Drug companies issue Michael Moore alert

[AmerDem]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Some pharmaceutical companies are telling their employees to look out for the scruffy guy in the baseball cap. The Houston Chronicle reported Saturday that at least six drug companies have released internal communications telling employees to be wary of filmmaker Michael Moore.

Moore's targets have included General Motors (Roger & Me ), the gun lobby (the Oscar-winning Bowling for Columbine ) and President Bush (Fahrenheit 9/11 ).

Moore, normally seen sporting a beard and a ball cap, has now set his sights on the health care industry, including insurance companies, HMOs, the Food and Drug Administration and drug companies.

"We ran a story in our online newspaper saying Moore is embarking on a documentary and if you see a scruffy guy in a baseball cap, you'll know who it is," said Stephen Lederer, a spokesman for Pfizer Global Research and Development.

http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2004-12-26-michael-moore-warning_x.htm?POE=LIFISVA

[ET Awful]

1. That's fine, since the last time he was spotted he was clean-shaven

and wearing a suit :) n/t

[Chipper Chat]

13. He looked like a Steve Forbes clone on Jay Leno recently.

Glad to see he can afford suits now LOL.

[strobetoad]

63. Moore is a hypocrite and a boor n/t

[Cocoa]

69. a "boor?"

what a weird word to use. Who calls people boors, except for cartoon rich-person villains like Mr. Burns or Judge Smales?

[strobetoad]

86. "cartoon rich-person"?

You mean like Michael Moore has become?

[JoFerret]

93. What's weird about the word "boor"?

You might agree or disagree about whether it applies to MM but "boor" is a very useful four letter job. And quite distinct from either Boer or bore. Bernie Kerik might be a better example.

Good that he is going after the Pharmo-Criminals and let's hope he skewers their friends in Washington - the Pharmo-Pols (e.g.Frist)and the lobbyists.

[Bridget Burke]

72. Can you support your statement?

Type quickly--you may not have much time.

[aggiesal]

74. Boor?

Isn't a boor, native to South Africa? As in the "Boor War"!
I never knew that MM was from South Africa.

I think you mean bore.
Please elaBORate on your statement.

[bossfish]

81. You're thinking of "Boer"...

"Boor" is the right usage here.

If you find his work tedious, then "bore" is OK, too.

[aggiesal]

90. Thanks!

Before posting, I usually research a spelling. When I entered
"Boor War", it came back with a huge list of So. Africa Boor War information. So I assumed that was correct.
Maybe it is referred to as Boer in this country and Boor in other countries? I don't know.
But yes I was referring to "Boer War".
American Heritage Dictionary definition of Boor:
1) A person with rude, clumsy manners and little refinement.
2) A peasant.

I find Kerry in neither of these definitions.

Thanks for correcting me.

[saskatoon]

99. Moore is a hypocrit and a bore?

and you are what? an asshole maybe?

[Sara Beverley]

62. What make these companies think Michael hasn't already interviewed

the people he needed to interview? Also, what makes them think that there are no people inside the companies who would not want to blow the whistle on them?

[Drifter]

80. Yep ...

I'll bet Moore had all the footage he needed before he even announced his intentions.

Cheers
Drifter

[eleonora]

2. LOL

The alert itself will make its way into the Moore documentary, I bet.

[henslee]

3. God help the thousands of MM lookalikes out there.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. which means one of two things:

Moore will diet, shave, and wear fedoras

disgruntled employees will flock to Moore and give him all the information he needs, and the companies who don't cooperate will look worse than they are (if that is possible)

[ally_sc]

41. go get 'em micheal...eom

[saskatoon]

98. yes, yes, yes I love and admire the guy

But I bet that sooner or later he is going to be bumped off, I really beleive that

[mutius]

105. Moore has balls

if all of us would come out against the system like Moore things would change. but we are afraid. i don't see any anti-bush bumper stickers, posters displayed. what are we afraid of? but there are a lto of yellow ribbons.:scared:

[Maat]

5. This always cracks me up.

They don't think he is going to be that obvious, do they? And we certainly wouldn't want the Truth to get out or anything. Not in Booosh's Amerika.

[Piperay]

8. Hehehe

they're a bunch of nitwits if they think that Moore is that much of a simpleton. :silly:

[Deja Q]

6. Well, MM will hire some handpicked people.

Doi.

