Hoping to chip away at Biden's Black vote, conservative group to test menthol cigarette message in South Carolina

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CNN Politics

Updated 12:23 PM EST, Wed January 24, 2024


CNN — In the lead-up to the South Carolina primary, a conservative group is eyeing the state as a valuable testing ground for messages opposing the US Food and Drug Administration’s proposed menthol cigarette ban, something they hope will chip away at President Joe Biden’s Black vote.

The Liberty Policy Foundation, a conservative advocacy group, plans on launching an aggressive ad campaign in South Carolina to see whether it can sway some public opinion against Biden and Democrats, according to a Republican strategist working with the group.

The ads rolled out on digital platforms Wednesday morning. The ad campaign is targeting three groups, the strategist said: African Americans who disapprove of Biden and think he has been ineffective as president, small business owners and young Americans who lean independent.

The Liberty Policy Foundation sees the ads as a “high priority because we can test how or if it moves voters for the primary,” the strategist told CNN.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/24/politics/south-carolina-cigarettes-black-vote/index.html

---

Full headline: Hoping to chip away at Biden’s Black vote, conservative group to test menthol cigarette message in South Carolina primary

They think black folk are stupid.

[Nictuku]

1. California voters banned it in California

Now I have to drive to Nevada to get them (2 hours)

Hopefully I bought enough last time to last until the snow is gone so I don't have to drive through snow to get them next time.

I know I know. I should quit.

But this is the kind of thing that gets me thinking that too much regulation in our lives is bad. And believe me, I am all for regulating greedy corporations. But for someone who has been smoking menthols for 40 years, this is government overreach to tell me I can't get them any more because.... because why? Oh, the children. (It is illegal to sell cigarettes to children, so that doesn't make sense)

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. It is within your power to quit at any time and stay quit

YOU are able to do it any time YOU choose.

[Nictuku]

12. There is a big difference between

There is a big difference between me deciding to quit and the state deciding it for me. In fact, this legislation makes me less likely to quit.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

14. They have not decided for you. You are addicted to nicotine, not menthol.

And I bet you'd smoke regular cigs if you couldn't get menthol. Unless you chose to quit nicotine.

[Nictuku]

19. You would lose that bet

I would have quit already if that were the case. The ban in California has been in effect for over a year now.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

21. If you can quit nicotine then, you can quit now. You are capable.

You said yourself you "should" quit. Listen to yourself and do it now. It is within your grasp. You are in charge of yourself until your last gasp.

[Nictuku]

31. That is right

I'm in charge of myself except when other people try to take charge of what I do or don't do.

I don't WANT to quit. People tell me I should. I don't want to. I'm stubborn, and I'll smoke until /I/ decide to quit.

[Aristus]

41. I'm speaking here as a medical provider who has seen many beloved patients suffer from smoking-related diseases.

It's natural to assert that you are smoking by choice, you are your own person, beholden to none, rugged individualist whom no one can tell what to do.

But it's not only okay, it is the key to quitting to admit that you are addicted to nicotine. Go ahead. It's okay to say it. I remember when I was a kid, and my non-smoking parents would beg those family members who did smoke not to do it around the kids. They were denounced as being rude and thoughtless, and that the smokers enjoyed smoking.

I've tried smoking, and didn't enjoy a second of it.

It's what people say when they don't have the stones to quit. And that's the thing; nicotine is the most addictive substance known to man. More people go back to nicotine that go back to heroin, for Pete's sake.

There is absolutely no medical condition you can have that can't be made worse by smoking, and nothing you can have that can't be made better by quitting.

I love my patients, and they trust me, so they know it's okay to laugh when I tell them that they're paying a billion-dollar transnational corporation for the privilege of poisoning them to death. That would make for an embarrassing headstone.

[elleng]

52. :grouphug: !!!

[Nictuku]

53. Good for you

You didn't enjoy it. (So therefore no one else must enjoy it and conform to your way of thinking.?) Oh, you are a doctor, and you know best. Great. I'm happy for you.

I will not be offering you any advise (it is just not my thing, or any of my business how you conduct your life) I'm not advocating anything. I simply expressed an opinion about this sort of legislation. There is a reason why prohibition failed. It has to do with Freedom. It would seem that my freedom on this particular topic is being smothered. Whatevers

I get what you are saying in your unsolicited advice. I have heard the same from people who do know me, including my doctor. None of this is news to me. Smoking is bad. I have heard it all my life. So is drinking and over-eating, and hundreds of other things that a free people do to themselves every day.

Thanks for the info. Take care.

[Aristus]

55. Physician Assistant, actually.

I guess addiction wins this round...

[Think. Again.]

