Whistleblower Protection Hearing: Jeffrey Wigand Testimony

[akshayzz1]

5 people are addicted to cigarettes!!!!!

And btw, they cut out half of the interview here. See anything suspicious at 9:24 ?? O_O

[santomarakai]

Dear Dr Wigand, I use to smoke from 17 years to on and off till 45 years old. Stopped for a while pregnant two kids, then started again, but I did not felt healthy then, got tired very easy with few steps going up stairs, cigarets were taking over my body. My kids were still small, still long way to go. I wanted to become healthy, for myself, and for my kids. I decided to quit on my 45th birthday, and I did. Then I started walking and trekking. And thank you for what you done for what was right.

[michiyo1986]

I like him he choose moral respondsibility than contractual. LOVE HIM for his courage.

[V8Deuce]

Just watched the interview with him and William Shatner. A brave man indeed

[MrStockford1]

with a hidey hidey hidey and a hidey lidey hey, we work and make our cigarettes all hidey lidey day. So folks can get a breaky from their hidey lidey lives and relaxey with the cigarettes we make all day and night.

[dbDecibels2010]

What's with the freaks in the background? Seriously WTF?

[op684]

Isn't this Jew - Jeffrey Wigand - a Zionist??

[noradosmith]

@op684

fuck off

[sonikue23]

@op684 Nope.

[pricklyphlox]

Whistleblowers are heroes. How about we call them PATRIOTIC CITIZEN REPORTERS instead of whistleblowers?

[marshalsea]

@pricklyphlox Patriotic? Such ridiculous notions of national identity, we should be subsiding into a much more general humanist structure by now.

Wigand did what he had to to protect himself and his family, he's the first to admit that.

However, as Suckerdwsp put, this took"A LOT OF BALLS", and someone with more courage than the average person. This particular Whistleblowing is the same level as the Private Bradley Manning, a man now being held on account of being somehow "treasonous".

[pricklyphlox]

@marshalsea My suggestion to call them Patriotic Citizen Reporters was simply due to the fact that people have given a bad connotation to 'whistleblower.' And I don't see anything wrong with the kind of nationalism that simply regards the welfare of the citizenry as a whole as more important than the profit of corporations.

[rockymountainsunrise]

This man is one of the few true heros.

[scottbiz]

i come back to watch Parts 9,10 on YT,time and time again,to enjoy how attorney motley stomps on the tobacco attorney....you absolutely have to wonder about the kind of individuals that run a tobacco company;its an industry that perhaps best fits the description of having zero conscience, and "willing to sell their grandmothers to enjoy and safeguard a very comfortable life."

[whatsgoingon07]

corporate wistleblowers = epic heroes 

[openedup09]

I as a smoker could understand where this guy was coming from.It`s my choice to smoke and get that fix but don`t know the dangers due to igorance compare to this guy and at one time help produced this type of product.It got to him and he had to make a crucial choice.He told those cock suckers to go fuck themselves.He gave a fuck but his employers couldn`t give a shit.Just make a profit.Absolute power grubs !

[whole27]

i'm watching this movie yet again right now! If everyone who came across corruption and outright LIES within any company were willing to quit/resign/speak out and be willing to get fired because of it, we would get have a lot more integrity withing corporations!

But everyones got familes, kids, themselves to feed, put a roof over their head....we are all slaves to money and a paycheck and our debt!

[globalbankfraud]

corporate fascism is now taking over the whole united states. politicians bought, fema camps built, homeland security preparing to take on disenchanted citizens. educate yourselves and fight back.

[TheStudyOfPedro]

what year was all of this anyway?

[Delta32able]

Go on Doc stand upto those cruel men from B&W

[snifnscratch]

Jeffrey should be president!

Profit is a dirty word. If profit and money are your main priorities, you are a very poor person indeed

[ksbav8r]

@kenfo0 are you forgetting that the reason he was fired, was for deciding to follow his conscience in the first place? All he had to do to have that life that you describe, was shut up and do his job. And he didn't. It would be a much better world if most people behaved the way he did.

