How do those who accuse "big business" of not having a heart explain the curious advocacy of Ford Motor Company? In their apparent bonding with the homosexual lobby, they don't seem to be acting like a business at all.

In a July 11 Action Alert, the American Family Association (AFA) says, "Ford Motor Company continues to support the homosexual agenda despite a steady drop in sales and the price of their stock. The latest Ford support for the homosexual lifestyle came in the July 4 issue of The Advocate, a homosexual magazine. Ford placed two full page ads in the publication featuring all their brands of automobiles, just as they did the previous month. This issue promoted Lambda Legal, a homosexual organization pushing the homosexual agenda in the courts."

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Tom Addis, Chairman of Ford's National Dealer Council, explained in a letter to dealers Ford's policy of supporting homosexual publications: "Ford Motor Company advertises in publications that are aimed at various affinity groups. Among them are boaters, hikers, fishermen, campers, ranchers, gardeners, contractors, several ethic and cultural groups and yes, alternative lifestyles."

Fair enough, but one wonders if Mr. Addis is missing the point, no several points. Ford is a business. Businesses usually act for a variety of reasons, most of them related to profit and few of them dealing with social issues--and only then, reasonably, when "enlightened self-interest" seems to come into play. This behavior pattern tends to define those organizations we refer to as businesses. Bad press and shaky public relationships are not, traditionally, businesslike. Can we agree that boaters, hikers, fisherman, campers and (at least until the advent of Brokeback Mountain) ranchers are considerably less inflammatory "affinity groups" than homosexuals. (Homosexuality is the term Mr. Addis apparently avoided in his statement for the kinder, gentler perspective provided by the phrase, "alternate lifestyle".) But this discussion has nothing to do with the militant homosexual agenda and everything to do with wonder and surprise. What in the hell is Ford thinking?  

The AFA has (long ago) called for a boycott of Ford products and claims it is working. "The boycott is having an impact. Ford sales dropped 5% in March, 7% in April, 2% in May and 6.8% in June. Their stock has dropped 13% since we began the boycott."

While Ford has virtually locked up West Hollywood, California ("the only city in the nation where a majority of the citizens are gay"), see here, and although the Commercial Closet Association claims that boycotts against the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community "have had little effect," saying...

"Boycott threats by anti-gay groups have proven over the years to have no measurable or adverse sales impact on targeted companies, including years-long efforts against American Airlines and Disney. As it has always been, success in the marketplace is dictated by the effectiveness of marketing strategies -- not approval from bigoted organizations," said Michael Wilke, the executive director of the Commercial Closet..."

this truth remains: Estimated earnings per share FYE 12/2006: -.47

Now this is not offered as proof that the boycott is working, homosexuality is bad, or that Ford's "cause" is wrong. It simply serves to amplify a burning question. On Ford's Blue Oval forum we find an August, 2006 post entitled As if Ford needed any more problems..., the AFA boycott that asks it:

"Who in Detroit is so damn stupid not to realize that we are alienating ourselves from half of America for this stupid [%^&*]?"

It's an excellent question. No rocket science here. Making enemies is bad business.