Meet Rick Berman, A.K.A. "Dr. Evil"

Morley Safer Speaks To A Lobbyist Some People Love To Hate

(CBS)  He has spoken out against trans-fat, that controversial frying oil under attack by city councils around the country. Berman says it’s hardly the poison its enemies claim it is.

"People should not be led around by the nose with bad information," Berman says. "You can make up your own mind as to whether or not margarine is really rat poison as some people have said."

"Oh come on…," Safer remarks.

"But, that's what they've said," Berman replies.

"You just love it when they do that, though, don't you?" Safer asks.

"Well, they're so stupid when they do that because they leave themselves open for criticism," Berman says. "And that's the tension between these communication battles. Somebody exaggerating the hell out of a story and someone like myself coming in and saying, 'What in the world were you thinking.'"

And on the very genuine issue of increasing obesity in this country, Berman's blood boils when people describe it as an "epidemic" or "disease."

"There are people, the morbidly obese who truly do have a problem in this country. I mean, these are the people who when you see them walk down the street, you get the feeling that their butt is another zip code. OK, I understand that. Okay? That's a problem. Those people are at a health risk. But this whole issue that it's a disease, that it's not your fault that you're fat. I mean, if this is a disease, this is going to be the only disease in the country that you could solve by taking long walks and keeping your mouth shut. This is a personal responsibility issue in most cases," Berman says.

"I understand that and a lot of social activists and the government to some extent is trying to get these people to change these bad habits," Safer remarks.

"I have no problem with education. But, education turns into regulation, you know?" Berman says. "As the government gets deeper and deeper into people's lives, they start to dictate more and more. If a bartender can cut you off for visibly being intoxicated, why won't we get to the point where a restaurant operator is not allowed to let you order dessert? I mean, you could get there."

"Oh, it sounds ridiculous, right? 'Well, I can't imagine that.' But, imagine ten steps to get there and all of the sudden it doesn't appear so crazy," Berman adds.

And that is how Dr. Evil frames almost any issue he fights—resist or big nanny will crush you.

He says MADD won't be happy until there is a breathalyzer in every car. Caffeine and salt will disappear, America will be regulated to a police state, one without French fries or foie gras.

"I am not opposed to stopping any of the stuff that's really bad. But, I am opposed to making the problem seem worse than it is. And these groups will make it seem so bad so it justifies their Draconian solutions," Berman says.

But Michael Jacobson says Berman, in his malevolence, is distorting deathly serious issues that will have long term effects on Americans.

"An occasional hot dog is not gonna kill anybody. But, when you're having fettuccini Alfredo one night and the next day you have a double whopper with cheese at Burger King and the next day you go over to Denny's and you have one of their enormous breakfasts, that's what's killing us. Half a million people die every year of heart disease," Jacobson says.

Asked if Berman believes in what he does, Jacobson says, "He's a PR guy. How you can believe anything he says? I think he's in favor of making a lot of money."

"But I think he does hit a nerve in this country when he goes after the nanny state that everything you do is being controlled by Big Mother," Safer remarks.

"Yeah. Isn't it terrible? We have health departments that are trying to clean up restaurants, environmental agencies that are trying to clean the air and the water. It's just terrible," Jacobson says. "I think it's great that government sometimes protects the public's welfare. And he's there protecting industry."

Berman concedes government has a role, but says for the most part the marketplace will self-regulate.

"If the other side thinks that I'm all of these bad things, the one thing that they must think is I'm effective, or else they wouldn't be bitching about it so much," Berman says.

"The fact is you enjoy being the contrarian. You like to be out there," Safer says.

"Well, I don't want to be in a business where it's a me-too thing, where everybody's saying the same thing, and I'm saying, 'Oh by the way, I agree,'" Berman replies. "I'm not afraid to say that the emperor has no clothes."

Berman says he rates his success by one simple measure: is he making people think twice?

As for his critics, Berman says, "I say to them, 'Look, once you get past the name-calling, tell me what's wrong with our statistics. Tell me what's wrong with our science.' Have I said anything that's wrong, or am I just objectionable? And if I'm objectionable, I say, 'Take a deep breath and get over it. I'm not going away.'"

[wecanchoose]

OOOPS.....REGISTER to VOTE!

