People, It's 2007
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/01/AR2007050100674.html?hpid=moreheadlines
The link is to a story in The Washington Post chronicling the story of BP's chief executive's resignation because his former relationship with a lover (here's the important part, the lover was a guy) was going to be reported in a London tabloid.
From the article, it appears that the executive, John Browne, had tried in court to get a British tabloid story about his relationship suppressed. In the process, he had lied to the court about how he had met his now former lover, who was an escort. He didn't tell the court that part. There were some allegations about spending BP money improperly, which were dismissed by BP's Board of Directors.
"'For the past 41 years of my career at BP I have kept my private life separate from my business life," Browne said in a statement. "I have always regarded my sexuality as a personal matter, to be kept private. It is a matter of personal disappointment that a newspaper group has now decided that allegations about my personal life should be made public.'"
Browne was planning to retire on August 1. He has forfeited twenty some million dollars in salary and stock options due to his resignation.
It seems to me that Mr. Browne was done wrong for no good reason. At large cost, he has gone out with more than the little dignity that a British bottom feeding newspaper tried to leave him with.
Too bad we are all so obsessed with each others morality, as seen through our skewed eyes.
I'd have fired him for the fact that my next tank of gas tomorrow is going to cost me something like $2.85 a gallon.
10 comments:
Reminds me of the Bill Clinton thing. After all these years, a good friend of mine still gets riled up at the fact that Bill Clinton forced her into explaining oral sex to her 8 year old (he asked). So where do we draw the line with the personal lives of world/business leaders? Does it matter what they do on their own time? I didn't give a hoot who or how many Clinton was with, but I did care that he did that stuff in the White House. I feel sorry for this BP guy. Sad.
The difference is that, damn, Clinton lied under oath and so did Browne. I guess it just seems less onerous with Browne.
I remember reading the article when Browne resigned. The author wondered how someone could just walk away from all that money.
In this age of "YOU'RE the one w/the problem!" I'd still be in there fighting, or better yet, beat that rag to the punch by telling all on Oprah.
Good post, but it wasnt the "gay" thing that grabbed my attention, it was the Fire Him for the $2.85 a gallon comment. I catch myself thinking the same way, but that's where we are all wrong. It's simple supply and demand that has caused oil to be $2.85/gallon (and taxes). It's not the oil companies fault. They are trying to make a buck, just like every single company (and person) on this planet tries to do. WE...that's right...WE are the idiots. We are the ones that keep driving the giant SUV's. Just think if we all bought a Prius and got 45 mpg, up from the avg of about 16 mpg right now. The price of oil would plummet AND we would see a nice drop in greenhouse gases.
I was trying to be funny with the gas price comment. Equating outrage over it to him being gay. Obviously didn't work. You are right Thinking Green.
I've heard but not verified that a good chunk of the price increases has been due to "boutique fuels." We have something like 150 blends of gas that are mandated for different places and times of year. The logistics (and their failure) and cost of blending drive up price.
Dave,
I would have looked at this post differently a few years ago.
I'm not homophobic, however, in the past while I've come to accept that sort of personal sexual conduct for exactly what it is - PERSONAL sexual conduct.
In the last while I've had fiance's exhusband put my own morality into perspective by making the comment "It's not right that you live with [fiance], and aren't married". To which I calmly replied - "You can take your self percieved 'morals' and shove them up your ass".
For what it's worth, I did this in the most unobtrusive manner I could possibly muster.
I only have one moral, so when someone puts that into question - I will defend it to the death.
I suppose that's why I don't think Mr. BP should have been violated like he was. Ultimately, his 'moral' was put into question and my only regret was he didn't step up to the plate and fight for what he thought was right. That was his bad.
That is the part that irritates me about the entire story.
Oh yeah....
Being that I'm employed by an oil company - I would like to mention that "think green" couldn't have voiced my sentiments any more clearly.
We still thrive in a market economy.
Just because the oil companies can make obscene profits doesn't mean they should make obscene profits. I think it's past time for the government to step in and assume control. Oh yeah, I forgot- the oil companies are the government.
Anyway, back on topic, I think the gay thing is less important to BP than the fact that he used company resources to help out his Longtime Companion. Regardless of orientation, stockholders don't like it when you their company to get laid.
Hey Thomas,
BP didn't fire him; he resigned when his suit to stop publication of the story of his relationship failed. He had disclosed some stuff along the lines of letting his boyfriend use a company computer. The board had concluded that what he had done wasn't a problem.
Whatever yours or anyone else's sexual preference is...is none of my business. That doesn't make me not like a person writing or business-wise.
Besides...I'm probably going to jail soon anyway because I don't back down when one of my kiddos needs me.
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