LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY sunfell)

Just when you thought that people like the American Family Association have learned their lessons when dealing with Ford, they go on the attack again!

Here's a Daily Kos diary about their latest attack (including their high-handed letter to Ford), and a list of signatory people in cahoots with them which might come in handy to know.

Here's another article on the subject from Talk To Action about the Religious Right's inability to let things go. It's interesting reading.

Here's an excerpt of the AFA letter:

On November 28, Ford Motor Company and American Family Association worked out a representation concerning Ford's support of groups promoting the homosexual agenda including homosexual marriage. Ford's representations seemed to AFA a very reasonable and attainable goal.
Here is what Ford's representation included:

1. Ford would not renew current promotions or create future incentives that give cash donations to homosexual organizations based on the purchase of a vehicle.
2. Ford would stop giving cash and vehicle donations or endorsements to homosexual social activities such as Gay Pride parades.
3. Ford would not make corporate donations to homosexual organizations that, as part of their activities, engage in political or social campaigns to promote civil unions or same-sex marriage.
4. Ford would cease all advertising in homosexual websites and media outlets (magazines, television, radio) in the U.S. with the exception of a small amount to be used by Volvo. The Volvo ads would be the same ads used in the general media and not aimed at the homosexual community specifically.

When homosexual groups opposed Ford's actions, seven homosexual leaders met with Ford. At that meeting, Ford repudiated your representations and issued a public letter strongly supporting the homosexual groups.

Ford made this decision at the request of only seven homosexual leaders and without any input from your thousands of dealers who stand to be adversely affected by your decision. Why would Ford put the interests of seven homosexual groups ahead of the interests of all your dealers? Evidently you consider seven homosexual leaders more important than your thousands of dealers. Your support for these groups pushing homosexual marriage can only hurt your dealers.

We strongly suggest that Ford remove itself from involvement in the cultural war and apply its resources to building the best product possible. It ill serves the purpose of Ford to take sides in the cultural war. It is a no-win situation. When you favor one side, you alienate the other. Leave the cultural battles to the various groups pro and con and to the politicians. Apply your energy and your resources to building better automobiles. This policy would benefit not only Ford, your employees and your dealers, but society as a whole.

The whole thing is a brilliant example of the high-handed and lightly veiled threats that such organizations use to intimidate people. I hope that Ford will not back down, because these people need to be handed their hats and shown the door. These people hate gays, and their hatred is quite clear if you read between the lines.