Pardon my stupidity, but I just learned Fred Thompson was a lobbyist for Phillip Morris

[graywarrior]

(clip)
If Fred Thompson is elected president, he will be the first federally registered lobbyist to become Commander in Chief. Since his days as top minority counsel to the Senate Watergate Committee, Thompson has collected over $1 million in lobbying fees. In return, he has provided exceptional access to those in power.

(clip)
As for Thompson's personal ties to Philip Morris, they are evident not so much in the tobacco company's contributions to him -- just $13,000 to his two Senate campaigns -- but in how loaded his still unannounced presidential campaign is with people strongly tied to the tobacco company and its parent company, Altria.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/06/25/fred-thompson-the-philip_n_53736.html

[bbinacan]

1. I'm no fan of Thompson but

what's your point about Phillip Morris?

[slowry]

4. ?????????????????????/ n/t

[bbinacan]

6. ?????????????????????????????

Edit. Answer the question.:smoke:

[graywarrior]

7. He was a lobbyist

That's my point

[bbinacan]

9. I must be slow

Yes he was a lobbyist. I expect for a number of companies. Why single out Phillip Morris? :smoke:

[graywarrior]

11. Because it was mentioned in the article written?

Do I pass the test?

[bbinacan]

16. He also represented other

companies. That he is staffing with former Phillip Morris employees is smart. They know how to market. :smoke:

[graywarrior]

19. According to my research, the cigarette companies are the best marketers in the world.

[Madspirit]

18. Why Not

Yeah why not have a president who lobbied for the most addictive, dangerous and deadly drug on the entire planet. Sounds good to me. Maybe he also has some stock in lung machine companies and casket makers. That would be sound investing. We want a prudent money man in the White House. Savvy and wise. Compassionate too. :rofl:
Lee

[originalpckelly]

20. Seriously, what is bbinacan smoking?

:shrug:

I have a feeling it's not made by phillip morris.

[bbinacan]

24. RJ Reynolds actually.

:evilgrin:

[whistle]

2. Just what the country needs, a president who will bring back smoking to our public schools

....government buildings and hospitals. A new generation of nicotine addicts:applause: Does the military still allow tobacco companies to give free cartons of cigarettes to our troops?:wtf:

[ProgressiveEconomist]

3. Is that where his "Thank you for Smoking" glibness comes from?

[Evergreen Emerald]

5. Haven't heard it in the news have you?!

Yet we learn every bit of dirt and dandruff on Edwards' hair.

[KittyWampus]

15. ACtually, the AP wrote a whole piece about his lobbying. It was posted hereon DU- DU'ers ignored it

I kicked and recommended that thread but DU'ers were too freaking busy hating the Democratic party to bother being proactive about Thompson.

[Poiuyt]

8. He was also a registered foreign agent

Thompson Lobbied White House On Behalf Of Haitian Leader. From 1991 to 1993, Thompson was a registered foreign agent for Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who was seeking US help in being restored to power in Haiti. A week after Thompson called then-White House chief of staff John Sununu to lobby him for the foreign leader, Thompson’s lobbying firm was paid $10,000 for its services according to Justice Department Records.

Also:

Thompson Paid As S&L Industry Lobbyist, Fighting For Deregulation Before The Industry Collapsed. According to federal lobbying records, in 1982 Thompson lobbied on behalf of a Tennessee Savings And Loans trade group for the Garn-St. Germain Act, “widely considered to have opened the gates for the eventual failure of many S&Ls and their $200 billion bailout by the federal government.” The controversy became a major issue late in his 1994 campaign.

[graywarrior]

10. He's a wonderful man.

[Canuckistanian]

14. And he smells of Aqua Velva

http://imgred.com/

[KittyWampus]

12. Dear Graywarrior, this was posted several times 2-3 weeks ago. I bumped those threads

trying very hard to get DU to notice.

Furthermore, it's since been posted that Thompson has taken on a Rove protege. Griffin is known for his voter caging and also his role in the attorney purge.

Rove has bascially given us his freaking play book for the 08 election.

Thompson is his chosen candidate and he will be using same disgusting tactics.

And yet DUer's let those threads die while they keep reacting to yesterday's news by bitching about what Dems aren't doing.

Sorry, but I am frustrated with DU.

It doesn't say much for this place that you didn't know that Thomspons was a lobbyist and that lobbying was his MAIN CAREER.

[graywarrior]

21. DU is a mosh pit of info.

I am ciertainly not the sharpest pencil in the box here and I don't read every post, but I will say that threads get lost quickly around here.

I've been doing research on the tobacco industry so I can edit a book being written by a friend and I am astounded at what I am learning.

[levinags]

13. Not Surprising

No wonder the Republicans like him so much. I saw him on Leno one night, and I wasn't too impressed. I usually like anybody who comes off as friendly and has a sense of compassion. But I thought he was fake.

I'm hoping he is the nominee, because Rudy is the only Republican that has a chance.

[newyawker99]

23. Hi levinags!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Old and In the Way]

17. He was a pro-life lobbyist, too.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2007_07/011642.php

The right-to-lifers are gonna love that

[Rex_Goodheart]

22. Some of the scoop so far on Thompson:

- He was Nixon's mole.
- He defended a criminal who leaked the identity of a covert CIA agent working against WMDs while our soldiers are dying in a war started on a WMD excuse.
- He lobbied for a foreign company against Americans injured by asbestos.
- He personally collected over $1 million in his career as a buyer of political favors.

[blues90]

25. I certainly would not define you as stupid .

Who can keep up with all of this crap flowing out of the main sewer pipe these days ?

You find out and learn as you find time and ask and go on filled with info they coninue to try top blind us with .

It seem's everyday there are many more piles of garbage let loose to wade through .