[kenfo0]

Bear with me and consider: how concerned would he have been for public health, had they offered him $1MM and life long medical cvg for his daughters.  I think it was all good, then he got fired. They both then fought over money/punishment. I am not sure this guy is the great hero...had he left on his own and disclosed what he knew, yes. I bet if he knew his wife and kids would leave him, he'd have not said a word. He has made a nice living off this since. Maybe most people behave this way.

[1214gaia]

Can you imagine not only having your longstanding professional career decimated, but having your two little girls threatened (both directly and through lack of health insurance) and losing your marriage, because you know too much about what your bosses are doing? God bless Wigand--his efforts were heroic, regardless of any personal failings he may have.

[rondadoolin]

BRAVO Jeff...Thank you

[jack88344]

Why did his wife not stand by this man?....I hope she realizes that yes money is important but apparntley, she needs lessons....so sad for an honest man to suffer as he has done.

[abbyroman]

@jack88344 Cause his wife is a cunt !

[sparkle11231]

@jack88344 -- (and to abbyhroman) -- I hated her too but...........we didn't live in that house or walked in her shoes. She didn't bargain for having her children possible targets. Or herself either. She just wasn't as brave or as incredibly strong as this wonderful man...I don't think she should be hated; just ignored.

[apostolostv]

A true hero.

[Dremple]

Thank God Dr. Wigand was an Honorable man and did the Right thing regardless of the fallout Thanks Dr.Wigand! One Cool Dude

[Turco949]

Cigarettes are safe.....as long as you don't light them up! Props to him for his courage.

[CenkIsAdorable]

Wow, Russel Crowe put some weight on

[MrOrtizpolo]

Thank you Dr. Jeffrey Wigand. You are a true hero.

[MsBrownImABigDeal]

please all of you go to

us justice watch

senate Price ,,,  Brown

Bordergate

[tributevocalist]

B&W wouldn't have made all of those threats if they weren't trying to hide any wrongdoing on their part, only cowards would have done what B&W did to him.

[onefugowie]

you will not be able to find anything on the 60 minute episode..large tabacco has sealed it ..i'm not shore of the amount of time..but it will be opened again..and tabacco will have it sealed right away..the less you know in years to come the next poople that start to smoke will never know..

[galidorn1]

tell that boycott story to the people how died from lung cancer through 2nd hand smoke

[galidorn1]

Anyone who thinks  corporations can govern themselves ethically because of free market pressures is either naive or dubious.

[galidorn1]

A decision easily made when the facts airnt hidden or blurred by experts helping to mislead & omitted research results and facts by these same corporation by contracts pressure/intimidation. Accountability only comes through Law and mandated regulations. When your grandma dies of a brain tumor because some built a power plant down the street are u going to boycott by turning off the electricity?

[12Zwolf]

Thank You For Posting; The 'civil rights' leaders successfully organized an effective 'bus boycott', therefore anyone can 'boycott tobacco', don't buy the product, the producers of the product goes out-of-business, it's called capitalism, simple.

Cheers!

Valkyrie Ziege Mourne

[Teralek]

Death to Corporations!! U2 Monsanto!!

[Dallouez]

As a whistleblower agains the State yopu would NOT believe what they did! Broke into my mail copied it and stole my laptop. I believe they even tried to kill me. The State lost millions in legal actions ALL KEPT QUIET! A reporter was transfered From Madison to Milwaukee. The list goes on and on. Whistleblowers are screwed. Laws suck! Our State is the 2nd highest suicide rate and one they claim while handcuffed stuffed a towel down his throught and choaked.

[bksinncc]

your mother loves it

[bksinncc]

i love to smoke and blow it people faces

[CitizenKANE2277]

Then I'm guessing you love your yellow, disgusting teeth as well.

[usoposeur]

Stop smoking and kill all tobacco demand.

[suckerdwsp316]

took a lot, A LOT of balls. props to the man.

[glen58316]

@suckerdwsp316 that right the government should protect whistle blowers more than they do. this man Jehovah Yehwey will fight for him. he gave up his live for all Americans. he is a true hero.

[snifnscratch]

@suckerdwsp316 Jeffrey is an inspiration. What a man!!

[dhilius41]

yeah.. I wonder where I could find the original 60 minutes show??

[GibsonDude94]

This man is such an amazing person i met him in real life. He came to my school Oasis and spoke to me for quite a long bit of time. I have to say that i idolize this man for without his encouragement and passion for really standing up for his beliefs he wouldnt be where he is today. It shows no matter where you come from or what you do you can truely make a difference no matter who you are. Thank you sooooo much Jeff you opened my eyes to view life a little bit differently :)

[genmaximus110]

Has anyone seen the actual 60 Minutes episode with Dr. Wigand? I can't find it on YouTube. I'm surprised...

[astrolifter]

The tobacco companies had it sealed.

[genmaximus110]

That's a shame.  I'd really love to see it.

[StinkyGreenBud]

You won't find it. I vaguely remember when it was aired but that was some time ago.

[radical360mods]

@StinkyGreenBud back in like 1995 can't believer MR. Wyden is still in D.C after all these Yrs he was the one conducting the Hearing in which the CEO's lied... The video is sealed but if you go to wigands website is has written transcript of the entire show & video clips but not the video for it was sealed.

[magikjeffreak]

lol from 6:19 - 6:22 a random person was stickin his head in to see if its the right room...i guess not

[atraxinfensus]

moral lesson to this is

" dont ever fired a brave smart old man ''

[zagabaa]

Just seen the movie "The Insider", brave, brave man.

[ApachePiL0T]

Jeffrey Wigand could kick Chuck Norris's ass. God Bless him

[vossenkuhl]

the moment Wigand kicks Chuck's ass he is already dead!

[StephenFiorentini]

What a brave man, who has taking the bravest step in the world, he is the only true gold hearted ex tobacco executive, who took on the company he used to work for

you are a hero

[saxmanchiro]

A man of true courage and morality. A true hero for millions.

[futeki78]

Hero!

[gabriellus018]

what an amazing man.. damn...

[Keira15true]

yes it is and I adore Jeffrey Wigand fore, what he did:)...Thank you!

[chicken2694]

the insider is a grate movie

[Thinking123Big]

I was just reading Mike Wallace's biography. He talked about the film "The Insider." Evidently, Lowell Bergman was inaccurately portrayed as the hero, mainly because he was the significant contact person for the material for the film. Here's what Wallace had to say:

"...Al Pacino played a very good Al Pacino, (but) I didn't recognize much of Lowell Bergman in his rendition."

I guess Hollywood got it WRONG once again!!!

[MoabBettiy]

In his own words Bergman has said "The Insider" was the first mass media product to expose journalism's flaws and portray the human side of newsgathering.

"People have become accustomed to perfection as they see it each week on '60 Minutes,' " he said. "They see correspondents who never make a mistake, never mispronounce a word, never learn anything. They're just straight-line all the way through a narrative.

[MoabBettiy]

When you take out all of the mispronunciations, that is, if you have a hero, a whistle-blower, you don't present the whistle-blower as someone who has a family with a wife who's pissed off and a husband with a lot of emotional problems. And you don't present the 'correspondent' as someone who has second thoughts about the story or who is scared."

[MoabBettiy]

In his own words also, Mike Wallace said he was more concerned about his reputation than telling the truth at the time of the story. One can only guess even more so when writing his biography.

[MoabBettiy]

Unfortunately the primary message keeps getting lost - Big tobacco told the world that smoking was NOT addictive or carcinogenic, - - the seven dwarfs testified before congress claiming so. Big surprise - - IT IS!! Wigand risked his $300K salary to tell his story. Along with the timing of the Mississippi AG suing big tobacco, Bergman became the mass media conduit for broad international exposure.

[KFCisallisee]

I thought he already lost his job by the time he told his story. Also I thought it was known that smoking was bad for your health during that time.

[gegan249]

Perhaps next time he signs a contract to keep his mouth shut, he will actually honor that agreement.