76. Thank you...

I'm trying to find any support I can to quit and your words were gold to me right now.

[jmowreader]

94. What is the process of upgrading from PA to MD?

I know you'd have to go back to medical school to do it, but is there one that just adds to the knowledge base you currently have rather than starting you at the beginning?

[Aristus]

107. I'm not interested in being a doctor.

PA's are not doctors in training; or wannabe doctors, or anything like that. We're our own profession. I'm proud to be a PA, and don't want to be anything else.

You will occasionally hear about PA's who go back to school to earn an MD. But they're uncommon. One doesn't usually gain much by it. A jump in pay, maybe. But that would almost certainly be offset by the cost of medical school. And that's assuming one has paid off his/her student debt from Physician Assistant School.

I get to practice clinical medicine. I love it. Don't need an MD for it. I'm sticking with my profession.

[jmowreader]

109. I know that you're settled in and proud of your profession

I was thinking more of a PA who maybe wanted to return to her one horse and one doctor town to practice after the one doctor retired.

[Aristus]

112. A PA in that situation would most likely get a remote practice certification and be assigned a supervising MD.

'Supervising' here being very loosely interpreted. No PA goes around with a doctor looking over his/her shoulder, and even PA's in well-staffed facilities have a great deal of autonomy in their practice. So a rural practice PA's supervising physician could be miles away from the clinic, but still be able to consult by phone and video.

Rural and other underserved regions are precisely why the profession was created in the first place. Obtaining a remote practice certification would be much faster than waiting for a PA to finish medical school, an internship, and a residency, when rural care is needed right now.

[The_REAL_Ecumenist]

114. Aristus...I want to thank you for trying and continuing to care about the future of people who sadly

smoke. The fact that this DU'er refuses to acknowledge their future is so infuriating as they are not thinking of those that love and care about them. I represent their, (the family and friend's) future. I was gutted to watch my mother have a series of heart attacks and strokes. She NEVER smoked menthol and ONLY smoked 1 cigarette a day but it was enough to kill her. We are 'MOSTLY' of West African descent. I can guarantee that the DU'er you were trying to help WILL be singing another song when things go left with their health. Thank you again. Oh and BTW, she was only 53 when her first MAJOR stroke happened and left when she was 61. I was 40 years and 25 days old.

[Aristus]

115. Thank you for your kind words.

I appreciate it.

The truth is, this other DU-er has no real reason to trust me and the things I'm saying. So I get his reluctance. I usually have more success in clinic, because I'm speaking to patients I've known for years, and who trust me.

I'm sorry to hear about your mother. It's an unfortunate perception that because there is a safe, moderate level of alcohol consumption, there must also be a corresponding level of safe consumption of tobacco. And I tell my patients that there isn't. Even one cigarette can be bad for you. Her death must have been very painful for you.

People also often point to overeating, which is a real risk factor for disease. But I point out that eating is a natural, life-affirming thing, and it's easy to get carried away. Smoking is not natural, not safe, and not necessary to human life.

[lapfog_1]

102. my libertarian streak agrees with you

You want to kill yourself but either not wearing a seat belt or smoking something that has been proven over and over to be bad for your health... fine. Go ahead.

We don't tell motorcycle riders that they can't ride motorcycles.

But, and here is the thing, we live in a society. Your decision does affect the rest of us because we pay the cost of your decision to smoke. Either through higher insurance rates to cover your cancer treatments or other illness related to smoking, your second hand smoke that I don't want in my lungs, or the chance that my child could take up smoking based on the available products that exist because YOU choose to smoke and they see you smoking in public. Humans are curious creatures, it is one of our survival traits. But your right to smoke in public doesn't override my right to either not smell your smoke or keep it from my child because I know it is dangerous.

Now if you can only buy tobacco in a smoke shop (no one allowed in who is not 18) and you can only smoke in your own home, AND you pay for a health policy that only includes you and other smokers... and should that pool of insurance money run out, you will either pay even more money for your health care OR you will go without health care for smoking related health issues. Fine, smoke all you want.

But that isn't what we have now.

[Nictuku]

111. Good Grief

The only way I could accept this logic is if the same applied across the board for everyone who indulges in unhealthy activities. Smoking illnesses are not the only causes of death. Heart disease, Diabetes, Cancer are also caused by indulging in Sugar, Soda, drinking alcohol, Processed Food, too much Pizza, MSG, eating Meat, and lets not forget vaping. Otherwise, this is absurd.

No one endures my 2nd hand smoke, so you can stuff it. My choosing to smoke does not affect anyone but me. I have carried insurance for 45 years (which, as you should know, includes higher rates for uninsured people). So you can go stuff it. Or better yet, get off your high horse.

