One group doesn't make all the rules

Sometimes conservatives give other conservatives a bad name. Take our old friend Don Wildmon of the American Family Association.

Wildmon has been around for years with his Christian-friendly AFA. The problem is that Wildmon believes he knows what is right and wrong in our lives and he uses his bully pulpit to advance his agenda. There's no question that Wildmon is an arch conservative. But that's the problem.

Wildmon and his organization are threatening a boycott against Ford Motor Company because the auto-maker is advertising in gay publications. Wildmon, by the way, threatens a lot of boycotts taking a page directly from the civil rights movement.

Ford has had extensive talks with Wildmon about their advertising program. Wildmon seems to think he had an agreement with Ford to abandon the ads in gay publications. But Ford this past week decided to renew their ad program and that has Wildmon hot under the collar.

With all of the problems in the world - and there are many - I find it puzzling that Wildmon would take on this issue to make his stand. But Wildmon likes the limelight and a fight with Ford over their ad program makes for flashy headlines.

Don Wildmon is probably a good American. I would assume he shares values with a large number of us. And he should be applauded for his lifelong battle against a society gone mad. But he's picking an odd fight with Ford, especially given a host of other issues that he could easily champion.

If Wildmon can strong-arm Ford over their ads in gay newspapers maybe tomorrow he can do the same thing over Ford's ads in the liberal New York Times. And then he can battle over their ads on television programs he opposes. The problem is that Don Wildmon puts himself and his organization as the ultimate judge and jury.

That's dangerous from a conservative or a liberal.