David Sirota | $10 Million & the Great Tobacco Capitulation of 2005

[bpcmxr]

Apologies if a dupe:

$10 Million & the Great Tobacco Capitulation of 2005
by David Sirota
6.8.05

In 2001, then-White House counsel Alberto Gonzales told CNN that "the White House drives a lot of policy on issues that affect the tobacco industry" and that "we want to foster an atmosphere of cooperation" with Big Tobacco. The industry took the hint: over the next five years, Big Tobacco threw about $10 million of campaign cash at the Republican Party in an effort to define what "cooperation" really means. And we see the fruits of their labor today: the Bush administration has announced it has reduced by 92% the amount the government is seeking in damages from the industry for its efforts to deceive the public about the dangers of smoking.

This is one of the most egregious examples of pay to play - one that shocked even the industry itself. "We were very surprised," said Dan Webb, lawyer for Altria Group's Philip Morris USA and the coordinating attorney in the case. "They've gone down from $130 billion to $10 billion with absolutely no explanation. It's clear the government hasn't thought through what it's doing." Meanwhile, "the Justice Department offered little explanation."

I'll give you the explanation: The Bush administration is setting a new legal precedent that says if you are an industry that has lied to America and caused vast damage to our health care system, all you have to do is cut a nice fat check to the Republican Party, and suddenly, your troubles are over. You can bet President Bush and Attorney General Gonzales are lighting up a big, tobacco-stuffed stogie to celebrate their move.

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[Wickerman]

1. geeez, 10 billion doesn't even buy you a decent war these days n/t

[Dudley_DUright]

2. Best investment in the world

Buy repuke politicians for $10 million and save about $100 Billion in court ordered penalties. I sure would like a factor of 10,000 return on my investments. Unbelievable! :eyes: