A few quotes from around the web regarding Micro-too-soft. Slammed front page Washington Post, the Seattle Times reports that Gates is rethinking his position. Uh huh. And AmericaBlog’s revelation that MS had Ralph Reed on retainer since before the election.
“Microsoft’s decision to withdraw its support for state legislation that would have banned discrimination against gays and lesbians in housing, employment and insurance drew sharp criticism yesterday from those who say the company missed an opportunity to make an important public statement. Instead, they say, Microsoft caved in to pressure from religious conservatives who opposed the bill, which failed by one vote last week.”
Microsoft draws fire for shift on gay rights bill [washington post]
“Gates said Microsoft was surprised by the sharp reaction after it became known that the company took a neutral position on the perennial measure this year, after actively supporting it in previous years. ‘Next time this one comes around, we’ll see,’ he said. ‘We certainly have a lot of employees who sent us mail. Next time it comes around that’ll be a major factor for us to take into consideration.’
Microsoft may rethink position on gay rights bill [seattle times]
“Now, just think a minute. Microsoft finds itself under criticism from the local evangelical leader, religious right shareholders, bigoted employees and who knows who else. They don’t know what to do. Who do they turn to? Well, if I’m in a religious right pickle, I’d turn to my $20,000 a month retainered religious right consultant, the former leader of the religious right, Ralph Reed.”
Microsoft paying Religious Right leader Ralph Reed $20,000 a month retainer [americablog]
