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{{#badges: Tobaccowiki|Front groups}}[[Image:RickBerman2.png|thumb|200px|Rick Berman|left]]'''Richard B. (Rick) Berman''' is a former labor management attorney and restaurant industry executive who, with his firm [[Berman & Co.]], currently works as a Washington, D.C. lobbyist for the food, alcoholic beverage, and [[Tobacco industry|tobacco industries]] as well as hotels, beer distributors, taverns, and restaurant chains. Berman & Co. has lobbied for companies such as Cracker Barrel, Hooters, International House of Pancakes, [[Darden Restaurants|Olive Garden]], [[Outback Steakhouse]], [[Red Lobster]], Steak & Ale, TGI Friday's, Uno's Restaurants, and [[Wendy's]].
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Berman has earned the nicknames "Dr. Evil," the "Conservatives' Weapon of Mass Destruction" and the "Astroturf Kingpin" for his repeated use of the strategy of forming dozens of non-profit front groups, attack-dog web sites, and alleged [[think tanks]] that defend his corporate clients' interests by attacking their critics, allowing his paying clients to remain out of public view.<ref>Morley Safer, [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/04/05/60minutes/main2653020.shtml Meet Rick Berman, A.K.A. "Dr. Evil]," ''CBS News'' "60 Minutes," July 22, 2007.</ref><ref>Tim McCown, [http://www.examiner.com/x-3629-Philadelphia-Progressive-Examiner~y2009m9d24-Richard-Berman-coming-to-Astro-turf-your-rights-away Richard Berman coming to Astro-turf your rights away], Philadelphia ''Progressive Examiner'', September 24, 2009.</ref>