These products don't exist because of me. That is ridiculous. I feel like I'm being unfairly attacked here. People like you make me hate posting on DU, and I've been here for twenty years.

[CTyankee]

105. I know that I gave up smoking only when I wanted something more than cigarettes...

and that was when I fell in love with a man who couldn't/wouldn't put up with cigarette smoke. I didn't like myself for smoking, my clothes smelled of cigarette smoke and more and more people were giving it up. So if I wanted the relationship with my husband I had to give up smoking, simple as that.

[Mr.Bill]

60. I have an aunt who always nagged her husband about smoking.

She was an RN at that time. She used to tell him that if he still smoked when he died she would say in his obituary that he committed suicide. He finally did quit many years ago, and is still living at close to 90 years old.

[Roy Rolling]

96. There is a condition made better by nicotine

Nicotine/smoking strangely helps patients with schizophrenia sort out the voices in their head. It’s why so many patients diagnosed with brain diseases smoke cigarettes.

[Aristus]

108. That falls under the 'MAY have some benefits' category.

But any actual benefits are offset by the harm nicotine does to the body. It's like saying playing in heavy traffic improves one's basketball skills. The tradeoff isn't worth it.

[Mawspam2]

62. I'm gonna stick it to 'the man'...

...by dying!

[Nictuku]

63. Which man is that?

[nightwing1240]

100. I am a realist

If my time on earth ends due to my love of nicotine, so be it. If not it, something else will make me just as dead in due time. Live life is my best advice

[progressoid]

47. As an ex-smoker I gotta say...nope.

Addictions aren't that simplistic. Cigarette, alcohol, gambling, over eating, etc. For many people you don't just choose to stop. It doesn’t happen from having a lack of willpower - your brain chemistry changes with addiction.

After the birth of our first child, I knew I should stop. And I did. A dozen times. But the physical addiction would override what I wanted.

[Nictuku]

57. If I were to have a child - I would have quit

I know it for certain.

[Hekate]

92. That is what my daughter said. Sorry to say it did not come to pass.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

66. Understood, and nicotine is one of the most powerful, more so even than heroin

But it can be done. Whether it takes more or less than a dozen times.

You did it.

Both my parents started in their teens, smoked for over 25 years, quit separately, and had 40+ smoke free years of life each. They were anomalies only in that they quit cold turkey and made it stick. Never went back to it. Statistically, the greatest indicator for success quitting is having tried to quit at least once before, but they beat the odds.

I'm not trying to be simplistic about it. Rather, I am trying to empower people. And I took care not to browbeat anyone over "willpower". But ultimately a person decides to quit and makes it stick, when they arrive at the point of wanting to make it stick. Nobody can do it for them.

[The Contrarian]

64. You use that message on overweight people also?

You are able to do it (eat less) any time YOU choose. Nobody likes a scold.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

67. That's why I took care to empower rather than scold

I did not accuse the poster of being a bad person or lacking willpower; nor did I minimize the difficulty.

As to overeating, the key there is not simply eating less, but rather finding healthy foods the person ENJOYS, substituting them for less healthy foods, and giving it lots of time for the weight to ease away. If it takes a person 20 years to gain a hundred pounds, they should expect to take maybe ten years for it to go off. The time is not the issue, the way forward is to gradually incorporate healthy eating in a way that is pleasurable and sustainable. Moderate exercise helps, but not directly (not by "burning calories" ), rather by making the body work better all round. Fad diets, pills, crash diets, eating rabbit food, drastic changes, ... they rarely work beyond a year or two.

There are also psychological issues outside of the eating that may need addressing, such as stress from external stressors (think "comfort food" ). Removing stressors is healthy.

My message is that on weight issues and drug issues, the person CAN do it, when they are truly ready. Quitting drugs cold turkey is often effective but sudden drastic changes in diet are almost never effective. People need to be encouraged, not scolded. In that you are correct. Scolding does not work.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. Single issue would mean a 45-voter instead?

(that is the type of insidious nonsense that they are trying to insinuate)

[Nictuku]

13. Not for me

I would never vote for a Republican. But it doesn't mean that I don't hate over-reaching legislation.

[BumRushDaShow]

22. I say this

as a 30 year menthol smoker and almost 15 year vaper (thanks to DU).

This issue has always been highly political. I remember when the initial regulatory bill authorizing FDA to oversee it, was thrown out by the SCOTUS but was later resurrected, along with the creation of the CTP (Center for Tobacco Products) in FDA. It's been a long road from then until now.

[hlthe2b]

8. I empathize will you, but the intent is to prevent big tobacco from targeting/exploiting more

people --predominently POC--including but not exclusive to children-- with menthol cigarette campaigns as they have for decades. This was a premeditated campaign to hook mostly African Americans--but also others, just as the clove "natural" cigarette campaign that came later was targeted to do the same to adolescents.

