On October 11, 2017, Microsoft's political action committee made a $1000 donation to Rep. Mark Meadows, widely reported as one of the key voices demanding a transgender ban in the military, and threatening to vote down legislation that did not include it. https://www.cnn.com/2017/07/26/politics/congress-transgender-policy/index.html …
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Who at Microsoft made the decision to make this campaign donation? Do you believe it is compatible with your promise to oppose any move to treat transgender people as less than equal? If not, will Microsoft commit to asking Rep. Meadows to return this money?pic.twitter.com/NFZxO0WptY
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Florida Congressman Brian Mast has similarly been a vocal opponent of trans people serving in the military. Microsoft's PAC made two donations to his campaign, one on 9/30/17, and one on 9/28/18. Do you feel these donations are compatible with the values you express?pic.twitter.com/T4No14pA0j
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In 2017, Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn jointly recommended Jeff Mateer to a lifetime appointment on the Federal bench. After it was revealed Mateer had described transgender children as part of "Satan's plan", Cruz stood by Mateer's nomination.https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2017/09/28/cruz-stands-trump-court-pick-sees-satans-plan-transgender-kids …
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On March 6, 2018, Microsoft PAC donated $1,000 to Cruz's campaign. Was Microsoft then aware of Cruz's support for Mateer? Do you think this support is an example of "opposing any move that treats trans employees as less than equal"? Will you demand that Cruz return this donation?
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For that matter, Microsoft PAC donated $5,000 to Senator Cornyn on December 31, 2017. While Cornyn expressed initial surprise at Mateer's remarks, he never disavowed the nominee or withdrew his support. Will you press Sen. Cornyn for an explanation on his views on "Satan's plan"?pic.twitter.com/3PZeY42Gyl
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More broadly, how is it that Microsoft can voice an unequivocal and apparently sincere belief in the dignity and equality of its transgender employees, while continuing to give material support to candidates and a party that is threatening transgender rights this very moment?
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Are Microsoft's political donations exempt from the company's expressed values? If so, how can Microsoft claim to be defending the rights of its employees? If not, then why were these donations made, and by whom? What will Microsoft do to redress the wrong? Thank you for reading
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Replying to @Pinboard
Don’t all corporate PACs just sort of donate to everyone across the board, to hedge their bets? Not saying that’s a good thing, it’s a problem! But I’m not sure it indicates a political stance other than just pure capitalism.
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Replying to @taylorshaw
In the tech industry, the giving is usually split evenly across parties, but the specific donations are quite targeted at incumbents. It is *not* the case that the PACs give to everyone, or that they give to both sides in any specific race.
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Moreover, I'm not accusing Microsoft of having a political stance (other than 'more money for us', as you say here) but of being hypocritical. If you give campaign money to anti-trans politicians, don't make broad claims about defending them.
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