Microsoft is paying off Ralph Reed to the tune of $240k a year for ‘consulting’. What Mr. Reed, who is not a technologist, has to offer Microsoft is really uncertain. Mr. Reed is known as the leading bigoted and homophobic political organizer in the USA, and his being on Microsoft’s payroll is rumored to be a means for Microsoft to gain direct access to the White House (Mr. Reed was an organizer for George W. Bush’s campaign in 2004). It’s also rumored to be a big payoff to the religious right, who seem to also have made Microsoft “change its mind” about a Washington state bill to give additional protection to gays and lesbians. This is a revolting development. Remember now that when you buy Microsoft products you fund the extreme right wing movement in the USA today.