It has to stop. I appreciate the difficulties this presents to you on a personal level, but I think I'd be angry at Big Tobacco more so than those trying to stop this.

[Nictuku]

16. Well then

Well then, pass laws that affect selling to minors. I'm 62. Set in my ways. I can be angry at whoever I want to be angry at. In this case, for me, it is California Voters.

[hlthe2b]

25. No care or concern for others that can be addicted--regardless of age? Really?

I wish you the best and if it were not a product that is literally killing you, I might agree with you in terms of the "libertarian" take on the whole regulatory issue. But that is sadly not the case and I sincerely hope others do not pay the price and become addicted because of any attempt to stop these efforts. You cannot simply have your way without harming others on this issue.

[Nictuku]

33. Good Grief

I had no idea that so many people actually cared what I do in my personal life.

No one else is paying a price because /I/ choose to smoke. No one.

Some people are so full of themselves it makes me laugh.

[hlthe2b]

35. We don't-- except for your advocating for policies which harm others.

[Nictuku]

37. Advocacy? Where?

My opinion is different from yours. Boy do I regret posting it.

Now people are calling to have my medicare cancelled. Something I've paid into my entire life since I was 16.

Some people are so full of themselves. Leave me alone.

[Aristus]

44. The things people do in their personal lives are what bring them in to see me.

In my time as a medical provider, I have diagnosed four patients with lung cancer secondary to tobacco use. Three died and one underwent treatment and survived. That's not counting the thousands of patients I have had who have suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, coronary and peripheral artery disease, aortic or carotid dissection, and all the other horrible diseases related to tobacco consumption.

If you think your medical provider doesn't care, there is always the possibility that he or she doesn't; not all that much. A lot of them, like me, love our patients, and can't stand to see them suffering from preventable illnesses.

When we tell you to stop smoking, we're not so much ordering you to as begging you to. If you are suffering and think nobody cares, think again.

[Nictuku]

56. I will never ever ever bring up this topic again

I should have known better. Thanks for all the free advise.

Take care

[Keepthesoulalive]

78. You are an adult

You are making an informed decision. I support your right to live your life as you wish. Safe travels.

[azureblue]

72. you'd think

that driving 2 hours to get cigs would be hint at addiction.
I had a friend that was a smoker, and he always said he was going to quit, but he kept right on smoking. All the usual "I can quit when I want to" "I'm not that hooked" " I can quit tomorrow". Even with al the cancer warnings.So we were on his trip together, headed through deserts of the southwest and he starts talking about how he wants to quit, but just can't seem to. His cig pack was on the dashboard, so I grabbed it and threw it out the window. "See, now you have to quit." Nope. He threw a fit and made me stop at the next gas station so he could buy a new pack..

[JoseBalow]

61. Smoke 'em if you got 'em, amigo!

If you ever decide to quit, there's plenty of support for you available

[Hekate]

75. I miss my brother, who started smoking at 12 and died of COPD at 72. He could quit any time...

In fact I remember him quitting on numerous occasions.

He ended up with his own little portable oxygen tank to carry around. His last year was kinda ugly — he was in and out of the ICU a couple of times, but did manage to die at home in front of his TV.

My daughter started smoking at 12 as well, along with her bestie — they stole cigarettes from the other girl’s mother. Woo-hoo, how totally rebellious! They were sure showing their stupid parents! Well, my daughter ended up like my late brother, hooked for life. She’s in her late 40s, and like him, she has quit smoking many times.

Here’s the thing about advertising — it is incredibly powerful, otherwise tobacco companies would not bother spending their money on it. Remember Joe Camel, the cute cool cartoon character? Of course you do. Here’s something you probably didn’t know: after a great deal of study, the tobacco people had their target market: ADHD boys age 10 - 12 years old. Pinpoint marketing, ya have to admire it.

My daughter was ADHD too, just not as much as my brother, and Joe Camel ads came along just in time for her. My brother had to make do with the attractions of Cool, Lucky Strike, and the rest that were around when we were kids, plus whatever our mom and dad were smoking that he could pilfer.

Do I preach to members of my family? I do not. I just stand upwind of my daughter and wish her health-choices were better.

Gods forbid I should tell you what to do with your life. You are a complete stranger, so I only care in the abstract, altho there are certainly other people “who will pay the price” for your addiction, if only by missing you.

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. No, it's not just "the children". The cigarettes are killing you too. And other consumers like you.