[withcash]

That is one of the most ignorant statements I have ever heard.

Are you related to Miss South Carolina?

[gegan249]

How is conforming to your sworn NDA ignorant? I'm glad B&W fried this guy. He got $300,000 a year for his discretion and when he got greedy, B&W fried him to the wall.  Good.

[mikecee907]

What? You must be an idiot that smokes cigarettes.

[Gsquirel]

so you agree with me then

[prochoicechuckles85]

in some ways- yes though not related to Wigand in any way.

[Gsquirel]

then what can we do but take over some aspects of their business, besides shutting them down all together?

[prochoicechuckles85]

I know they are business men just like the oil industry. Media is brainwashing kids into thinking into what they(and the government) want them to think. Thats what is going on.

[Gsquirel]

what service is that? suicide? with the media hypnotizing the youth of America, ordering & us running their business is all we can do to stop one kid from starting a chain that could go on to God knows how many kids and making thier life unbearable. even if we stop media transmission there are plenty of other ways to get pulled in. the tobacco company isn't going to turn away a customer that over the years could supply thousands of dollars to the company. these are business men.

[Gsquirel]

Who are you people?

[TheSaint135]

when was the last time you risked everything you have created for you and your family, even puting the health of your own daughter, to save or improve the lives of millions of strangers and follow your conscience?

[prochoicechuckles85]

Saint- doesnt matter what he did- he made his choice. Problem is this man doesnt respect the choices of others to live their own lives as they see fit. He isnt "Mr Live and let Live" like I am.

[Gsquirel]

He absolutely stands for "live and let live." Cigarettes kill people and he helped to uncover the lie. He simply told the truth. He did not instruct you or anyone else to quit smoking, or quit any other destructive behaviors. I agree with you in one regard, though; I am prochoice as well in that I hope people like you are free to destroy themselves by whatever means they choose.

[MoabBettiy]

GSquirel - you rock!

[prochoicechuckles85]

Gsquirel so do cars, so does alcohol, I mean it is lfe that kills. Only two thing are certain in life- birth and death. Does Wigand think we can live up to 200 years of age??

But he thinks it fit to tell business owners how to run their businesses and private property and that Im afraid in a civilised liberal democracy that is not on. The tobacco companies never forced me or anyone to start smoking- they only provide a service.

[uberfunction]

while its true tobacco companies don't force people to buy cigarettes or start smoking. If its true they forced chemicals to make them more potent is in my opinion a crime.

[uberfunction]

OK after reading all your comments I just have to say... 1.) Do you know what cigarettes are? 2.) Did you not understand the plight Dr. Wigand went through? I'm totally curious.. cause I think you need to go back and re-watch The Insider.

[MoabBettiy]

Right on Saint - you get it. To me a hero is anyone who acts with distinguished courage or ability, and recognizes their part improving the greater good. Wigand did so his way and Bergman was the conduit to report it to the world. When his credibility to protect his sources was compromised, he left after he did his best to report the truth. Bergman continues reporting the truth by producing PBS's Frontline & teaches journalism at UC Berkeley. Semma, your comment is spot on.

[prochoicechuckles85]

In the end Semma he maybe calculated it would be a good way to get him fame after being fired for incompotence!!

[semma]

"Hero" is a big overstatement for me. But that doesn't change the fact that, at great risk to his reputation and livelihood, Wigand stood up and shined a light on corporate misconduct that conspired to trade lives for profits. Whether or not one was able to stay awake for the movie is irrelevant. He saw public health take a backseat to greed and he spoke up where 100s before him stayed silent. Whistleblowers are brave. (Worth reading his Mississippi deposition transcript too, fascinating.)

[prochoicechuckles85]

They did it so theyd get Hollywood recognition- think of it its all a PR stunt!

Ive watched the Insider/Outsider or ehatever it's called and fell asleep after about 15 minutes of watching it. The film was successful only in that its name attracted viewers.

[Gsquirel]

It doesn't surprise me that you fell asleep. You sound as if you don't know what is going on anyway. The film attracted viewers because it's the story of good overcoming evil. Perhaps you need some classes on anaylsis.

