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Prop 8 financier Doug Manchester buys San Diego Union-Tribune
November 19, 2011
By Adam Bink
Of the Manchester Hyatt boycott.
Hotelier Doug Manchester, a major donor to the campaign to repeal marriage equality in California, is buying San Diego’s daily newspaper.
Manchester’s purchase of The San Diego Union-Tribune was announced Thursday. He paid more than $110 million for the paper, he told the website Voice of San Diego, which noted that is more than double what previous owner Platinum Equity paid in 2009. He declined to provide other details, saying the parties had agreed not to comment until the deal is finalized between November 30 and December 15.
In 2008, Manchester donated $125,000 to the campaign to pass Proposition 8, the ballot initiative that amended California’s constitution to ban same-sex marriage, superseding a state Supreme Court ruling that opened marriage to gay couples. Prop. 8, approved by voters, is being challenged in court; one federal judge found it violated the U.S. Constitution, but his ruling is on appeal. Manchester’s activism on behalf of the proposition led to boycotts of his hotels, such as the Manchester Grand Hyatt.
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12 Comments Leave a Comment
1.
bythesea | November 19, 2011 at 7:08 am
This sucks in principle, but I'd guess it will be hard to tell any difference since the UT is already right-wing trash.
2.
Derek Williams | November 19, 2011 at 7:21 am
It is impossible and not reasonable to expect owners of newspapers to have no personal opinions on any issue they see fit, so long as they remain impartial. However it is good that this anti-gay background of the new owner is now public knowledge, and will thus help explain any shift towards a more anti-equality editorial policy.
3.
Bill in San Diego | November 19, 2011 at 9:39 am
The majority of San Diegans who pay attention to newspapers are "live and let live" kinds of people (yes, I know that there are exceptions who hop onto the comments page anytime the U-T runs a story on any political issue involving the LGBT community). Lesbians and gay men are also well integrated into the city's political establishment (two are leading candidates for mayor, and the city council and current mayor went on record against Prop 8 and recently in favor of the Respect for Marriage Act). So, Mr. Manchester has a lot to lose and not much to gain by pushing a hate agenda. I suspect that he will concentrate on a pro-business, pro-development, editorial stance, but since that's been the U-T's basic position for years I'm sure that not much will change.
4.
MightyAcorn | November 19, 2011 at 11:51 am
It will also let the LGBT community and their straight allies know where there money is going, and to choose to spend elsewhere. I won't give money to people or businesses that I know might funnel my dollars into hate causes or candidates. I haven't shopped at Target since they chose to support virulently anti-gay candidates, and I won't be purchasing any of Mr. Manchester's goods or services either. Bye bye, S.D. U-T and Manchester Grand Hyatt. Bye bye.
5.
DaveP | November 19, 2011 at 2:34 pm
Exactly. As an individual I wouldn't expect to have much luck convincing a newspaper to be more centrist, but as a consumer I can certainly choose where and how to spend my money. And ANY company that has a record of using profits to fund anti-equality measures gets NONE of my money. There have been a couple of instances where this has been just a tad inconvenient, and maybe even a tiny bit more expensive, but the satisfaction of knowing my money won't be used by bigots to hurt me and others far outweighs any slight downside. FOLLOW THE MONEY, AND DON'T GIVE THEM ANY OF YOURS!
6.
Jim | November 19, 2011 at 3:56 pm
Looks like we'll be canceling the UT subscriptions & subscribing to the LA Times.
7.
Rhyscurrency | November 19, 2011 at 6:32 pm
The racists and homophobes–in other words, all those who back John McCain for president--can see that their days are numbered.
I live in SD; I'll be voting no on this Proposition, and yes for the next president, Barack Obama.
8.
sbj1964 | November 19, 2011 at 6:39 pm
Quip pro quo ! show you care .
9.
Ronnie | November 20, 2011 at 6:31 am
Subscribing & sharing……
In Memoriam: 2011's Transgender Murder Victims
In observance of Sunday's Transgender Day of Remembrance, we look at eight American lives ended.: http://www.advocate.com/News/News_Features/In_Mem…
"On one hand, it seems inconceivable that we need such a thing as Transgender Day of Remembrance, which memorializes those murdered for their gender identity and takes place for the 13th year this Sunday. But when you have publications like the New York Post refer to Chaz Bono as a "she-man," as it did this week, you can see where some of the intense hate directed at transgender people is born. This devaluation of their lives translates to death every year for many transgender men and women, and 2011 was no different. Here are eight of the approximately 221 transgender people murdered this year, as compiled by Ethan St. Pierre for TransgenderDOR.org."
Rest in peace: Krissy Bates (44), Tyra Trent (25), Marcal Camero Tye (25), Miss Nate Nate aka Nathan Eugene Davis (44), Lashai Mclean (23), Camila Guzman (38), Gaurav Gopalan (35), Shelly Hilliard (19), & to all those unnamed.
: ( …Ronnie
10.
Chris in Lathrop | November 20, 2011 at 11:46 am
"The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers." ~Thomas Jefferson
11.
ManchGrandHyatt | November 22, 2011 at 9:42 am
In order to maintain news accuracy and clear up any confusion, please note that as of March 2011, Mr. Manchester sold his interest in the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego. This property is now owned by Host Hotels & Resorts and continues to be managed by Hyatt Hotels & Resorts.
12.
MightyAcorn | November 22, 2011 at 9:55 am
Thanks for the update. I will look into Host Hotels & Resorts campaign contributions before I resume patronage of the Manchester Grand Hyatt, however.
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