Blacks In Congress Split Over Menthol Cigarettes

New York Times:

Free cigarettes are no longer handed out at Congressional Black Caucus functions. And it has been years since anyone referred to Edolphus Towns, Democrat of Brooklyn, as the "Marlboro Man" for his campaign contributions from the tobacco industry.

But the Congressional Black Caucus has not severed its financial ties to big tobacco. And that can complicate matters when the political discussion involves smoking's impact on African-Americans.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[neesy08]

the cbc should be ashamed of themselves. this should be a no brainer. black neighborhoods have far more billboard adverts for cigs and alochol than in other neighborhoods. for some reason, tobacco and alcohol companies target low-income black/whit­e/hispanic commnities. sounds to me the cbc are more concerne with lining their wallets

[JayWilliams]

There should not be any restriction on smoking this election year. Smokers are mostly Democrats, and smokers will punish those who hurt them.
OF COURSE smoking is vile. But American politicians (and the media!) supported tobacco (and vice versa) for so long that we can't stop these hopeless addicts from feeding addictions. Free cessation programs will need to be offered eventually.

I do have a question though. The Democrats fear a veto if they pass a bill. Why does a veto (actually just a threat of veto.) make the Democrats knees knock? Same thing with a threat of filibuster. If the Republicans threaten a filibuster, the Democrats quickly dropped the bill. Why does this make the Democrats knees knock?

[Topfeeder]

I'm curious. Where do you get the information that smokers are mostly Dems?

[Ramirez]

Smokers tend to reside on the low-income end of the scale.

[rupert12]

"...as well as the nation’s biggest cigarette company, Philip Morris USA, whose support is considered crucial for passage."

I don't even know where to begin with this. Absolutely disgusting.

[Sloan48]

I wouldn't make tobacco illegal, I would just force all tobacco products to be nicotine free. (Yes, it's possible to remove it). Then if people still want to smoke, it's THEIR choice, not some addiction making that choice for them.

[Ramirez]

You've never smoked, right?

[WorkingClass]

Here is an idea. Let smokers decide for themselves what they smoke.

[Andman0121]

smoke away pal but I better not second hand inhale it. THEN I have a problem

[EinChicago]

Exactly. Provided smoking is banned in all public places so smokers do not force it upon others, I don't care what they do. Just nowhere in any public place whatsoever.

[StephenDedalus82]

You do have a problem... being hysterical. The etiquette rules for smoking are simple. If someone wishes to smoke around other people, he asks if it's okay. If it's not okay he doesn't smoke. On the other hand, nonsmokers return the favor by not acting self-righteous and rude about other people's choices.