[wecanchoose]

Being a responsible person is our own CHOICE. We can convince ourselves we are making the wise discisions that will have affect on us and others. We may have the BEST of data to make those decisions. BUT in the end...whether it IS RIGHT or WRONG...there still may be CONsequences that we can never foresee happening.
(eg)Wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle makes good safety sense.BUT it needs NOT be a law making it ILLEGAL not to wear one.(Same as the seatbelt law, etc.)BECAUSE, no one KNOWS if they WILL save your life OR cause your death in any given future accident. Sometimes the LAW abiding citizen will DIE, or be badly maimed, because the govennment wanted to take FREE CHOICE from us. (Thinking for us really.)
It seems the government has a "sincere desire" to keep us living forever. Ain't gonna happen.
We Can Choose how we want America governed.Take a good look at the law makers the MAJORITY votes have put into office. They reflect the VOTERS desires and wants.Are they YOUR desires and wants?
Resister to vote..learn about our forefathers desire for this nation..REALLY educate your self about the polital workings..run for office.
Stop complaining and get INVOLVED..and DON'T forget to VOTE!

[jays491628]

If Big Business funds Berman, who then funds
Jacobson and the Center for Science in the Public Interest?? And what is their interest in changing my lifestyle??

[hadit]

It would be wonderful if we lived in a world where watchdog groups, and regulations, and laws were not necessary. But If a person is taught from birth that red is green, then you don't want him/her behind the wheel of a car. We are like that person. We've been taught to take for truth whatever furthers the interests of the powers that be, and are not taught how to think for ourselves. We are ripe for manipulation. The first rule of critical thinking is: "consider the source". I would suggest Googling Rick Berman. You will find out what really motivates him.

[hadit]

It would be wonderful if we lived in a world where watchdog groups, and regulations, and laws were not necessary. But If a person is taught from birth that red is green, then you don't want him/her behind the wheel of a car. We are like that person. We've been taught to take for truth whatever furthers the interests of the powers that be, and are not taught how to think for ourselves. We are ripe for manipulation. The first rule of critical thinking is: "consider the source". I would suggest Googling Rick Berman. You will find out what really motivates him.

[dt7363]

Kudos to Mr. Berman. Part of the beauty of his operation, is that he uses the same tactics and methodoligies as liberal groups in terms of how he gets his funding. By setting up not for profit entities he mimics those organizations that want to protect us from ourselves. The main difference here, is that Mr. Berman is funded by the private sector, while the vast majority of non-profits are funded by the public sector. Not only for the myriad they perform, but also for their day to day funding. I think it was professor Walter Williams who coined the phrase "Life Styly Nazis" to describe groups and people who basically want us all to live their lifestyles. Whatever happened to the tenet known as right to choose. Isn't that the fundamental tenent that supported the findings of Roe V. Wade. How come these organizations are working to deny me this same right of choice when it comes to smoking, drinking, eating, seat belts, etc. Therefore keep up the good work Mr. Berman. Together lets's try to perserve what's left of our choices.
P.S. I'm not asking those groups opposed to our choices to participate in any of them. They can do whatever the hell they want. Why can't the do the same for us.

[kajukaniu]

I am a certified veterinary nurse, and I'm sorry to say, the success of the radical animal rights groups is the fault of the media and consumers. PETA is well known because the public only responds to violence, negativity and controversey.

There are hundreds of peaceful, kind and clever animal rights groups, and even more wildlife conservation and environmental groups. But the general public is too easily bored with activists who feature art or films or educational campaigns to give them fame or money.

The public wants loud, brash people. Divorces, fights etc sells while kind and intelligent does not.

Groups like the NRDC, Nature Canada, Being Caribou, ABC, The Wolverine Foundation, the SFASPCA and so many others are completely peaceful, but will never be supported by a public who claims to hate obnoxious behavior but gives that kind of behavior all of their attention.

[darthfather-2009]

The CCF and CSPI are both nothing but the lesser of two evils. These two organizations are the only ones allowed to comment on food politics in mainstream media, so in reality there can be no honest debate. Both sides are full of B.S.

[slynnh]

Mr. Berman,I sat and listened to the interview and for the most part I will have to say I agree with you on the subjects that were discussed. However, there were a couple of things that just didn't agree with me at all. The cracks you made about the obese such as their butts being in another zip code, was way out of line and would have only come out of the mouth of a total IDIOT! Yes there are some that need to learn how to say no and there is a possibility that obesity isn't a disease, but there are people that struggle every day of their lives to keep their weight down.
I am one of those people, it has always been a battle for me, I have lost 10 and gained 20 all my life. In 1996 I hurt my back and went from putting in a 16 hour day to not being able to get out of bed. In 2002 after 8 surguries on my back I topped the scale at 385 pounds on a 5'9" frame. In a desperate mesure to lose at least some of that weight I had a gastric bypass in Sept.2002, in Nov. I developed Guillian Barre, a very nasty nerve disorder, by May 2003 I had lost down to 171 pounds, in case you don't have a calculator handy that is 214 pounds in 8 months give or take a few days.
I have had people preach to me I need to lose weight all my life, well I did and it almost cost me my life.

