000. One of the firm's principals, Haley Barbour, is the former head of the Republican National Committee who is now governor of Mississippi.

... Ironically, Reed has come under fire from conservatives for actively pursuing his campaign and consulting business. In addition to Microsoft, Verizon, Enron and other well-known corporations have retained Reed's company.

more

[Rainscents]

1. Those rotten scumbgags!

[Luminous Animal]

2. Buy a Mac (n/t)

[punpirate]

3. Well, Reed doesn't know...

... fuck all about trade and competition issues.

All this is about avoiding taxes and sucking up to the right wing to accomplish that end.

Bill Gates would have made Adolf Hitler a partner if it saved him a few bucks in taxes.

Whores, all of `em. The people running Microsoft have more money than they know what to do with. But, they'll align themselves with shitheels like Barbour, Reed and Norquist to screw the government in order to give them even more money they couldn't possibly figure out how to spend. That's greed and avarice, purely and simply.

Fuck`em all.

[Robert Oak]

4. yet another jesus & corruption connection

Where are the true Christians? You would think they would be
completely outraged at this "well we'll kiss off our gay
employees if you drop your anti-trust civil lawsuit plus
let us do whatever the hell we want"

I can imagine all of those very fundamental farmers of the 1910's-1940's
rolling in their graves over what is now transpiring under this
"faith" crud.

Anyway, time to use Linux and shell out for a MAC.

[Pachamama]

5. I worked at MS and Ballmer, Gates and the rest of them ain't no Christians

Far far from it....

It's all about the money baby....

Wow, as a former Microsoftie, I can only say I'm stunned...I've seen and heard all the criticisms and I've always been a staunch defender of MS and its business practices, even some of them which got them into trouble...

But having Reed and Norquist on their payrolls and their recent pulling out of their support for the Gay Rights bill in Washington State is unforgiveable....

I find it interesting that they are so "worried" about the opinions of the religious right....what about us who don't make up the religious right wing? Last figures I saw, we made up the majority of this country, nnot to mention when you count international sales for MS products....

Sickening....not the company I remember.... :puke:

[Barrett808]

8. Is it too wacky to think this is payment for calling off the hounds? n/t

[Occulus]

9. I'm glad I've never paid for Windows.

I always used it, but never actually paid for it. I always find a way to get it without shelling out cash.

I'm very proud of that.

[starroute]

6. It seems like Microsoft used all those guys

When Microsoft started getting into anti-trust trouble in the 90's and realized it had to take politics seriously, it went out to hire every lobbyist on the block.

Here's a Mother Jones list of Microsoft's 1995-97 lobbyists, which includes Abramoff, Norquist, and a bunch more:
http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/1998/01/silverstein_chart.html


Here's one that lists Microsoft as a client of the Alexander Strategy Group -- founded by former DeLay aides Ed Buckham and Tony Rudy.
http://www.civicactions.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?Alexander_Strategy


And here's something else about Microsoft spreading money around to Republicans:
http://yeoldeconsciousnessshoppe.com/art63.html


All part of the game.

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. For shame, Bill Gates, for Shaaaaaaaaame!

No act of kindness will ever atone for this indiscretion.

[wicket]

10. so glad I have a MAC!

:puke: :mad:

[daleo]

11. It sounds like a protection racket

A comment someone made yesterday.

"Here's $240,000, now don't make any trouble for us with the Bushies. And we will withdraw support for gay rights, if you keep your religious base from boycotting us."

This is past mixing religion and politics, it strikes me as extortion.

[malachi]

12. MS next version of Windows named Longhorn. WTF?

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/business/11488442.htm

Possible reference to the chimp's home state?

[UpInArms]

13. maybe these creeps are worried that

Squal-Mart will stop loading their shitty programs on the computers that they import from China.

[progressivebydesign]

14. Hey MICROSOFT!!!!!!!!! Listen up!!

They're cutting funding for tons of programs to help families and children IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD!! Why not take some of that fucking REPUBLICAN BLOOD MONEY and give it DESERVING PEOPLE???

Oh.. I forgot, Gates has a foundation to give money for global issues.. and to get computers and technology is schools.. so that makes paying off the fucking devil okay. I hope ALL the women, gays, and non-republican christians walk out of their jobs at Microsoft for one day. Let's call it.. a "flu". They can protest the utter bullshit policies of Microsoft's politics.

Ralph Reed? What the fuck does that dick know about trade issues? I mean.. c'mon. START BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR MICROSOFT!!!!!!!!

Your company's growth has led to much of the traffic and overcrowding issues in the Eastside.. why not pony up some money for a Bill Gates Freeway? Instead you spend it on slimes like Ralph Reed and Grover Norquist. Disgusting!

[insane_cratic_gal]

15. Bill Gates

Is no longer standing at the helm anymore is he? I've always respected that while filthy stinking rich he's also given generously to social causes. I don't have a personal problem with him, but those who are at the helm are pissing me off.

Seems like once he stepped aside, the money grubbers started grubbing.

You can't defend taking on Reed, right after you back out on health insurance for gay-couples. The over turn and back-paddling on that was fairly recent was it not? You didn't hire him for potential stock markets, you hired him to avoid covering Gay people's partners. Guess who had the major input on that? Are these the moral values the Right is making such a big deal over? Division and cruelty? Prejudice and hate? Indecency and human intolerance? If this is the idea of Moral America, keep it I want nothing to do with it. This is not the teaching of the church, but a lunatic, and your no better then those Muslims you claim are fanatics. Calling the kettle black a bit aren't we?

Does MS believe that fundies are going to buy Mac? Are we targeting Christian voters now for profit?.. Jesus shopped her so should you!


I'm rambling because none of this makes any sense. Religion is becoming a nasty thing is this country. It's tolerance for differences is non-existent. I'd targeting Judges, laws, freedoms, and free-will itself.
Is the entire religious right on prozac? Or do they just need to be.? If us liberals are out of touch with "heart" of Main stream America, and they want to call this ugly display of human abuse and intolerance a heart; I'm more then happy to heartless and out of touch.
It's not regular joe christians, but the fanatics, someone has to remove the lunatics and take away the Jesus wine! (purple koolaide)

[w4rma]

16. The heck with Micro$oft. Use Linux. (nt)

[shantipriya]

17. Microsoft & Reed

Let's progressives & democrats boycott Microsoft. There are more of us then the Repugs.A number of Repugs are morons(rednecks) who don't own a computer nor know how to use one.