Jump to full article: PR Newswire, 2008-08-26
Author: SOURCE Lorillard Tobacco Company
Intro: The Times rejected the letter without a sufficient explanation,
reinforcing its unwillingness to present opposing viewpoints to its
readers. By doing so, The Times has failed to provide a balanced and fair
view of an important issue where an honest review would advance the debate. . . .
Dear Editor:
Your editorial, "Smooth and Dangerous," (August 14, 2008), more
appropriately characterizes the concerted effort being undertaken to target
the companies that manufacture and market menthol cigarettes. It is simply
the latest example of a sophisticated campaign by paternalistic moralists
to take away a smoker's choice to smoke menthol cigarettes, or to smoke at
all, without regard for the facts or for sound science. It is all the more
dangerous because it portends the demise of individual choice.
It comes as no surprise that your paper advocates the regulation of the
tobacco industry by the Food and Drug Administration. . . .
The fact is that the science does not support these claims. Bottom
line, and in your own words, "The [scientific] evidence [for the harmful
effects of menthol] so far is not conclusive." You admit that recent
scientific studies "have found no significant difference in the risk of
disease for smokers who use mentholated cigarettes and those who don't,"
yet you nonetheless advocate for a ban on menthol.
Your attack on menthol is nothing more than an opportunity to gain your
ultimate end, the prohibition of all tobacco products and the establishment
of a tobacco free society. That is the reason you are using the menthol
issue to inflame passions along racial divides, and are making accusatory
statements without foundation. Whether to impose Prohibition on cigarettes
is a debate that we welcome, but it is a debate that needs to be waged on
facts and science. It is a debate that should be settled without
inflammatory and accusatory rhetoric. Editorials like yours only fan the
flames of racism and do not move the cause forward.
The American people deserve to understand that if the anti-tobacco
establishment convinces Congress to first ban menthol and eventually outlaw
all tobacco, other powerful groups will follow to impose their idea of what
is good for us to eat, drink and think. Congress should realize that those
who support a ban on menthol and the unworkable regulation of tobacco that
is currently being considered are really just looking to further their real
agenda, and it won't stop with tobacco.
--Martin L. Orlowsky
Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer
Lorillard, Inc.
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