40 years, and you haven't been able to give up. Yeah, menthol cigarettes have the added danger of being an easier way into getting hooked and harder to give up, which is why it makes sense to start with a ban on them. If you're forced to use regular cigarettes, maybe it'll help you give up, and improve you life expectancy?

Banned in the EU (and UK) since 2020. Remember, those greedy corporations are profiting from your increased chances of dying.

[Nictuku]

18. Oh, this is news to me. I had no idea

/sarcasm off

Ban them for younger people then, leave me the fuck alone. DON'T FORCE ME TO DO WHAT YOU WANT ME TO.

We are all going to die sometime. I'm not worried about it. I'm not afraid of it.

[muriel_volestrangler]

29. And the other addicts your age?

You don't care about them?

Can we cancel your Medicare entitlement?

[Nictuku]

36. Now you want to cancel my medicare entitlement?

Cancel medicare entitlements for everyone who drinks alcohol or sodas. Who abuses drugs. Who eats meat. Who eats processed foods.

Good Grief. Leave me alone.

This is why I don't like people much.

[muriel_volestrangler]

38. Leave you alone - well, that means cancelling your Medicare entitlement

The best thing that can be done for your future health is to get you to quit smoking (because yes, you're abusing drugs). Yours is by far the most deadly abuse of anything legal (about a 50:50 chance of it killing you). But if you're dead set against anything to help you or others in your position, then why should others pay for the increased care you're most likely to need?

[Nictuku]

42. I paid for it for over 40 years

I'm too polite to say what comes to mind. Use your imagination. It starts with an F.

Using your logic: People who eat too much and are overweight and will likely die of heart disease or diabetes. Should we cancel their Medicare too?

Drink Sodas every day and lose your medicare? Daily cocktails? Too much MSG? Not a Vegetarian? You shouldn't get health care.

Something about High-Horses around here lately.

[muriel_volestrangler]

45. And yet you want to prevent an urgently-needed public healthcare move, because you like the taste of menthol

and don't care about your own health. I mean, if you showed some willingness to think of the general health of the country, it would be great to try and keep you healthy.

[Nictuku]

49. Want to prevent?

Where do you get these ideas from? You don't know me. You seem to think you do.

... willingness to think about the general health of the country? WTF does that mean? How do you know what I think about?

Get over yourself.

[muriel_volestrangler]

58. From "this is the kind of thing that gets me thinking that too much regulation in our lives is bad"

and ""this is government overreach".

[PortTack]

46. If you don't like ppl and want to be left alone...why not just stop posting on the subject!

[Nictuku]

50. That is the best suggestion yet.

[Chi67]

65. Wow

That was completely uncalled for and rude. You need to apologize. And no, I do not smoke.

I'm sure there are plenty of unhealthy things you do as well. Should we cancel your medicare too? Sit down and mind your own business.

[qwlauren35]

68. Hello Nictuku.

My husband smokes Maverick menthols. I call them Newport knockoffs We live in a small state, so I would probably only have to go 45 minutes to get him some. When I would make road trips through VA, I would pick up 8 cartons because they were about half the price.

I stopped questioning his right to smoke over a decade ago. I don't nag him to quit because it's his choice. The help to quit is out there and he knows it. So there's no point in reminding him. Not to mention his doctors mention it regularly. He knows it's unhealthy. EVERYONE knows it's unhealthy. ...

I wouldn't be surprised if some people here on DU think I don't care about my husband. They are quite wrong. I RESPECT my husband and the choices he makes, and I leave it to HIS doctors to counsel him on quitting.

I have read this thread, and the incredible disrespect shown to you for sharing your truth, and I just want to say that I hope you have good music on your nicotine road trips, and I am so sorry that there are people who don't get that beating you up about smoking does not do anything at all to make you quit.

You do you.

[Nictuku]

79. qwlauren35 - Thank you - Thank you - THANK YOU

You are so right. The more people bug me about it, the more I dig my feet in. My mother, my ex-husband, my doctor have all expressed their desire for me to quit. And the more they bug me, the more I seem to resist. They don't bug me about it any more.

The fact is, I was actually getting pretty close to quitting around the time they banned menthol in California, and interestingly enough, the banning actually made me want to refuse to comply. Let me get to that conclusion on my own, don't force-feed me. (by the way, I /have/ quit in the past, although I was using vape instead. I consider both smoking. Vaping made me cough more and in the end, after 6 months, I went back to American Spirits. Why? Because I wanted to!)

