Microsoft Dumps Reed
I suppose this means I'll have to dislike Microsoft a little less than before (but because of transfinite arithmatic, it doesn't mean a substantive change). I'd also like to point out to Microsoft that I'm available as a consultant, and could probably save them a little money, as if that is important to them.
When it was recently revealed that Microsoft had employed religious conservative Ralph Reed as a political consultant, it was logical to wonder if his $20,000 monthly retainer was somehow related to the company's temporary refusal to support a gay-rights bill in Olympia, which failed. Maybe the fiercely antigay crusader with the choirboy looks would be there to guide Bill Gates through a nationwide boycott of software products, as threatened by Eastside minister Ken Hutcherson.
But as Jon Stewart put it on The Daily Show: Microsoft? "Afraid of a boycott? And you call yourself a heartless monopoly!" Indeed, the company has since thumbed its nose at Hutcherson and promises to support future gay-rights legislation. It also still heartlessly rules the computer desktop.
And as for Reed, if he ever had anything to do with Microsoft's role, or lack thereof, in this state's gay-rights debate, he won't next time. He's being deleted from the Redmond software giant's payroll, two company sources say, and he likely gets his last $20,000 check this month.
[Rick Anderson, "Microsoft Deletes Ralph Reed", Seattle Weekly, 1–7 June 2005.]
Beyond that tidbit, the story does have fascinating details on offer. For example:
Microsoft sees no ethical conflicts in paying for the services, current and past, of Norquist and Reed and the earlier efforts of Abramoff, who, in e-mails obtained by probers, referred to some of his Preston Gates Ellis clients as morons, monkeys, and idiots. Once a political neophyte, Microsoft is now a D.C. power player, having spent almost $60 million since 1998 to legally purchase access and influence. Though the younger Gates and CEO Steve Ballmer last year each gave the Bush campaign $2,000 (and John Kerry nothing), and the company's political action committee gave 54 percent of its donations to Republicans ($5,000 to Bush, nothing to Kerry), the company says it backs candidates regardless of party. "Our philosophy," says spokesperson Terzano, "is that we support organizations that benefit the company and the tech industry overall."
With all the burnable dollars of Microsoft and Gates, money is bound to show up when and where it might be beneficial. In 2003–04, Microsoft's PAC gave Tom DeLay a $10,000 campaign donation, and Ballmer added $2,000, while, IRS records show, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation gave DeLay's Foundation for Kids $100,000. Just coincidence, say the company and the foundation.
[…]
In 2000, with Abramoff, Reed, Norquist, and lobbyists such as former Republican Party chief Haley Barbour helping out, Microsoft spent $10.5 million on federal lobbying and campaign donations. In 2004, it was almost $19 million. Then-candidate Bush might have noticed. Eleven months after he took office, Microsoft's five-year-old antitrust case was effectively settled. Life got only better for Microsoft afterward. In 2003, it issued its first-ever dividend to shareholders—Bill Gates got $99.5 million—just a week after Bush proposed the repeal of a tax on dividends. The repeal was later approved, cutting the 35 percent tax rate to 15 percent. Microsoft chief financial officer John Connors—who, along with Microsoft head lobbyist John Kelly, are top Bush fund-raisers—said the repeal was just coincidence. The following year, Microsoft issued a boggling dividend of $32 billion to shareholders. Gates got $3.5 billion. Thanks to the Bush tax cut, he pocketed an extra $700 million.
I'm a firm believer in coincidence. Once again, I'm available for coincidental donations. Give to Ars Hermeneutica and your donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law!
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on Monday, 30 January 2006 at 15.05
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