Corporate lies: Tobacco Department. And a Slap on the Wrist

Yesterday Federal Judge Gladys Kessler ruled that "smoking causes disease, suffering, and death," and that tobacco companies were gulping profits like a Hummer gulps gas, “with little, if any, regard for individual illness and suffering, soaring health costs, or the integrity of the legal system.”

The defendants are Philip Morris USA Inc. and its parent, Altria Group Inc.; R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.; Brown & Williamson Tobacco Co.; British American Tobacco Ltd.; Lorillard Tobacco Co.; Liggett Group Inc.; Counsel for Tobacco Research-U.S.A.; and the now-defunct Tobacco Institute.

She added that "Over the course of more than 50 years, defendants lied, misrepresented and deceived the American public, including smokers and the young people they avidly sought as 'replacement smokers,' about the devastating health effects of smoking and environmental tobacco smoke."

She isn't kidding. But are you aware of the extent of what the tobacco companies told us was true about cigarettes?

Kirven Blount, in his book, "What's Your Poison: Addictive Advertising of the '40s- '60s," reprints dozens of cigarette ads. The outrageous lies the tobacco companies told us are astounding, given what we know about cigarettes, and the fact that they knew those same facts when these ads were written. Forget the Marlboro Man and the "image" ads, these are very specific.

Take the Camel Brand. No cute cartoon characters back then. Nope, just statements like (all caps and capitalizations as they appear in the ad):

"According to a recent Nationwide survey:
MORE DOCTORS SMOKE CAMELS THAN ANY OTHER CIGARETTE
EVERY DOCTOR IN PRIVATE PRACTICE WAS ASKED"

There's a photo of a grandfatherly "doctor" in one ad and a female "doctor" in another. In other Camel ads:

"28% LESS NICOTINE EXTRA COOLNESS FLAVOR"

And testimonials:

"Vivian Blaine says; 'I've tried the different mildness tests. My throat made my choice….CAMELS!' Not one single case of throat irritation due to smoking CAMELS."

"These smokers gave CAMELS 30-YEAR Mildness Tests."

"'My voice is my living'…says Vaughn Monroe radio and recording star."
Below it there's a word balloon coming out of Vaughn's mouth.
" …so it's only common sense that I smoke the cigarette that agrees with my throat…CAMEL!"

They cap it off with these lines:
"Not one single case of throat irritation due to smoking CAMELS
Make a note…Remember Your Throat"

"Camels agree with more people than any other cigarette."

And, apparently Camels are good for your psychological well-being:
"WATCH YOUR NERVES…LET UP…LIGHT A CAMEL
In hazardous jobs—in every-day 'grinds"—smokers say 'CAMELS ARE SOOTHING TO THE NERVES.'"

They were not alone. Philip Morris pulled this out of their corporate asses:

"DO YOU INHALE?
All smokers do—some times. And inhaling increases the chance of smoking-irritation.
Reported by eminent medical authorities is this vital difference between Philip Morris and four other leading cigarettes. On comparison, the other four brands averaged 235% more irritant than the strikingly constrained Philip Morris.
Further—the irritant effect of the four other leading brands was found to last more than five times as long! You can't see this difference…but you can feel it, especially when you inhale! That's vital to all who smoke.
Especially if you inhale—Call for Philip Morris! Enjoy the world's finest tobaccos—with no worry about throat irritation.

MEDIAL AUTHORITIES KNOW THIS ONE IS SUPERIOR--- PHILIP MORRIS
Scientifically proved less irritating to the nose and throat.
When smokers changed to Philip Morris, substantially every case of irritation of the nose and throat---due to smoking---cleared up completely, or definitely improved!
This is from the findings of distinguished doctors, in clinical tests of men and women smokers---reported in an authoritative medical journal. Solid proof that this finer-tasting cigarette is less irritating to the nose and throat."

It is one thing to cover up the fact that your product is a major cause of DEATH and DISEASE, but it's another to ACTIVELY tell you it doesn't.

A news story yesterday said, "Mark Smith, a spokesman for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company…said, the company was disappointed by Kessler's finding that the companies had conspired to violate federal law and deceive consumers." This goes to show you that they haven't stopped lying. Consider these Chesterfield ads:

They got SINGERS to endorse the cancer sticks.
"'You might say I'm careful, that's why I say Chesterfields SATISFY me!' Rise Stevens (autograph) Metropolitan Operas World Famous Carmen"

"MILDNESS—plus No Unpleasant After-taste *
* from the report of a well-known research organization…and only Chesterfield has it!"

"Hundreds of prominent tobacco growers say: 'When I apply the Standard Tobacco Growers' Test to cigarettes, I find Chesterfield is the one that smells Milder and smokes Milder.'"

"Only Chesterfield is Made the Modern way---with ACCU RAY to bring you SMOOTHER, COOLER SMOKING than was every before possible."

Accu-ray, how space-age.

They all seem to acknowledge that cigarettes make you feel bad, but they all claim that THEIRS doesn't. Take Pall Mall:

"Guard Against Throat-Scratch
…smoke PALL MALL the cigarette whose mildness you can measure.
Outstanding…and they are mild!"

The problem with the ruling yesterday is that the death-dealing liars got to keep their money. No reparations for killing your parents and grandparents. This is thanks to the Bush administration. The justice department tried to keep the damage to their corporate masters as minimal as possible. They succeeded.

Tomorrow, nobody will remember this story.

Just add it to the list of lies, lies and more lies. They don't mind killing you for money. Remember that in November. They don't mind killing you for money.

They've merely stopped telling us that we'll get pleasure from it as they did in this Camel ad:

"IT'S A PSYCHOLOGICAL FACT: PLEASURE HELPS YOUR DISPOSITION
For more pure pleasure…have a CAMEL"

They use fear now, not pleasure. The lies are the same, however. And they're from the same folks.

this also appears on huffingtonpost.com