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Posted on 10/08/2003 6:12:41 PM PDT by SheLion
AUGUSTA - A $30,000 ad announcing Maine's recently enacted smoke-free bingo hall law will finish its one-month run this Sunday. But that's not soon enough for Michael Heath, executive director of the Christian Civic League of Maine. Heath said Tuesday the radio ad crosses the line by glamorizing bingo gambling and sending a mixed message to listeners.
"This is a gambling promotion ad - not a stop-smoking ad," Heath said in a telephone interview.
Underwritten with a fraction of the millions of dollars Maine receives annually under its tobacco settlement agreement with cigarette makers, the Partnership For A Tobacco-Free Maine ad describes bingo as "a game wildly popular in the state of Maine." After listing a variety of bingo games, the spot announces the latest variation known as "smoke-free bingo" that began when the law became effective Sept. 13.
"The new law means more people can play who couldn't play before - like those with chronic lung conditions," the narrator states on the ad. "It's good news for anyone who would rather take their chances with a game, not their health. Smoke-free bingo. It's a whole new game beginning September 13."
Heath said the ad seemed at odds with Baldacci's state policy on gambling and not the best use of money that's supposed to discourage smoking - "not promote gambling."
"This is an irresponsible use of the tobacco settlement money," he said.
Dr. Dora Mills, director of the Bureau of Health which oversees operation of the Partnership For A Tobacco-Free Maine, disagreed with Heath's assessment of the advertising campaign, which she said was designed to reach an audience that might not be aware of changes in the smoking laws. Mills said that until Heath questioned the ad, she had received no negative comments about the promotion.
"The goal was not to promote bingo playing per se, it was simply a twofold goal: one to inform the public of the new law, which we have an obligation to do, and the second is to provide the reasons for the law and remind people that secondhand smoke is a health issue," she said. "The main message of the ad is a health message."
Why DON'T they tell it like it is...........THE SMOKERS WHO PAY TAXES ON CIGARETTES ARE PAYING FOR THE TOBACCO SETTLEMENT. NOT THE GOVERNMENT AND NOT BIG TOBACCO. THE SMOKERS!!!!!!!!!!
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FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
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AND SAY THANKS TO JIM ROBINSON! It is in the breaking news sidebar! |
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The Newspeople don't WANT to tell the general public the truth! And the general non-smoking public believe that the money is coming from Big Tobacco!
WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CAll the lawmakers and the Boards of Health what you may, but Satan can be included in those names!
They have to spend the money somewhere and you damn sure know they aren't going to spend it on cessation programs.
That might knock down the take from the marks.
Call me paranoid but that's basically what's happening.
Heath said the ad seemed at odds with Baldacci's state policy on gamblingWho is Baldacci? Looks like a poor editing job. (The original reference to Baldacci was removed and this reference wasn't fixed.)
FWIW, I smoked for 35 years before quitting cold turkey in 1999. So believe me I know how hard it is to quit. And that there are many smokers who don't want to quit. I sympathize with the onerous taxes smokers are paying now. Companies, including tobacco companies, have no money except that paid to them by users of their products. Thus it's the smokers, chewers and snuffers that are paying the "tobacco settlement." The cartoon above nailed it perfectly.
Baldacci is our DemocRAT Governor! ugh!
I have gone round and round with him for 10 years(even when he was a Maine Senator) about the smoking issues. He HATES smokers! He stands about 5'3'.
Right you are, the last thing they want, is for us to quit smoking.
By the way, most bingo halls in my town, has already closed, the ones just out of town, are booming.
I laugh every time I hear the "smoke-free Bingo" ad - soon to become "player-free Bingo."
I'm with Darlene Brennan, smart woman.
~sigh..............they misquoted me. I never mentioned drinking. I'm not even sure if you CAN drink alcohol in a bingo hall. But smoking was ALWAYS allowed.
Another misconception: I am no longer apart of Forces. I have my own Maine Smoker's Rights! Check out my links!
Darlene Brennan - The Smoker's Club, Inc. - New England Regional Director
The United Pro Choice Smokers Rights Newsletter - http://www.smokersclubinc.com
Maine Smokers Rights - http://www.geocities.com/shelioness/mainerights.html
mailto:darlene@maine.rr.com - Respect Freedom of Choice!
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