(Doi to the dim drug companies who should be on a lot of the crap they make. x( )

[Nikepallas]

7. I Just hope they don't escort him into the experimental wing....

We need to watch Mike's back and make sure we start asking questions

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MIIIIIIIIKKKKKKKKKEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!

[KDLarsen]

9. Haven't this breaked before?

I'm pretty confident that I read something about this before leaving for the holidays.

[RadicalMom]

103. I saw Mike on TV weeks ago talking about this,..

Perhaps when he went on Leno. I want him to go back to the pre-Leno look.

[Just Me]

10. Isn't that a dang scream?!?!?! They're skeered of Mikey!!!!

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

CAN THEY MAKE IT ANYMORE OBVIOUS THAT THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO HIDE????!!!!

,...oh, Mike,...I'll betcha' never thought the "big guys" would be so SKEEEERED of ya'!!! Didja' :bounce:

Corruption always carries tinges of paranoia,...for valid reasons.

[loyalsister]

36. Not in the least

There's no way he can cover this topic credibly. There are way to many intricit legal issues and variables involved. Health care standards vary from state to state. This is too complex.
They aren't the least bit scared.

[Cocoa]

71. we'll see

Moore obviously thinks he can do something with this, that's what counts, and I can't wait to see what he comes up with.

[Bridget Burke]

Yup, all them "intricit" legal issues are TOO HARD!

The drug companies need to just relax.

[Bridget Burke]

73. duplicate....

Ignore, delete, etc....

[aggiesal]

77. I don't think so.

When drug manufacturers are over-charging Americans, to cover their R&D costs, and the same drug can be purchased in another country at a fraction of our cost, I see no legal means for this.

Re-importation means just that; Re-Importing safe drugs that where exported from the US. If they're safe enough to export, they should be safe enough to re-import.

While Americans pay $1 for prescription drugs, Canadians only pay about .56 cents for that same drug. Brits pay about .67 cents, and Germans pay about .37 cents. I won't even mention Mexico. (These are approximate numbers). Again I see no legal means for this.

Drug comapanies are taking advantage of the average American, and King George II is bending over backwards to make sure that the average American is taken advantage of by Big-Pharma.

If MM can expose this to the average American, maybe there will be enough of an uproar to allow King George II to change his policy.

[Chipper Chat]

11. Memo from the "Roman Temple Builders Inc" circa 30 AD

To all Overseers and Master Builders:
Be on the lookout for a bearded middleaged man wearing a white robe. He is easily spotted because flocks of Jews follow him wherever he goes. He has set his sights on destroying Rome. He is evil and we think he wants to do a documentary on us for PBS. If you spot him, detain him and email me immediately at [e-mail]

[oscar111]

16. Pfizer- radio ad lies-"United Seniors Assn" is not folks, it is Pfz. fake

you have prob heard the thousands of times this ad has been on radio..

we're united seniors association, and we dont take government money . We're the RIGHT voice for america's seniors.

RW they mean. This fake mass membership group has no members.. only an office funded by Pfizer.. after investigators plowed up thru layers of fake umbrella and funding sources.

Nationalize Big Pill. it is the only solution. Mere Regulators will be removed after awhile by bush and his successors. When things are quiet again.

[Tinoire]

12. Aw.. Tempts me want to make a few calls on Monday

to various companies and tell them I see Michael Moore in their parking lot :evilgrin:

On edit: I know, I know.... :spank:

[Chipper Chat]

19. Inside tip: Moore plans to be with Elvis on New Years Day...

at the Indianapolis Madison Avenue Burger King (around the corner from Eli Lilly & Co.)

[arcane1]

101. a perfect topic for Moore, IMO

:hi:

[sonicx]

14. "damnit, let us rip people off without consequences!"

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

20. Why not? (nt)

[RoeBear]

17. Damn evil pharmaceuticals...

...always trying to develope life saving medicines and then trying to sell them at a reasonable profit so they can sink it back into research and develope more medicines...

[Karenina]

22. meanwhile the side effects of such medicines

improperly tested and rushed to market, KILL a WHOLE BUNCH O' FOLKS on their own dime... :shrug:

[NurseLefty]

23. Sarcasm? Please explain. n/t

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

24. Explanation right here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1448516

[tabasco]

26. I was with you right up until "reasonable profits" ...

You checked their bottom lines lately????

