Conservative pastor urges buying Microsoft stock to fight its gay rights efforts

[meegbear]

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.

"We're not trying to hurt Microsoft or their shareholders, nor are we calling for a boycott of their products," volunteer spokesman Dennis Sullivan said. "We are trying to get Christians to buy their shares."

It's unclear what effect, if any, the initiative could have on the stock price. It would be difficult to influence company direction -- just to gain a 1 percent stake in Microsoft, about 31 million people would each have to spend $104 to buy three shares. Microsoft has about 9.36 billion outstanding shares, and its largest holder is Chairman Bill Gates, with 858 million shares, or 9 percent of the total. Capital Research and Management Co. follows with nearly 557 million shares, or 6 percent.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/346431_antiochmsft08.html

[demnan]

1. Maybe he's trying to manipulate the market

for his own gain.

The more religious they are, the more you have to hold on to your wallet.

[AB_Positive]

2. Ahhh ambivalence.

Considering my EFF/Open Source roots - I'm not the biggest fan of Microsoft. However... no way in hell do they get any change in Redmond as far as civil rights for employees go they are incredibly good. This is laughable.

-AB+

[meegbear]

4. Indeed AB ...

:party: WELCOME TO DU!! :party:

[AB_Positive]

9. Thank you kindly!

Although I lurked a lot the past few years, I've been more vocal now :)

In response to GodlessBiker further down - it almost makes me want to buy M$ shares myself. I love the EFF, but my own personal rights are kind of ahead in line. Damn my selfishness ;)

-AB+

[TechBear_Seattle]

3. Only a year ago, he was demanding that people dump their Microsoft stock

Claiming that "true Americans" should not own any part of a company that supports equal rights, not to mention his stated purpose to drive down the value of the company's stock by flooding the market. :eyes: Then there is the fact that he is on international public record with regards to his intent to hurt the company itself by means of a (failed, obviously) boycott.

This is great timing, as the Wikipedia article for Ken Hutcherson is being cleaned up. Excellent to have a new source documenting his bigoted idiocy.

[readmoreoften]

5. You mean THIS Ken Hutcherson?

You mean one of the leaders of the ex-gay movement? The African-American pastor who just took faith-based government funding to attend a rousing, global anti-gay conference in Latvia that resulted in the death of a California gay man at the hands of immigrant Latvian skinheads? :crazy:

Oh yeah, that would be the Ken Hutcherson you're talking about.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2500141

[meegbear]

6. That's him ...

the fucktard.

[Tyo]

7. Couldn't this work both ways?

There must be lots of small publicly traded companies out there that have Fundie roots, inclinations, or connections. Maybe it's time for gays to diversify their portfolios a little.

[GodlessBiker]

8. Go to it, Kenny. It will make the MSFT shares owned by this gay man more valuable.

[insleeforprez]

10. This is singularly the dumbest thing I have ever heard