[caseystrch5]

Mr. Berman must have a point. I mean, for example, those silly, sticky public health rules on imports. I think Mr. Berman should be allowed to consume and enjoy all the produce and consumer goods from China as he likes. No do-gooder, watchdog group is needed to call attention to harmful ingredients and materials from overseas. Mr. Berman knows everything that goes into growing and making them and reads every label for its fact-containing content. Kudos Mr. Berman.

[caseystrch5]

Mr. Berman must have a point. I mean, for example, those silly, sticky public health rules on imports. I think Mr. Berman should be allowed to consume and enjoy all the produce and consumer goods from China as he likes. No do-gooder, watchdog group is needed to call attention to harmful ingredients and materials from overseas. Mr. Berman knows everything that goes into growing and making them and reads every label for its fact-containing content. Kudos Mr. Berman.

[arfighter]

I wish his sponsors were public so that I could support them. I'll bet their board members don't want to be terrorist targets so I understand. I boycott companies that prostitute for the animal rights extremists and eco terrorists so it would be refreshing to order off the other menu, so to speak.
I wish that Morley would have stated that PeTA kills animals is a FACT, not a Burman allegation. PeTA (and H$U$) really do believe that domestic animals are better dead than bred. Burman's critics will not be happy until they bring about the loveless, meatless, petless apocalypse of human kind through starvation and pandemic disease. Vegetarianism is a dietary choice but veganism is a religious cult, possibly predicated on psychosis, rooted in self loathing.

[arfighter]

I too wish Burman would run for president. He's one of the few people willing to take on the vegan fascist brigade, even though his critics at the animal liberation front "ALF" (funded by PeTA, AKA the Physicians Committee for Responsible medicine...) like to put bombs in peoples vehicles, blow up labs etc. (See previous 60 Minutes segment or run ALF through your search engine)Does he get paid well for being a potential terrorist target? I certainly hope so.

[htheyden]

Kudos to Mr. Berman. It's about time that someone stood up for our liberties. There are things that should be law and others that should be recommendations. Educate, don't legislate! Rick, I support your ideas and am behind you 100%. Thanks for sepaking out and for you work.

[lexbubjay]

I would like to know how to contact Dr Evil. I think it is awesome that someone finally has the balls to stand up for what some people believe to be true.

[rosehippi]

special interest groups are trying to legislate life out of living.
unlike many people born after the fifties, I remember what it was like before everything was made illegal and people were expected to have good sense and morals and ethics. People were expected to make good choices and live accordingly and mostly they did.
I watch while the world changes and I am appalled by some and terrified for the future with others. I for one think the government should be smaller and the leaders should listen to of by and for the people. Peace, Rosehippi

[goamerica]

I cheered as Rick Berman talked about Nanny America! As he said, when do we get to the point where restaurants will not be ALLOWED to serve desserts -- and that it wouldn't happen in one step, but that it could happen in 10! That's a scary thought, no matter how you look at it, but that's how these new "laws" regarding personal consumption are coming about. When you think about it, there have always been overweight people, smokers, drinkers and drug users -- these are PERSONAL choices. Our government wants to curb smoking, but not the manufacture of cigarettes! They want to curb alcohol use, but not the sale of alcohol. And the war on drugs -- at the cost of billions of dollars to us -- has been a bust as far as I can figure. So get out of my house, mr taxman, and I'll promise to always use my best judgment -- MY best judgment, not yours!

[winovich]

Let's not criticize the masquerading "do-gooders". After all they're only looking out for us. Lobbyists are financed to create an agenda. And pay, I'm sorry donate, to have thier agenda become public opinion. For example, MADD is a great group in order to create awareness about the seriousness and affects of drunk driving. Not "define" drunk driving and donate enough money to influence politicians and law enforcement to carry out their agenda. I can sum up the politics of how issues become agenda nationwide by sharing this next experience. As an employee of a merit shop construction company the owner thought it would be a good idea to attend a state sponsored political covention. It was viewed as an opportunity to meet our representative(s). When this Ohio representative was asked what it take to get an issue on his agenda his reply was simple and direct, how much money do you have?

[donnie900]

My motto: "Its big to me."

[bb05543]

THANK YOU DR. BERMAN !! Thank you for finally stepping up to the plate to let our government (states and cities included) know that we are fed up with being told what we can do, eat, smoke, drink, drive and buy. They are going beyond our rights of freedom by dictating how we live. It's become almost impossible to find food (especially meat) that has any taste left at all, thanks to the health nuts and regulators who even mandate what can be fed to cattle so WE can be HEALTHIER ! I appreciate keeping safety a priority to avoid human sickness, but do they have to regulate our salt, sugar, fat, transfat and flavor intake ? Please leave some of those decisions up to us as intelligent human beings.