Let's just say they're not hurting for groceries.

After we have national health care for our citizens, the drug companies can make all the friggin' money they want.

[Poppyseedman]

66. Check your premise

After we have national health care for our citizens, the drug companies can make all the friggin' money they want.

I fail to see how the drug companies will make all the money they want under national health care, unless with the national health care also is attached tort reform to protect drug companies from unlimited jury judgments

If anything will happen under a national health care system, the federal government will pay only $XYZ$ for a drug. Driving their profits down.

The drug companies will be in the same boat as most doctors, getting only pennies on a dollar for services rendered for government pay out: Medicare, Medicaid.

The drug companies will fight tooth and nail for no national health care system, if they don't you know the fix is already in.

There asses will be covered.

[tabasco]

70. Check your reading comprehension.

I did not state that drug companies would make huge profits if we had universal health care. I stated that I would care less about the huge profits IF we had health care and the people could afford drugs.

It is unconscionable that the drug companies make so much money while the majority of our citizens cannot afford the drugs that are being produced, because of PRICE GOUGING.

[Poppyseedman]

76. I see what you mean.

I actually read and comprehend quite well.

It is quite easy to comprehended reading into your post the way I read it.

After we have national health care for our citizens, the drug companies can make all the friggin' money they want.

[MountainLaurel]

110. Add in the fact

That most drug research receives public funding, but the federal government receives none of the profits.

[AmerDem]

30. are you being serious?

wow

[mitchum]

31. It's my understanding that only 10% of profits are allocated for research

and development, while 60% is earmarked for MARKETING. And they don't do research for conditions which aren't profitable. If you're dying of something, you better hope LOTS of other people also have the same condition.

And I'm not even going to bring up the research done on OUR dime at public universities.

[AliciaKeyedUp]

32. Your understanding is incorrect

That is THEORY espoused by Marcia Angell in her new book where she lumps marketing and administration together in one pile. That is a silly claim. Marketing is probably key, but admin covers a whole host of expenses.

[Name removed]

34. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[AliciaKeyedUp]

61. I don't get your comment

And I only know about the Angell book because I read it. (I saw her on one of the morning shows -- probably the Today Show and she intrigued me.) In general, she has some intelligent critiques of the industry, but she played fast and loose with her math and I think that is pretty scary when you are talking about hundreds of millions of dollars.

If you have the book, take a look at the section where she mentions her math. Watch how fast she chops down $800 million to about $100 million -- essentially because that's what she wanted to do.

[mitchum]

79. Odd that you would alert on a comment that you "don't get"

[Name removed]

83. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[AliciaKeyedUp]

95. You must think I can be in two places at once

I wasn't here. I work and work does not afford me the luxury of Internet. (Work barely affords me the luxury of going to the bathroom, but that's another story.)

If you post was deleted and you'd like to PM me an explanation, please feel free.

[RetroLounge]

64. Wow, now you defend big Pharma too?

:eyes:

RL

[AliciaKeyedUp]

94. Not defending, not attacking

I think Angell had some good points. She hurt them by using lazy statistics.

[Just Me]

33. Damn evil "liberals", "lawyers", "NGOs", "activists",...

,...GET OVER IT LOL!!!!

Face it,...CEOs are not worth a million human lives or more, apiece, period. Corporations are not worth a million human lives or more, apiece, period.

Pharmaceuticals are NOT evil,...to the contrary,...R&D is verily valuable for humanity,...unless,...you prioritize profit/money over people.

By the way,...there is no drug on the American market that is sold at a "reasonable profit",...none.

STUDY "reasonableness".

[frustrated_lefty]

39. Ok,

why then are the prices so very much lower in countries other than the US? Hell, even in the US, why does your pharmacist have to ask if you want a generic? Pharmaceutical industries are NOT, by nature, acting in our best interests.

[JohnLocke]

43. Oh, put in a sock in it (nt)

[Cocoa]

68. Moore won't be that simplistic

have you ever seen a Michael Moore film? Chances are, this movie will open some eyes on some big flaws in our healthcare system, and will be hilarious while doing it.