As to my trip to Nevada, I most /definitely was listening to good music (my latest thing is a group from Ukraine called Go-A), and the last time (only one so far) that I took the trip was up and over the High Sierra Mountains where I had the most spectacular view of South Lake Tahoe in the early morning sunshine sparkling on the lake like a jewel. (What that tells me is that I should get out more. But I'm dealing with some agoraphobia - I think). (PLEASE PEOPLE, I DON'T NEED TO HEAR ABOUT GOING TO SEE A PSYCHOLOGIST - I'm not looking for advice from people I don't know on the internet, thank you very much)

I also had used the trip to visit some life long friends that I have that live in the foothills (Pollack Pines). I drove up and spent the night, and had a really good visit with one of my old friends from Hawaii, where we grew up. We both still smoke menthols. That is probably why I smoke menthol. Growing up in Hawaii. Kools were the choice of my peers back then - when I started.

And THANK YOU qwlauren35 for understanding how I was feeling in the thread. I did feel attacked. I did try to keep things respectful. I certainly don't need more people telling me that I shouldn't smoke. One would have to be completely isolated from all people or media all their life to /not/ know that smoking is a behavior that is bad for your health.

My feeble attempt at making a point that the effect of this sort of legislation might have on people who do choose (in this free country) to smoke menthols - was completely lost it would seem. People like me, at my age (62), who for over 40 years had a freedom to do something - and then lose it because other people want you to believe and behave like they believe (reminds me of the abortion issue somewhat).

If anyone takes anything from my responses or this thread it is this: It will not go over well with those voters. And the GOP will use this against Biden if the national ban goes forward. That was really the only point I wanted to make.

Next thing I know I have everyone and their brother telling me what I should do. (This is why I am no longer married. We are good friends and talk on the phone each week. Our standing joke is my response: "I /should/ do what now?" whenever he starts a sentence with "You should .....&quot . I'm stubborn. I am not unintelligent. But logic doesn't always carry over in all things.

The reasons why I still smoke are complex. I don't care to discuss it here. It is my business. And I have my opinion about this over-reaching law (to supposedly protect children - even though it is illegal to sell to them in the first place) that takes away a freedom that I have had my entire life.

Side note: I watch TCM sometimes. This week they have been featuring Robert Mitchum. I just watched 2 movies where he was a Doctor (and they all smoked like chimneys). That was the environment I grew up on. (Oh god, the machismo and sexism in Robert Mitchum's films are amazing).

In one movie "Not a Stranger" the head doctor at a medical college was lighting up as he was giving his 'congratulations, you are now a doctor' speech - interestingly enough he said at the end (which garnered a laugh from all the newbie doctors) "And don't endorse any cigarettes" This film was 1955. Smoking is bad. It is not news. The funny thing is that I actually had this doctor lighting up on 'pause' while I was responding to this thread. I wonder if I'm the only one who sees the irony.

Back then, Everyone smoked. I'm watching another one now called "She couldn't say no" where Mitchum is once again a doctor, and yes, of course he smoked. What is my point? I don't know. As I was growing up and forming my opinions as a young person, there wasn't this 'You smoke?!?! You should be Punished' attitude. Quite the opposite in fact. It was encouraged. There were commercials showing 'cool' people smoking. If anything, I should be considered a victim of this commercialization.

I actually read an article today that was suggesting that the bans failed to prevent people from smoking menthol. People have found other ways and means to get their menthols. Many of them illegal. Fortunately for me, I just have to drive across the state line.

Another article suggested that there should be some kind of /punitive/ laws passed for anyone who possessed menthol cigarettes. Yeah, go ahead and arrest me because I am a product of this capitalist country.

Will this make me vote for a Republican? Hell no. But it will make me look harder at a Democrat's voting background before voting for them.

qwlauren35, I love that you respect your husband to make his own decisions. None of us know what will happen. I had a Great Aunt who died of lung cancer. She didn't smoke, and no one in her life smoked, so it was not caused by 2nd hand smoke. But she died of Lung Cancer. I could have a tree fall on my house and kill me in the next storm. None of us knows what will happen next.

One other thing I'd like to mention here: Just because you might desire to live as long as you can into your 90's 100's, doesn't mean that everyone else does. To me, that sounds like a horror show: Being old, no children to help me, and unable to do daily care for myself (I live with chronic pain). My future is rather bleak in that regard. Right now, I'm just hanging on until my mom doesn't need me to take care of her any more. Then, hell, I might smoke a pack a day! (and before anyone says anything about being here for her. please stop. I have sacrificed the last 15 years of my own life to make sure that she is cared for. You try living with your mother at this age and still having a social life)

[qwlauren35]

91. Thanks for sharing.

You are managing to make your life fuller and still be a caregiver. My hat is off to you. My sister was a doctor and in the 80's all of the residents smoked. Not having to work a 36 hour rotation, I was not about to question their drug of choice.

