"We rent in this town."
This entry was posted on 5/28/2007 11:52 PM and is filed under quote.
My all-time favorite political quote.
Dr. David Kessler, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner in the early 1990's, said it during a
60 Minutes interview as he was hard-charging against cigarette manufacturers (see below). What he meant (my interpretation) --
'I was appointed, and I'm here in Washington, to do the best job I know how; without distractions from political considerations. If one of my bosses doesn't like that, I'll leave.'
See a lot of this in Washington these days?
He was willing to stand-up to powerful, wealthy interests and do what was best for all -- without regard for himself. A leader.
***************************
Excerpts from Kessler's March 25, 1994 speech to the House Subcommittee on Health and the Environment:
Accumulating evidence suggests that cigarette manufacturers may intend this result -- that they may be controlling smokers' choice by controlling the levels of nicotine in their products in a manner that creates and sustains an addiction in the vast majority of smokers.
Full statement
here.