[jeffrey_X]

89. BS

While they're might be some truth to your statement, our country is being drugged to death.

Why? Profits

The simple solution is live a healthier life style, but that is not what the AMA preaches.....they preach drugs, drugs, drugs. Drugs are the answer for everything.

What would happen if everyone started eating better and exercising? Doctors and pharmaceuticals don't want to you be healthy otherwise they would be out of business.

What is the end result when you visit the doctor's office? You get a prescription.

"Just take two of these everyday and you'll be fine"

What a crock of shit.

[hickman1937]

18. Faster Than A Speeding Bullet

I Don't Remember The Rest, but This Is A Job For Stupidcia, brought to you today by George Wbush. Most of what Mike uses these days is already archived footage. Now it must be purged. Wonder who gets the job?

[daleo]

21. Side effects of Micheal Moore - a 2.5 times greater CEO heart attack risk

Panic attacks among stock analysts have also had a statistically significant increase.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

25. He may have been unable to unseat Bush, but al least he's still doing some

good for Mankind.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

27. Goood, now if they would only issue alerts about drugs that

can harm people, it would be a wonderful world.

[Pithy Cherub]

28. The drug company leadership has already been infiltrated...

MM knew in advance what he wanted to do - it's not like he is a neophyte at this! It is understood the deplorable drug companies are scared, anxiety ridden, depressed, and hopeless - wonder where they could get something for that...

Have no problem with them being their own lab rats.;)

[Mr_Spock]

29. This is such a joke. The story of the drug companies being afraid

to talk to Moore will be in the movie and already I can see myself laughing my ass off at Moore commenting like "gee, I wonder what they are trying to hide" :D . These idiot companies are like Repukes - in the end, they are their own worst enemies. I guess that's the price you pay when pretending to have values!

[Ian David]

35. My Master Plan

Every time there is a corrupt institution or industry, someone should call them and say they are calling from Michael Moore's office to set-up an interview.

Soon, they'll be seeing Michael Moore behind every tree.

[kc.ink]

56. funny idea , since they are already paranoid. n/t

[LibDemAlways]

37. Anyone seen the Moore write-up

in this week's Entertainment magazine? In the brief article that talks about Moore's influence, the writer calls him a "roly-poly fathead" and questions the truthfulness of F9/11. No one else on the "Entertainer of the Year" list -- Moore comes in at #5 -- is given such shabby treatment.

[sakabatou]

38. Next time

It might be that if you wear anything progressive, you will not get your meds. Of course, that is just too illegal... or is it?

[buddysmellgood]

40. I hope he uses that bit of Bush from the debates where W says we have

to make sure Canadian drugs won't kill anybody before we allow them into the country. Meanwhile patients are having heart attacks left and right from FDA approved drugs.

[kostya]

42. I can't remember his exact wording now, it was bizarre and he

directly implied that Canada was a third world country. Oh, maybe it was something like "we can't be lettin' in drugs from a third world...like Canada" or thereabouts. Made me immediately wonder how many "worlds" the guy thinks there are. - K

:eyes:

[daleo]

51. Don't forget letting "ob-gyns show their love for their patients" n/t

[Name removed]

53. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[buddysmellgood]

85. Well, I happen to agree with Shrub on that point. That IS what is wrong

with our healthcare system. Where is the love? :)

[daleo]

97. Personally, medical competence is all I expect from a doctor

Seriously though, I agree that profit driven medicine can interfere with compassion (as expressed by good clinical practice) and that is a problem. A publicly funded health care system (like we have in Canada) goes some way to helping in this matter.

[kc.ink]

57. yeah, that was 2nd debate, then *shrub turns around in the 3rd

debate and says, when asked about the Flu Vaccine shortage, "we're working with the Canadian Government to help fill that shortage."

[Name removed]

44. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bouncy Ball]

45. I suggest people hit alert on this

"person," as I have.

[mitchum]

47. Done!

[nightwish_chick]

48. Alerted admin as well..newbie here:)

I will introduce myself in another post. Sorry for not doing so yet :(

[Bouncy Ball]

49. No problem.

Welcome to DU.

