Philip Morris' the tobacco company has declared itself a civil rights victim

News Type: Event — Seeded on Sat Dec 6, 2008 3:09 PM EST

Article Source: MotherJones.com

business, civil-rights, cigarettes, phillip-morris

Seeded by PowerIsKnowledge

In the Supreme Court on Wednesday, Philip Morris, America's largest cigarette company, compared itself to the NAACP.

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{"commentId":4324160,"authorDomain":"powerisknowledge"}

PowerIsKnowledge

The tobacco company has declared itself a civil rights victim.

I have to give it to them, they've got a lot of balls.

{"commentId":4324160,"threadId":"436785","contentId":"2185609","authorDomain":"powerisknowledge"}

#1 - Sat Dec 6, 2008 3:12 PM EST

{"commentId":4324269,"authorDomain":"tishamauro"}

not over it

The reward for stupidty in America is apparently $79 million dollars. Nobody forced the guy to smoke 3 packs a day.

{"commentId":4324269,"threadId":"436785","contentId":"2185609","authorDomain":"tishamauro"}

#2 - Sat Dec 6, 2008 3:23 PM EST

{"commentId":4325613,"authorDomain":"whyfactor"}

emersontwain

Not only do they have cahunies, they got friends! Big ones. Guess who has been getting the lion's share of polictical donations from Phillip Morris. There is no prize for guessing. It would be way to easy. Here is the link. http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000000067

{"commentId":4325613,"threadId":"436785","contentId":"2185609","authorDomain":"whyfactor"}

#3 - Sat Dec 6, 2008 5:47 PM EST

{"commentId":4325675,"authorDomain":"petemouat"}

peter-413695

A man won the Lottery got some plastic surgery,stopped smoking bought nice clothes then walked in front of a bus. Splat he was dead St Peter ushered him to heaven and the man asked God Why he let him win the lottery get plastic surgery and get better dressed

God said "OH for goodness sake is that you bill i never reconised you"

Any one got a light

{"commentId":4325675,"threadId":"436785","contentId":"2185609","authorDomain":"petemouat"}

#4 - Sat Dec 6, 2008 5:54 PM EST

{"commentId":4326485,"authorDomain":"jae-walker"}

Jae-walker

African American woman named Mayola Williams whose husband died from lung cancer in 1997, after smoking three packs of Marlboros a day for more than 40 years.

I am sorry but as a smoker I say, it's a matter of choice. We re fully aware of all the hazards of smoking and yet we do it. I want to quit, but am I smart enough to do it knowing the risk, NO. Its not about addiction either, If I really wanted to kick the habit, personal strength says I can. I choose not to (YET) as did this man. (slamming gavel) case dismissed

{"commentId":4326485,"threadId":"436785","contentId":"2185609","authorDomain":"jae-walker"}

1 vote

#5 - Sat Dec 6, 2008 7:33 PM EST

{"commentId":4332384,"authorDomain":"kenyon-1"}

kenyon-1

I agree with you jae-walker. Mayola is not entitled to any award that her husband's unfortunate lifestyle witch led to his demise.

When I was a kid in the early 60's, and cigarettes were known as coffin nails. This story is a bunch of BS.

If I drink a bottle of rum every day can my widow sue Bacardi?

{"commentId":4332384,"threadId":"436785","contentId":"2185609","authorDomain":"kenyon-1"}

1 vote

#5.1 - Sun Dec 7, 2008 1:49 PM EST

{"commentId":4333670,"authorDomain":"jae-walker"}

Jae-walker

Absolutely not, but if you drink a bottle of rum everyday she might could ask for a refund. I mean after all the merchandise did not perform as expected :)

{"commentId":4333670,"threadId":"436785","contentId":"2185609","authorDomain":"jae-walker"}

1 vote

#5.2 - Sun Dec 7, 2008 4:06 PM EST

{"commentId":4336629,"authorDomain":"ravenwing5910"}

Theresa-382710

Think about this a minute.... This guy smoked for 40 years, meaning he started smoking and became addicted when there was no reason to believe that cigarettes were at all harmful and were actually touted as being "a healthful" activity.... Even when I first started smoking there was no indication that they were bad for you... no warning from the surgeon general, they were advertised on tv and on radio and every actor in the movies smoked. The suit this woman brought against the cigarette company was for wrongful death due to their continued disinformation tactics, because it has been revealed that the cigarette companies have known for a very long time that these are hazardous to our health.

Yes I smoke, (sometimes I think of them as my only ticket out of here).... I have no plans on quitting. But I also believe that Oregon (where I live) is quite right in its ruling's, and I hope that the monies if they are ever recieved will be applied to the medicaid program here. I also believe this woman who sued re: the death of her husband had every right to do so, and was vindicated by the victory.

{"commentId":4336629,"threadId":"436785","contentId":"2185609","authorDomain":"ravenwing5910"}

2 votes

#5.3 - Sun Dec 7, 2008 9:04 PM EST

{"commentId":4336729,"authorDomain":"jae-walker"}

Jae-walker

(sometimes I think of them as my only ticket out of here)....

I love this!

Lets say that you are right, there was a time when cigarrettes were touted as the rich mans pleasure and people were really ignorant of the dangers. Then I say there should be a statute on age and time that smoker started, because none of us are not informed now. And that when a person fits the criteria and wins then the money should awarded to cancer research, therapy and education facilities. Because the point still exists that it was a choice. Maybe I am wrong, What do you think of that idea though?

{"commentId":4336729,"threadId":"436785","contentId":"2185609","authorDomain":"jae-walker"}

1 vote

#5.4 - Sun Dec 7, 2008 9:14 PM EST

{"commentId":4337992,"authorDomain":"ravenwing5910"}

Theresa-382710

Jae-walker, I agree that age and onset should be factors in these law suits. Though I started smoking when it was considered a "safe" habit, and even though I now know what the risks are, it is an addiction that is difficult to overcome. But for those who know the risks before they take their first drag, oh well. Now don't get me wrong I have no intention of haunting the cigarette companies when I leave this place, nor will I expect my family to sue them on my behalf.

I also agree that the monies from the State lawsuits should be designated for items such as you suggest, but private suits should be awarded to the plaintiff's (sp) with no strings attached.

{"commentId":4337992,"threadId":"436785","contentId":"2185609","authorDomain":"ravenwing5910"}

1 vote

#5.5 - Sun Dec 7, 2008 11:07 PM EST

{"commentId":4337280,"authorDomain":"kenyon-1"}

kenyon-1

Jae-walker and I don't always agree 'but this time I do. Even though smoking was promoted as late as the sixities. everyone knew that it was bad for your health. I actually do remember them refered to as coffin nails when I was in fifth grade. This was the year Kennedy was shot 1963. We knew smoking caused cancer whether or not the tobacco companies admited it.

I smoke and drink , but if my health is impaired from my choices it's my own fault and no one else's. I take full responsibility for my choices in life.

{"commentId":4337280,"threadId":"436785","contentId":"2185609","authorDomain":"kenyon-1"}

2 votes

#6 - Sun Dec 7, 2008 10:03 PM EST

{"commentId":4337360,"authorDomain":"jae-walker"}

Jae-walker

I smoke and drink , but if my health is impaired from my choices it's my own fault and no one else's. I take full responsibility for my choices in life.

Thats me in a Nutshell too!

{"commentId":4337360,"threadId":"436785","contentId":"2185609","authorDomain":"jae-walker"}

1 vote

#7 - Sun Dec 7, 2008 10:11 PM EST

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Philip Morris' the tobacco company has declared itself a civil rights victim

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