Richard Land To Help Takeover Microsoft Corp.?

A bit of background first: Microsoft has publicly supported gay rights legislation and officially opposes discrimination based on sexual orientation. Microsoft was one of the first large corporations to offer employee benefits to same-sex domestic partners. And according to a Microsoft spokesman, those policies are supported by 97 percent of all shareholders.

Enter the Rev. Ken Hutcherson, pastor of Antioch Bible Church and one of the founders of Watchmen on the Walls and a former Dallas Cowboys linebacker. In 2005, Hutcherson pressured Microsoft into withdrawing its support of an employment anti-discrimination bill before the Washington state legislature. The bill would have made it illegal to fire an employee based on their sexual orientation. This sparked outrage around the country and Microsoft reversed itself and promised to support anti-discrimination legislation the future. In January 2006, the bill came up again in the Washington legislature where it passed both the House and Senate and was signed into law. At the recent annual stockholders meeting, Hutcherson made his way to the microphone and warned company leaders:

"I could work with you, or I could be your worst nightmare, because I am a black man with a righteous cause, with a host of powerful white people behind me...I hope to hear from you and if not, you will hear from me."

Hutcherson is back and has a new plan to roll back gay rights at Microsoft. He plans to Takeover Microsoft And he plans to do so with the help of well known Christian Right leaders including Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention

Check it out:

A conservative Christian pastor plans to launch a high-profile campaign Tuesday urging religious followers to load up on Microsoft Corp. stock, in an attempt to force the company to "stop financing ungodly ventures."

The Rev. Ken Hutcherson, who leads Antioch Bible Church in Microsoft's hometown of Redmond, says that he will create a global and powerful group to promote traditional family values, including marriage exclusively between a man and a woman.

Hutcherson, joined by some of the country's most influential Christian leaders, has created a new organization, AGN Financial Network, to finance the effort. The worldwide venture asks people to buy three shares of company stock and donate one to AGN. Its Web site tells visitors, "You have the power to change the world," and contains tips on how to open a brokerage account. Among the listed supporters are Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention and religious pundit Gary Bauer.

An impossible task? To gain just 1 percent stake in Microsoft, about 31 million people would each have to spend $104 to buy three shares.

After the failed boycott of Walt Disney, you'd think Dick Land would stay away from such ridiculous initiatives!

Well SBCers, go be a good Southern Baptist and pick yourself up three shares of Microsoft. 2 for you and 1 for Land and Hutcherson.

And when fighting the good fight against anti-discrimination bills and same-sex domestic partner benefits for Microsoft employees (and hate crimes legislation!) please don't forget the words of South Carolina's native son, Stephen Colbert:

Gay Marriage is: "The biggest threat facing America today - next to socialized medicine, the Dyson vacuum cleaner and the recumbent bicycle."