[Name removed]

50. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Skittles]

52. HEY

YOU NEED TO GET BACK ON YOUR MEDS

[intheflow]

82. Hi, nightwish_chick.

consider yourself introduced already. Welcome to DU! :hi:

[proud2BlibKansan]

87. Welcome to DU

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

67. I looooove how the very mention of Michael Moore makes the closet freepers

go ballistic. By the way, will you PM me what THIS deleted message was about? Morbid curiosity, you know. :evilgrin:

[AgadorSparticus]

46. GO GET'EM MIKEY!!! KICK THEIR GREEDY LITTLE ASSES.

[VegasWolf]

54. Michael Moore, American Hero! n/t

[Name removed]

55. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[VegasWolf]

58. America owes Michael Moore a huge debt of GRATITUDE! n/t

[Forever Free]

60. Hoorah for our scruffy dishelved bespectacled crusader!

:bounce: :toast:

[strobetoad]

65. We "owe" Manhattan gazillionaire Moore nothing!

Bush is still in power, the bodies pile up in Iraq, religious fanatics are seizing control of our society. No, like the pharisees of the Bible, Moore has his reward. We owe him zip.

[Name removed]

78. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[strobetoad]

88. What's a "FREEPER"?

My wife, who frequents DU, told me it has something to do with Free Republic magazine, which I have never seen. I'm a libertarian.

A person can hate BOTH Michael Moore and George Bush, you know. Think big.

[VegasWolf]

92. So do you have a coherent reason for not liking MM other than

he is a "gazillionaire"? MM did everything he could to
unseat bush.

[strobetoad]

96. Why Hate MM?

I enjoyed "Roger and Me" very much, but Moore's subsequent TV appearances began to reveal him to be not only a kind of cheap-shot artist, but also a man actively seeking the wealth, power, and insularity that he derides others for having.

He was untrue and just plain mean in "Bowling for Columbine". Remember his snotty badgering of an aged and unwell Charlton Heston?

As for "Fahrenheit 9/11", well, if you want to worship Michael Moore, watch "Fahrenheit". If you want to see a beautifully done documentary on the subject, watch "Hijacking Catastrophe" instead.

[bettyellen]

102. so you love your guns huh? i knew there was something in it for

you! that's the way it always is with you haters!
Way to tip your hand! LOL!!

[strobetoad]

107. Yes, I have a gun...

...a .22 rifle I've had since I was ten. Does that make me a gun nut?

No, what I disliked was Moore's bullying of a sick old man. Period.

[bettyellen]

109. Oh, you didn't have a basic predudice about the message? huh?

that would make youa rare thing, a gun lover that watched Columbine with an open mind. good for you.

[Bridget Burke]

106. So, do you have a list of the "lies" in Fahrenheit 9/11?

I don't worship Michael Moore but think he does good work.

Explain "cheap-shot artist"--please!

You forgot to tell us that he's fat.

[strobetoad]

108. Bullying a sick old man is a cheap shot, don't you think? n/t

[livinginphotographs]

111. A sick old man who happens to be

the spokesperson for one of the largest lobbying organizations in America.

Maybe he should step down as the mouthpiece for the NRA if he's that "sick" and "old."

[Phoonzang]

59. Someone has a bad sense of humor

Look at this Yahoo! news article. Look at the picture under the one of Moore...

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041226/ap_en_ce/people_moore

I don't know how long it's going to be there so I might as well say what it is...a dead, bloated whale lying on a beach. Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't think dead whales have anything to do with pharmaceutical companies and Michael Moore....

Edit: Actually, it's just a really big coincidence... The photo of the whale was by a guy named Michael Moore. I just assumed it was intentional seeing how all many people can criticize him for is being fat...

[Catchawave]

75. I hope he includes redundant animal testing......

...like sewing kittens' eyes shut to study blindness and the affects of maternal bonding...frankenstein stuff like that.

[rman]

84. translation: "we have something to hide"

-

[Tight_rope]

104. Great Minds think alike!

[demokatgurrl]

91. He could switch to a cowboy hat. n/t

[Nevernose]

100. Old, old news -- he discussed it during his speaking tour

MIchael discussed this in his speech here last Sept/Oct. He actually gave out the "hotline" number, based in New York. Mike told us that if someone should answer, we should say "Hello? Yeah, I work for Proctor-Gamble. I'm hiding under the desk. He's here. Michael Moore. Please, God, what do I do?"

People in the audience tried to call it, but it was busy.