Going through "Learn Python the hard way." Stuck on ex36. Having issues with an if statement

Question

I'll just ask for help on this one function but so far all my functions are having similar issues and I think it has to do with my if statements.

Here's the function:

def cosby_room():
    print "You enter a dark room and there is someone sitting alone on a couch."
    print "Oh. It's Bill Cosby. What do ya know?"
    print "He offers you a drink..."
    print "Do you stay or leave?"

    choice = raw_input("> ")

    if "run" or "flee" or "leave" or "dart" or "get out" in choice:
        print "Phew! That was close."
        start()
    elif "stay" or "drink" in choice:
        print "You take a sip."
        print "Everything starts to get all confusing."
        print "Bill whispers something in your ear..."
        print "You pass out and wake up in a park with a strange ache in your butt."
        game_over("At least it'll make for an interesting story.")
    else: 
        cosby_room()

So as of now if I run this function, no matter how input for choice, it goes down the first 'if' branch. Even if I type "stay" or "leave" I go down the first branch. I'm not really sure why or what's going on.. Can anyone help me out with this one?

[edit] I do like the solution provided. Is there a way to simplify:

if "run" in choice or "flee" in choice or "leave" in choice or "dart" in choice or "get out" in choice:

[edit2]

Thanks for the help everyone! I think I have it figured out. Here's the updated code:

def cosby_room():
    print "You enter a dark room and there is someone sitting alone on a couch."
    print "Oh. It's Bill Cosby. What do ya know?"
    print "He offers you a drink..."
    print "Do you stay or leave?"

    choice = raw_input("> ")

    strings = ("run", "flee", "leave", "dart", "get out")
    strings2 = ("stay", "drink")
    for word in choice:
        if any(word in choice for word in strings):
            print "Phew! That was close."
            start()
        elif any(word in choice for word in strings2):
            print "You take a sip."
            print "Everything starts to get all confusing."
            print "Bill whispers something in your ear..."
            print "You pass out and wake up in a park with a strange ache in your butt."
            game_over("At least it'll make for an interesting story.")
        else: 
            cosby_room()    

Now I just need to learn about 'any'