[prochoicechuckles85]

Good overcoming evil??- rather simple world you live in- black and white and not several shades of grey.

[uberfunction]

Also I think Pro forgot to read the disclaimer that intelligent people could only understand the film. That being said.. I loved the film.

[prochoicechuckles85]

to me a hero is someone like Nelson Mandela or Martin Luther King who at least were honest altruistic people unlike people like Jeff Wigand and Lowell Bergman who simply did this as a publicity stunt for their own personal ego!!

[MoabBettiy]

Prochuck - Tell me, just what you think Jeff Wigand and Lowell Bergman did as a publicity stunt? And illuminate how their personal egos benefitted?

I'm not sure you quite get what these guys have done.

Mandela & King's contributions are well documented & commemorated. Try a little research online about Wigand & Bergman - - you'll begin to see the value of their actions. If not, rent the movie, "The Outsider" and you'll see Hollywood's interpretation of that time in American/World history.

[Gsquirel]

Yes, I am so sure you spoke with Mr Bergman and Mr Wigand and that you are also an expert in being able to decipher what intelligent people are thinking, or what their motives are. Get a grip. Perhaps you need to read a few books.

[prochoicechuckles85]

ditto Callio. No comparison?? How many people have died of heart-attacks and strokes thanks to Pfizer's products?? Chantix has caused suicides to happen.

The Master Settlement Agreement was the biggest scam in the history of the US- everyobody benfitted except the ordinary people. Moab- I dont like the tobacco industry either btw.

[calliopeuk]

"Corporate greed has no conscience and cares only of the bottom line." is a perfect description of pharmaceutical companies

[MoabBettiy]

Lowell Bergman and Jeffrey Wigand are heros. Men whose personal integrity and sense of right and wrong took huge risks in the face the daunting biggest of businesses. These men are true heros in our time and history will prove it.

CBS and the tobacco companies are huge machines and have lost their way. Corporate greed has no conscience and cares only of the bottom line. We can only hope people like Wigand & Bergman continue their courageous ethical regard for mankind is contagious.

[MoabBettiy]

Prochoice - - pull your head out of your ass. Jeff Wigand, the whistle blower that started the single most costly legal settlement in US history and with great cause. The public health fraud the tobacco industry perpetrated on the American public was heinous and went on for far too long.

Finally, a few brave people acted responsibly.

You must be a smoker - - if you are - - your idiocy already apparent. If not, - you're a knucklehead, on a good day couldn't hit your ass with both hands.

[prochoicechuckles85]

Legal settlement- how much did the stupidity of some lawyers cost the US economy??

About public health frauds- did you not hear of the latest Champix/Chantix with Pfizer??

[MoabBettiy]

You seem to want to blame attorney stupidity having something to do with effecting our economy - - - I don't get what you mean. The tobacco industry settlement is the largest in US history - over $200 Billion. Chantix/Pfizer is just barely being adjudicated. There is no comparison between the depth and breadth of the Tobacco Industry's fraud versus Pfizer's detrimental product.

In October '07 the largest environmental settlement to date has AEP spending $4.6 Billion to reduce emissions.

[MoabBettiy]

The personal risk Jeffrey Wigand took to be a whistle blower is like no other in history, to date. Karen Silkwood is another whistleblower/activist type against Kerr-McGee.

There have been several product liability cases against manufacturers representing numerous companies and damages. BUT - very few of these cases were unearthed by an individual - - and at their own peril. My guess is that you're young and haven't taken the time to realize the heroic measures taken by people like these.

[prochoicechuckles85]

what a load of garbage this video is- I mean what a waste of film!!

[prochoicechuckles85]

Thank you for smoking- great movie!

The fate of your nation depends on people like Ron Paul who believe in what the country is based on not some liberal Communist values!

[prochoicechuckles85]

Yes pity Russell Crowe hates Jeff Wigand and doesnt agree with any of his views. Did you know jeff wasnt even invited to the premiere.

When I read it I was so laughing!!