I lived in nc for a while, where the Winston-Salem plant is. I learned a thing or two about cigarettes. Those of us who don't smoke can't tell, but different cigarettes have super proprietary flavor recipes and smokers stick with a brand because they like how it tastes. I don't remember which brand had the ad "would rather fight than switch".

I would add that I'm hoping to live til 75, and not much longer. Almost every elder in my family got cancer in their 80s so that's how I expect to go. My husband's father died at 55, and he's 61 now, so he looks at each additional year with some surprise. He has no retirement plan because he doesn't see himself living that long. And I think that's the other reason I say nothing. I know that smoking brings him pleasure. Kinda like the ribeye steak with all of its fatty deliciousness that I had last night. And yes, I'm obese and no, I'm not dieting. Just trying to walk more. My husband had many vices when we married and he gave up all of the ones that were destroying our marriage. If he ever decides to TRY to quit, I think he will succeed. But for now, it is what it is, we're not trying to live long lives, but lives we enjoy. My husband enjoys smoking and I enjoy food. If he's not going to tell me to go on a diet, I can shut up about his smoking.


Good night and best wishes.

[flashman13]

73. Here is a why you might want to think about. Your fellow citizens

might not want to spend a fortune keeping you alive after 40+ years of smoking has destroyed you health. Everyone will pay for a portion of your care one way or another.

[Nictuku]

80. You just ERASED the last 45 years of my life

You just ERASED the last 45 years of my life where I paid into that system. I Reject it. And You.

I am too polite to give you my original response to reading your post, but it starts with F. Use your imagination.

[SarcasticSatyr]

87. You might have a closer solution . . .

Is there a native casino close by, many sell menthol cigarettes.

[Nictuku]

88. Bingo!!

That is the closest place - unless I go visit friends in Pollack Pines, then I take the 50, a very scenic route. Great when it is not snowing! I'll figure it out. The Casino's are just off of the 80. I prefer music and the scenic route, but won't do chains!

Edit: Oh wait, you mean a Casino in California? I will look into that. I see what you mean. I go to the Native American owned place that is in (Boomtown?) Somewhere just after the border. It cost less than they did in Ca when it was not banned there.

[SarcasticSatyr]

90. Yes, in CA . . . Actually, many of those location also have gas stations/convivence stores that sell cigarettes.

and yes, the cigarettes can be pricy ..

[Cha]

110. Good On California!

[dweller]

2. Test Ad

✌🏻

[BumRushDaShow]

9. OMG

need a ***GRAPHIC IMAGE WARNING*** on that!!

[EYESORE 9001]

20. OMFG! That is hideous!

[BumRushDaShow]

23. I'm still digging around for the bleach

[niyad]

69. MY EYES!!!

[Blue Owl]

86. Bwahahaha!

[hlthe2b]

4. Geebus, I thought that was the Onion. I cannot imagine most black people in SC (and elsewhere) do not

know that the menthol cigarette campaign was directly targeted to "hook" and exploit African Americans. That has been known for decades.

Yes. The MAGATs have nothing but contempt for POC and think they are all stupid.

[niyad]

71. Thank you. I was wondering what in the f'n hell menthol cigarettes have to do

with POC.

Lifelong, allergic non-smoker here, so I don't pay attention unless there is serious talk about stopping tobacco grower subsidies.

[LiberalFighter]

6. Will they have Tim Scott smoking them?

[Traildogbob]

28. He would have

To remove his head from trumps generous sized ass first. Wouldn’t want it light up while deeply submerged up that gaseous canyon.

[Torchlight]

7. And this is the fullest extent of GOP Minority Outreach:

Feckless pandering via a slowly dying line of irresponsible products.

[Prairie Gates]

11. The absolute contempt these people have for African Americans is truly bottomless

[Novara]

15. because cigarettes are SO MUCH more important than fascism

[Chi67]

17. WTF?

The GQP really thinks black folks are that stupid? I mean, this really is horrible. What will the GQP say next? That Biden is going to ban watermelons or something? Could the GQP be any more racist?

[BumRushDaShow]

24. They think we all act like "Diamond and Silk"

(one of which is no longer above ground)

[hlthe2b]

27. ...

COVID... cough cough cough. COVID!

Sad but true. COVID-denial is another major killer.

[mercuryblues]

30. But it definitely

Was not Covid that put her 6 feet under.

[durablend]

104. "Biden planning to BAN Fried Chicken Restaurants"

Yea, they're desperate enough to go there.

[Traildogbob]

26. Two words

Tim Scott. They think all blacks are Tim Scott. Ben Carson, or the dead 999 guy. That’s how stupid they think blacks are.

[BumRushDaShow]

32. Herrman "999" Caine

Can add Clarence Thomas in there as well.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

34. Don't forget

the ex-pro football player with obvious CTI.

