12/05/2005
67-year-old veteran and 80-year-old partner who have been together for 49 years come out publicly for first time against anti-gay Wisconsin amendment: "Richard and I met and fell in love in 1956. For 49 years, we have yearned for a marriage recognized in America. Yet until this year, we had never come out in a public way. We decided this cause is not only worth it to us but to millions of others..."
(thanks joshua)
Ford Motor Company pulls ads from gay publications to appease religious right. American Family Association lifted its threatened boycott after Ford's action. Accordingly, Jesus' General has word on Ford's new truck model. In related news, Wells Fargo has refused to budge after Focus on the Family announced they would remove all their funds from Wells Fargo banks because of WF's new diversity campaign. Rod sums it up.
CNN offers instructions on bedding Anderson Cooper.
Posted 2:06 PM EST by Andy Towle in Elsewhere | Permalink
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As the saying goes, "Friends don't let friends drive Fords"
Posted by: Bill | Dec 5, 2005 3:02:41 PM
Ford supports HRC and has done a lot to help LGBT employees at the company. Pulling advertising on expensive, gas-inefficient cars at a time when their sales are probably falling anyway is probably meaningless and gets the AFA off their back. If they reverse policies or stop helping gay organizations, that's one thing, but this looks like lip service to the AFA to me.
Posted by: Jim | Dec 5, 2005 3:41:19 PM
The fact that Wells Fargo has been a California-based empire unquestionably plays into their continuing to have balls while Red Stater Ford loses theirs. What they did for us yesterday is not excuse for their cowardice today.
Posted by: Michael | Dec 5, 2005 3:48:03 PM
I wrote them in June to thank them for their support... and keeping true to their motives (selling cars) and not playing politics with separatists like Focus on the Family. I got a nice response speaking to their dedication.
This news goes against everything they said. I would encourage EVERYONE to write Ford's customer service (particularly if you drive a Ford or one of their other brands) and get your voice heard and encourage them to rise above discrimination.
Posted by: Monkey | Dec 5, 2005 3:57:46 PM
Jim, I don;t understand why you would say that. They are pulling all ads from gay publications, and only from gay publications. This sends a terrible message and you know the AFA will not stop there.
Posted by: lucky | Dec 5, 2005 4:39:18 PM
Umm... pretty sure Ford's in Detroit... which last I checked was in Michigan... which is (nominally) blue. Mauve, at least.
Posted by: Dan | Dec 5, 2005 4:48:13 PM
So Cooper is a top? Or not?
Posted by: Giacomo | Dec 5, 2005 4:48:56 PM
About Richard & Ray: they are about the sweetest couple Wisconsin has ever seen. I saw them testify at a public hearing last week and it took everything in me not to barrel them over with a huge hug & thankful kisses. We're lucky to have their voices here in WI as we move into an election year with a proposed amendment that would ban civil unions & marriage on the ballot.
Posted by: Ingrid | Dec 5, 2005 4:53:01 PM
Indeed, perhaps with the distant but still stinging memory of George Wallace having won the Presidential primary in Michigan, I stand corrected relative to their more recent Presidential voting patterns. Since George the First's run for reelection in '92, they have voted for the Democratic candidate, but they have shifted that pattern back to the Right before. In fact, in 18 of the last 29 Presidential contests, Michigan has gone for Republican candidates.
Posted by: Michael | Dec 5, 2005 6:38:48 PM
The letter from the Wisconsin couple is an exceptionally well-worded statement in favor of marriage rights. Definitely click the link and read it if you haven't yet!
Posted by: Rich | Dec 5, 2005 8:07:20 PM
Ford is not my cup of tea. Henry Ford was a notorious anti-semite and nazi sympathizer. Just a swell guy.
That's why I buy imports.
Posted by: Matt | Dec 5, 2005 8:16:33 PM
Ok...in order to get Anderson expanded I simply roll him over...but first I need to know when and where I can find him!
Posted by: Sean in Dallas | Dec 5, 2005 9:36:17 PM
And California gave us Ronald Reagan, Bob "B-1" Dornan and the Governator. I speak as a native son when I say the Golden State has much to be proud of... just not so much when it comes to politics.
Posted by: Dan | Dec 5, 2005 10:19:35 PM
That's an absolutely great letter from the couple in Wisconsin. It's letters like this that can get people thinking about the issue. Link it to your friends.
Posted by: Drew | Dec 5, 2005 10:42:43 PM
As for Ford, they've been connected with Nazi Germany, anti-semitism, and the subject of plenty of other malicious gossip. They remain a successful American company, with a sterling record for treating their employees fairly. I doubt they can be so easily influenced by a few homophobes. The corporation is profit driven. If they see a drop in sales after pulling the ads, you'll see them redirect their attention to Gay media. Nobody wants to lose a customer.
Wells Fargo is another American icon. Nobody ever heard of this radical family group, and everybody knows Wells Fargo. Who do you think the public trusts more?
I think the key to both situations is "duck and cover". They both only need to pull away from the negative comments, and in no time, they can go back to doing business as usual. These stupid christians have limited resources and short attention spans. It's not worth anyone's time to fight them. Ask Anita Bryant. She made herself into a bully, and lost all of her supporters. You can only be on the wrong side of an issue for so long before people just start to ignore you.
Posted by: Jay Croce | Dec 5, 2005 11:45:06 PM
Not to be off topic here, but ford's hardly a "succesful company" as of late. Ford, GM and Chevrolet have had a hard time selling anything other than trucks of late...
Posted by: Peter | Dec 6, 2005 1:49:43 AM