Re Microsoft and Gays: Hutcherson a "spiritual bulldozer"

[mondo joe]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002263363_hutcherson05m.html

Pastor Ken Hutcherson is a man who makes the most of his controversial sound bites.

Take the reasoning behind his threat to organize a national boycott of Microsoft products if the company didn't withdraw its support of state legislation banning discrimination against gays and lesbians: "They tried to make their policy my policy," he said. "(I told them) that gave me the right to step out of my world into theirs and they wouldn't like it."

Or, last year, on his plans to organize a national rally against gay marriage in Washington, D.C., shortly before the November elections: "My idea here is to drop a spiritual bomb on D.C., like Spain, where they had the terrorist bomb," he said, referring to the March 2004 Madrid train bombing that killed 191.

Or this, on why he got into football, before becoming a Christian: "It was the only sport where I could hurt white guys legally."

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Seattle gay-rights activist Bill Dubay, who was on a panel with Hutcherson last year, said the pastor interrupted him when he was introducing himself.

"He's an egotistical bully," Dubay said. "He talks about not having a personal agenda but he's personalized the Bible to his liking. ... He wants his religious beliefs to be followed by everybody else. That's not the government's role."

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While his tactics and sound bites have garnered him press, even those who agree with his views wonder if it's the best way to achieve shared long-term goals, especially in this state.

Cedar Park Assembly of God Pastor Joseph Fuiten, who also heads a statewide evangelical lobbying group, said he used to think Hutcherson was "just a flame thrower" but has come to respect his integrity and character and believes he has an attention-grabbing role to play in getting their message across.