How can people protest Clinton speaking...?

BrianKagy · 02-13-2001, 12:06 PM

The CEO of Morgan Stanley Dean Whitter is having to apologize for paying Bill Clinton $100,000 for a speaking engagement after Clinton left office.

WTF?

What is the problem with that...? The man's a private citizen now. He's not a child molestor or Nazi, for Chrissakes-- I'd have no problem with my employer paying him to speak. I'd be interested in hearing it so I could find out just how many times a man can be wrong in one hour.

Stockholders have a right to protest any company action they dislike, but I think this is a total overreaction.

Things like this and Martin Sheen's appraisal of George W. Bush as a "moron" don't do much to elevate the national discourse.

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Timing · 02-13-2001, 12:13 PM

I wish someone would pay him $100k to have him explain to us what the meaning of the word IS is.

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mc mark · 02-13-2001, 12:17 PM

"He's not a child molestor"

You would think he was by the way he's been vilified.

Brian,

Its made things quite interesting around here to say the least.

There has been some major in-house playing within MSDW in the last couple of weeks because of this. Without being able to really discuss what's up, lets just say some major heads have rolled.

But I agree with you!

The protesting has come mainly from individuals not institutions.

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RocketMan Tex · 02-13-2001, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mc mark:
"He's not a child molestor"

You would think he was by the way he's been vilified.

Nope, you would think he is the mass-murdering, drug-dealing second coming of Hitler the way he has been villified. What will the poor Republicans do now that their whipping boy is not the President any longer?

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JuanValdez · 02-13-2001, 12:52 PM

Well you can't prove that he's *not* a child molester either.

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Vengeance · 02-13-2001, 02:07 PM

Basically, this is just damage control. MSDW had Clinton speak at a function. Many of the company's customers dislike Bill Clinton, and as a result, pulled their accounts. MSDW is trying to salvage something from this by apologizing, hoping that investors who have been considering pulling out are persuaded to stay. BK is right about this probably not being the best way to approach the damage control, however. Note that it hasn't just been individuals either. Corporations have pulled back too. The fact is that regardless of whether you agree with Clinton or not, having such a controversial figure is usually not a good idea for a major speech, especially less than a month after Clinton left office.

This could be interesting though. Oracle has Clinton speaking at a keynote soon as well.

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RocketMan Tex · 02-13-2001, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BrianKagy:
...I've long been frustrated by the patent refusal on the part of the left to even acknowledge the right of conservative speakers to appear on campuses.

Gee whiz, Brian. I guess you should have enrolled in Bob Jones University after all!

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RocksMillenium · 02-13-2001, 02:14 PM

It's pretty sad that people have to let political differences get in the way of real life jobs/hobbies like public speaking. Clinton hasn't gone around ripping the Republican party, he actually hasn't made a big deal about the election publically since it didn't involve him. I don't know about spinning lies about the election, I'm pretty sure Clinton is laughing his *** off at Gore right now!

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dc sports · 02-13-2001, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mc mark:
DC $300K is chump change to Morgan. .

Absolutely. That was just the one guy I saw interviewed on a local station.

As the saying goes though, $300K here, $300K there, and pretty soon you are talking about real money.

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Stay Cool...

DEANBCURTIS · 02-13-2001, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Rick Pitino makes nearly that much and he was one of the worst coaches in NBA history!

Am I the only person who still likes Pitino?

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RocksMillenium · 02-13-2001, 02:34 PM

Didn't Rick Pitino win an Atlantic division championship with the Knicks? His run with the Celtics were forgettable, but he was at least a decent coach.

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Rocketman95 · 02-13-2001, 06:43 PM

Man Kagy, I'm getting scared. We agree on the Clinton pardon and this.

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TheFreak · 02-13-2001, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Things like this and Martin Sheen's appraisal of George W. Bush as a "moron" don't do much to elevate the national discourse.

That little fart really said that? Does anybody know that Martin Sheen did a cameo a few years back in "A Letter From Death Row", a God-awful movie directed by and starring Bret Michaels (the lead singer of Poison!)? That's right, BRET FREAKING MICHAELS! Not sure what that has to do with him calling Bush a moron, but...BRET MICHAELS? Be sure to laugh in his face if you ever run into the guy.

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Steve_Francis_rules · 02-13-2001, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BrianKagy:
I'd be interested in hearing it so I could find out just how many times a man can be wrong in one hour.

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Someone who is about to admonish another must realize within himself five qualities before doing so (that he may be able to say), thus:
In due season will I speak, not out of season. In truth will I speak, not in falsehood. Gently will I speak, not harshly. To his profit will I speak, not to his loss. With kindly intent will I speak, not in anger. -from the Vinaya Pitaka

**Jeff** · 02-13-2001, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DEANBCURTIS:
Am I the only person who still likes Pitino?

Yes.

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Curly · 02-13-2001, 11:39 PM

Kagy, like Clinton would have a speaking engagement in the factory....get back on the line.

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[This message has been edited by Curly (edited February 13, 2001).]

dc sports · 02-14-2001, 01:06 AM

The protests were related to the pardon of Mark Rich.

Clinton's pardoned keeps Rich from having to face more than 50 counts of racketeering, wire fraud, income tax evasion, and illegal oil trading with Iran. Rich was also convicted of evading taxes -- $48 million worth -- the biggest tax fraud case in history.

Many Morgan Stanley Dean Whitter customers complained, saying that Clinton, who just forgave one of the biggest securities fraud criminals of all time, shouldn't be speaking to people who they trust with their money.

MSDW is taking it very seriously because they had a number of customers protest in the most obvious way -- by pulling their accounts. Channel 2 spoke with one man who pulled his $300K worth of stocks and moved it to another company.

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Stay Cool...

mc mark · 02-14-2001, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dc sports:
Channel 2 spoke with one man who pulled his $300K worth of stocks and moved it to another company.

DC $300K is chump change to Morgan.

But your right its all about perception.

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Everything you do, effects everything that is.

**Jeff** · 02-14-2001, 01:29 AM

Damn straight, Brian. Who the **** gives a flying **** whether or not the guy makes $100K for a speaking engagement. Rick Pitino makes nearly that much and he was one of the worst coaches in NBA history!

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Me fail English? That's unpossible.

gr8-1 · 02-14-2001, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jeff:
Damn straight, Brian. Who the **** gives a flying **** whether or not the guy makes $100K for a speaking engagement. Rick Pitino makes nearly that much and he was one of the worst coaches in NBA history!

You have a nasty mouth for a vegeterian-liberal guy.

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