"See...we like Black folks! Don't let the Deep State Nanny State take your menthol coffin nails! Freedom!!1!"

[Blue Owl]

84. Softly and tenderly, Herman is calling....

[progressoid]

39. Actually, this may be somewhat effective. We shouldn't be so dismissive of this tactic.

A lot of voters (not just AA voters) often make decisions based on an issue or two that resonates on a personal level. Even something as seemingly mundane as menthol cigarettes.

If it depresses voter turnout by just a few thousand it could be enough to tip the scales.

[BumRushDaShow]

54. At this point in history

Biden is NOT winning SC in the general election.

Black people are told that when it rains, they don't vote and other nonsense. That crap along with this issue is INSULTING. Just due to sheer population, there are more WHITE smokers than black. And the states with the largest concentrations of smokers are so-called "red states" (except for Michigan) that the media tells us are " (45) country".

Here are CDC's stats (by race excerpted) - https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/adult_data/cig_smoking/index.htm

Current Cigarette Smoking Among Adults in the United States

(snip)

By Race/Ethnicity2

Current cigarette smoking was highest among non-Hispanic adults from other racial groups and lowest among non-Hispanic Asian adults.

Nearly 15 of every 100 non-Hispanic adults from other racial groups* (14.9%)
Nearly 13 of every 100 non-Hispanic White adults (12.9%)
Nearly 12 of every 100 non-Hispanic Black adults (11.7%)
Nearly 8 of every 100 Hispanic adults (7.7%)
About 5 of every 100 non-Hispanic Asian adults** (5.4%)
2021 tobacco product estimates for American Indian/Alaska Native adults were not statistically reliable

* Non-Hispanic Other includes adults who were categorized as “non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native and any other group” or “other single and multiple races”.

**Non-Hispanic Asians does not include Native Hawaiians or Other Pacific Islanders.

(snip)



(snip)

last reviewed May 4, 2023

The most impactful thing to black voters - and notably black women - is the healthcare issue and reproductive care.

[Kennah]

40. Why not fried chicken and watermelon? Oy mio.

[TexasBushwhacker]

59. Malt liquor? Thunderbird?

Nail salons? Hair extensions? Jeez!

[marble falls]

43. Menthol cigarettes. They aren't trying to flip some voters, they're looking to prove an old stereotype.

[PortTack]

48. Nailed it!

[Freethinker65]

51. GOP for big tobacco over minority health? That's the GOP message?

[azureblue]

70. LOL - the GOP will make idiots of themselves again

They will display their racism right away, since they haven't a clue and are so far behind the times.
They will get laughed at

[kimbutgar]

74. Yeah sure vote repuke and lose your health care and voting rights so you can keep smoking your menthol cigarettes

They really think black people are that stupid!

[Think. Again.]

77. Hopefully this will offend...

...enough voters to backfire big-time.

[Martin68]

81. Right wing jackals will do anything to get votes, including prostituting their own grandmothers.

there’s nothing they won’t do to win votes except doing the right thing.

[moniss]

82. The GQP has always been solidly

pro cancer causing things.

[BlueNIndiana]

83. Any black person voting for Trump is voting to reinstate Jim Crow amd other horrors

[Blue Owl]

85. Vote tRump and feel alive with pleasure!

[Bettie]

89. I find it difficult to believe that this

is an issue that will make any significant difference.

But, I've never been a smoker, grew up with everything smelling of smoke and I hated it.

[AZLD4Candidate]

93. No grape soda, Colt 45, two zigzags, crunk, twekring, and kool aid commercials? Come on, Republiklans

why not bust out every racist stereotype?

Get native Americans to vote for you by calling women squaws and putting -um as the end of random words.
Get Jews to vote for you by having them bargain over GOP donations
Get Mexicans to vote for you over low rider races

WTF?????

[Merlot]

95. I thought this was going to be from The Onion. Sigh.

[Roy Rolling]

97. Un-fucking believable

Next up: Rally sponsored by Thunderbird wine and Kools

[Lovie777]

101. Fried Chicken and watermelon..................................

The GQP are out of touch with reality.

[Old Crank]

98. Law and order GOP

Now pushing drugs for minorities.

Almost a Freudian slip on my title.
Typed in, Law and Odor.

[IronLionZion]

99. Rollin down the street smoking menthol, sippin on gin and juice

Laid back
With my mind on my money and my money on my mind

[Aviation Pro]

103. So, their fucking message is.....

....we want to give you the freedom to kill yourselves with this disgusting, dangerous product?

Racist much, motherfuckers?

[Zincwarrior]

106. Er thats their plan?

Ok...

[GenThePerservering]

113. Menthol cigarettes...

are like alcopop.