[Baalika]

I'm writing an essay about Wigand, the movie and the whole topic right now. It's funny how they found Crowe as really the perfect actor for this movie.

[saejinoh]

Truly a God among men

[ThisCanadian]

The Thieves of Virtue: criminalizing VICE effectively ABORTS representative government. tinyurl com/3dkaub There is no WE in corruption tinyurl com/358qy4 ~~~ Spread Love... BlueBerry Pick'n can be found @ ThisCanadian com ~~~ "We, two, form a Multitude" ~ Ovid. ~~~ "Silent Freedom is Freedom Silenced"

[champlvr]

I too just watched the insider,excellence in film to say the least.I found it strange that when I went to c.b.s news to watch the 60min interview,it only plays corporate commercials Mastercard Honda etc.Are the still trying to suppress the truth?Dr.Wigant should be Times man of the year!

[redoctober90]

I wish Russell Crowe would play me in a Hollywood movie.

But that's a good point....it's incredible that this guy would try and take on multi-billion-dollar tobacco companies. But he won, and now he's an empowered man.

[WoosterFanGirl]

Russell Crowe did a very good portrayl of this man. i just now watched the movie tonight, and i typed in to search for the real Jeffrey Wigand at YouTube.

Thanks for posting this.

~L~

[uwaisis]

anyone know where i can get hold of the CBS interview with Wigan on 60 minutes?

[spinachshark]

Why is there only one clip of Wigand testimony on Youtube? Please post more.

[prochoicechuckles85]

because no one cares about him perhaps.

[innbetaling]

The insider is the reason i have decided to become a journalist

[eyepatchplease]

Good, go watch All the President's Men and you'll be solid!

[tom500k]

Good for you! And best of luck. The fate of the nation depends largely on you and similar folks!

[jharri1]

Hero

[gemawan]

just watched "The Insider"...a brave man really...really inspiring

[0restes]

I agree with milkmoney. Everyone is flawed, even heros and superheros. Wigand had the guts to admit his acceptance of a 300k salary. As for selling out, he was hired on the premise that he would work on a safer cigarette. Also when you have children to protect, this kind of step is daunting. But I'm sure that as his children grew up, they became proud of their father's courage.

[SeaninSeattle]

I've met Jeff Wigand - and believe that B&W had no idea of who they were hiring. If they knew of 10% of the steel this guy has in his backbone, they would have run for the hills. Jeff Wigand is one of my few heros. While a pushy NY type, his heart is solid and his eithics unwavering.

[milkmoney11]

Had he not been flawed he would have never been in the position to be considered a hero. He would have never been hired and trusted by big tobacco if they didn't think he would fall "in line".

[Thelookout]

Not quite a hero--He sold out his ethical code as a doctor to take big tobacco money before turning snitch after he was fired. What he did was admirable when viewed from a public saftey perspective, and what he endured was shocking, and he deserves alot of credit for revealing the ugly truth about Big Tobacco, but the man was flawed, and not quite the hero you might think he is. He took the big money before his conscience caught up with him. Is that a hero?

[reneleow]

The important thing is that he turned to do the right thing now. Yes he was flawed, but aren't we all? And the the important thing is now - are we doing right, now?

[zenalaus]

@reneleow He actually never wanted to help a cigarette company injure people or lie to the public or anything like that to begin with- he said they had lied to him saying they wanted him to help them make cigarettes safer but that they had said that only so he'd agree to work for them. So I don't see much of any flaw in him to begin with.

[zenalaus]

@Thelookout Yes, he's a Hero. He actually never wanted to help a cigarette company sell its product the way it was or injure people or lie to the public or anything like that to begin with- he said they had lied to him saying they wanted him to help them make cigarettes safer but that they had said that only so he'd agree to work for them. So I don't see much of any flaw in him to begin with at all.

[SpaceCadet1]

Damn based on this video clip, Russell Crowe captured some of Wigand's characteristics really well.

[barneymontano]

great heart and love for his fellow man

[tylermckeel]

One of the great heroes of our time

[Btthus]

This guy is a hero