Drug companies warn employees about Michael Moore

Want to have some fun with the big drug companies?

Put on whatever clothes you have that might be described as “scruffy,” top off your outfit with a favorite baseball cap, and then drop by the offices of one of the giant drug firms. What you do then is up to you, but don’t be surprised if security guards give you the bum’s rush before you even reach the receptionist’s desk.

It seems that America’s largest drug companies are on full alert for anyone who fits the description of documentary filmmaker Michael Moore. For his next film project Mr. Moore is training his sights on the questionable relationships between the FDA, drug giants, HMOs and insurance companies. According to the Los Angeles Times, several drug companies have distributed memos to warn their employees that a “scruffy guy in a baseball cap” might try to get them to reveal something embarrassing about the drug industry.

Just one problem. A couple of weeks ago, when Michael Moore appeared on the Tonight show, he was wearing a suit, no baseball cap and was clean-shaven.

Revised memo to employees: Be wary of a scruffy guy in a baseball cap who may be disguised as a not scruffy guy not wearing baseball cap.

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter a bit if no one from the drug industry agrees to talk to Mr. Moore. As we’ve seen over the past few years, many of the indiscretions of that industry have been shockingly transparent, so I’m pretty sure that Moore isn’t going to come away empty-handed.

Sources:
“Drug Firms Issue Memos on Michael Moore” The Associated Press, 12/27/04, ap.org