Would you accept six-figure speaking fees from a major tobacco company???

[reformist2]

I'm not saying every big investment bank is quite as bad as Big Tobacco, but I think you know where I'm going with this....

Be careful about being known by the company you keep, it's a moral that goes back to Aesop's Fables, and for good reason.

[doc03]

1. I would accept a six-figure speaking fee from anyone that was

stupid enough to pay me.

[yeoman6987]

19. Me too.

[kelly1mm]

2. Absolutly I would - I could use the money! But I would not then think that voters

would not know I was bought and paid for by them if I was running for office ....

[MineralMan]

3. Absolutely I would.

I'd tell them that they hooked me on cigarettes decades ago and should be ashamed of themselves. Then I'd deposit their six figure check. Anyone willing to pay that much for a speech will get one. They might not like it, though.

But, the most I've been paid for speaking was in the four figures, so it seems unlikely to happen.

[Zorra]

4. Only if they were paying me to speak about the dangers of tobacco use.

[Kalidurga]

5. Yep

I would make the speech public though if the agreement allowed for it.

[Thinkingabout]

6. Yes, it does not mean I would be supporting them.

[hrmjustin]

7. Hell yes.

I could use the money.

[pangaia]

8. Yes I would. No question. $450,000 is my fee.

Of course they wouldn't get shit for it as I would take the money and... oh I don't know...go to South Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Tibet, ...... um.. Venice. Barcelona... Oh, and ST. PETERSBURG!!!

And to pay for my upcoming 7 day little sailing excursion in the Lofoton Islands on a Delphia 3.7.

[Fumesucker]

9. Yeah, I'd take the money but I wouldn't be stupid enough to run for POTUS afterwards

Some people are just "Too stupid to be President".

[mythology]

14. I used to think that

and then the 2000 and 2004 elections happened. If W the dimwit can get enough votes to make the election close enough for his brother's interference to help, and then get enough votes to win reelection 4 years later, I don't think I can say that somebody is too stupid to be president.

[SheilaT]

10. I once turned down a paralegal position

with a law firm in Kansas City best known for its support of Big Tobacco. The placement agency thought I was nuts, but I could not bring myself to do what I saw as unethical work.

[reformist2]

13. That's where I am, too. I couldn't do it either.

[Kaleva]

11. Yes

[restorefreedom]

12. yes, and i would tell them what scumbags they are for making cigarettes

and then i would donate a substantial amount of the fee to a kick smoking effort


i am guessing it would be a one time only gig.

[Hoyt]

15. If I had power to regulate them I would enjoy taking their money for worthy cause

and telling them with a smile on my face how I'm going to regulate them.

[mythology]

16. It would depend on what they wanted me to speak about

If it was to extol the virtues of smoking, no. If it was something I was qualified to discuss, I wouldn't dismiss the idea out of hand.

[Uncle Joe]

17. The only way a tobacco company would pay you a six-figure fee is if you agreed with their policies.

They damn sure aren't going to waste their money on someone opposed to their product or policies.

Thanks for the thread, reformist.

[hobbit709]

18. I'd take the money but they probably would never ask me back.

How many speeches did G-S get from Hillary?

[HassleCat]

20. What Molly Ivins says

"You got to be able to drink their whiskey, screw their women, take their money, then get up on the floor of the legislature and vote against them." That sounds great, but politicians become dependent on those speaking fees, so they follow the first three points of Molly's advice, but not the last one.

[ebayfool]

22. I miss Molly Ivins! n/t

[Armstead]

21. Since that is not ever likely to happen...I can say in good conscience "Hell Yes."

However, in the .000000000000000000000000000000000001 percent it might ever, I'd still say "Hell yes. I'll be happy to tal;k about the weather with you."

But not if I were a politician.

[HerbChestnut]

23. Sure, then I'd turn around and use that money to fund anti-tobacco efforts.