Exxon-Mobil Chief's Stand Deserves Praise

Cal Thomas | Syndicated columnist | Updated: Aug 30, 2001

Exxon-Mobil Chief's Stand Deserves Praise

It's unusual when the head of a major corporation stands up to certain liberal elements in our society. Exxon-Mobil's chief executive officer, Lee Raymond, has done just that.

Not only has Raymond criticized the Kyoto Treaty, which supposedly would combat global warming, he has refused to add "sexual orientation" to Exxon's nondiscrimination policy and to drop Mobil's domestic partner benefits program for people hired after the two companies merged in 1999.

As expected, the Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights lobbying group, has called for a boycott of Exxon-Mobil. Usually the fear of a boycott, much less the call for one, is enough to send wimpy executives to their apologetic knees. Not Lee Raymond. He refuses to knuckle under to the intimidation.

You might want to thank Exxon-Mobil CEO Lee Raymond by writing him a letter at the company headquarters in Irving, Texas. Even better, buy some of his gasoline.

Exxon-Mobil Chief's Stand Deserves Praise