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Jon8503 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-01-05 09:02 PM
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Microsoft Weighs Reversal on Gay Rights, Gates Says
They can't make up their mind:
By SARAH KERSHAW - Published: April 27, 2005

SEATTLE, April 26 - Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, has indicated he may reconsider his company's decision not to support a Washington State gay rights bill amid the growing firestorm inside and outside the company that exploded after the recent disclosure that Microsoft had changed its position on the bill.

In an interview with The Seattle Times on Monday, Mr. Gates, who rarely grants interviews and declined through a spokesman Tuesday to grant one to The New York Times, indicated that he was surprised by the backlash to the company's turnaround on the legislation. He also suggested that Microsoft, which had been known for decades as a corporate leader on gay rights and had supported the bill in previous years, might change course next year because of the controversy. The bill was defeated by one vote in the State Senate last week. Microsoft had withdrawn its support, and critics said the company was under pressure from a prominent local evangelical minister who threatened a boycott of Microsoft products.

"We certainly have a lot of employees who sent us mail," Mr. Gates told The Seattle Times. "Next time it comes around that'll be a major factor for us to take into consideration." Company officials said Tuesday that Mr. Gates was not backtracking on Microsoft's position this year to take a "neutral" stance on the state bill, which would prohibit discrimination against gays in employment, housing and other areas.



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Name removed Donating Member (0 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-01-05 09:06 PM
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1. Deleted message
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Jade Fox Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-01-05 09:06 PM
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2. Good, Bill. Now change your mind about giving that $20,000/year retainer..
Edited on Sun May-01-05 09:12 PM by Jade Fox
to Religious Right creep.

What is it with people??? They can't get that the Neocon's spin about how
this whole country is shifting to the right is BULLSHIT!!
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wakeme2008 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-01-05 09:26 PM
Response to Reply #2
3. I think it is 20,000 per MONTH
:(
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Jade Fox Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-01-05 09:30 PM
Response to Reply #3
4. OMG, you're right!
What's the guy's name that he gives it to? It has escaped me.
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Zhade Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-01-05 09:32 PM
Response to Reply #4
5. Ralph "Dirty Pigfucker" Reed.
I've dealt with that guy in person. Scum.

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Name removed Donating Member (0 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-01-05 09:33 PM
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7. Deleted message
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billbuckhead Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-01-05 09:33 PM
Response to Reply #4
6. Ralph Reed
:puke:
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Jade Fox Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-01-05 09:39 PM
Response to Reply #6
8. Thanks. Gates should apologize for that. Disgusting. n/t
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hatrack Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-01-05 09:50 PM
Response to Original message
9. Yeah, right Bill - "Next time it comes around . . ."
Don't have to piss off the Thumpers and don't have to actually do anything, so it's pretty much a win-win for you isn't it, ya greedy fuckstick, ain't it?
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Jon8503 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-02-05 06:08 AM
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10. You know, it is interesting that when this was first posted on DU;
Edited on Mon May-02-05 06:08 AM by Jon8503
about Microsoft changing their position on the gay rights issue, and moving their position because of pressure of the evangelican minister, there were some posters that were very vehement about the post being on here. Comments such as come back when there is legitimate or another news article. Other bullshit.

Not one word from those posters when it came out on the NY Times and other papers across the country.

Where are they now?
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