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'Times' Curbs Its First Amendment Enthusiasm When It Comes to Tobacco
New York Times/NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

Posted on 07/23/2006 3:57:51 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest

by Mark Finkelstein

July 23, 2006 - 06:47

Don't the press in general and the New York Times in particular take pride in portraying themselves as ever-the vigilant defenders of the First Amendment? But judging by an editorial in the paper this morning, the Times experiences a power loss worse than the one currently gripping Queens when it comes to defending the First Amendment rights of groups it disfavors, in this case the tobacco industry.

Entitled Take the Tobacco Pledge, the editorial urges ratification of The World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, known colloquially as 'the tobacco treaty.' Here's how the Times describes its provisions:

"Countries that ratify the treaty promise to limit or ban tobacco advertising, promotion and event sponsorship; raise cigarette taxes; enlarge warning labels on cigarette packs; move toward ending smoking in public places; crack down on tobacco smuggling; and make it more difficult for tobacco companies to influence legislation on smoking."

Raising taxes is a no-brainer for the liberals of the Times. But limiting or banning advertising? Isn't that an infringement of First Amendment free speech rights? And making it "more difficult for tobacco companies to influence legislation on smoking" - isn't that a restriction of the First Amendment right to petition the government for the redress of grievances?

How would the Times feel about a treaty that would restrict the ability of newspapers to advertize and make it more difficult for newspapers to influence legislation that concerns the press? What do you call people who sanctimonously cloak themselves in the banner of the Bill of Rights when it comes to defending their own interests, but would deny those same rights to others?


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: bilofrights; constitutionlist; firstamendment; freedomofspeech; nytimes; pufflist; smoking; tobaccoindustry; treasontimes; treaties; un; who
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To: Gabz
You are just too industrious for me today! LOL!

I thought about doing some weeding...then thought again. ;*)

61 posted on 07/23/2006 10:28:49 AM PDT by Just A Nobody (NEVER AGAIN..Support our Troops! www.irey.com and www.vets4Irey.com - Now more than Ever!)
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To: Gabz
One of them actually had the nerve to say that

Yep.....the cop was laughing at them as he asked me for a light. LOL!

62 posted on 07/23/2006 10:29:58 AM PDT by Just A Nobody (NEVER AGAIN..Support our Troops! www.irey.com and www.vets4Irey.com - Now more than Ever!)
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To: Raycpa
It would not have been an issue if smokers adopted the posture and politeness that is offered by pipe and cigar smokers. These smokers have traditionally been very polite in their smoking.

Ray, you have got to be kidding on this one. I'd rather be locked in a room with 10 cigarette smokers than one pipe or cigar smoker. The sickening, cloying smell of most pipe and cigar tobacco would gag a maggot and it just goes on and on and on because it takes them forever to finish it or put it away.

I've also never noticed pipe and cigar smokers being any more or less polite than cigarette smokers. I think you are just reaching here trying to sound less militant while you justify your attitude.

63 posted on 07/23/2006 10:37:03 AM PDT by Elyse
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To: Raycpa
Do not twist MY words for your disinformation purposes.
YOU stated:
On this issue they garner huge majority support

I asked you:
Where are you getting your information?
Where did you come up with this elusive "huge majority support" nonsense?
How was it measured and by whom?

Your response was to elude the questions regarding "huge majority support" by saying I use contradictory logic.

YOU said:
On the one hand there is no majority, on the other hand the majority is because of a propoganda machine.

I never said any such thing. Please read MY words and note they do not contain the word majority or huge majority.
did not have the alleged "support" - AND - The alleged "support"

Ten people out of 100 can "support" something. That does not however, equate to a "huge majority support" by any stretch of the imagination.

64 posted on 07/23/2006 10:57:25 AM PDT by Just A Nobody (NEVER AGAIN..Support our Troops! www.irey.com and www.vets4Irey.com - Now more than Ever!)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
Today happens to be the day that they're running the US Grand Prix Moto-GP race. In a number of countries, tobacco advertising is absolutely forbidden, making racing teams "modify" their bikes and leathers! For example, Here's the Ducati-Marlboro team at some MotoGP tracks:

And here's the same bike at others:

Then there's the Yamaha-Gauloises bike of Valentino Rossi from 2 years ago:

And the same bike for other tracks

And another example from this year, Valentino Rossi's Yamaha-Camel bikes:

And the "PC" version of the team graphics. Notice that they're not even allowed to use the drawing of the camel. Notice it's now a drawing of a motorcycle!

It's really all pretty silly.

Mark

65 posted on 07/23/2006 11:01:50 AM PDT by MarkL (When Kaylee says "No power in the `verse can stop me," it's cute. When River says it, it's scary!)
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To: Just A Nobody

I'm not doing anything outside - it's raining.......sigh


66 posted on 07/23/2006 11:02:47 AM PDT by Gabz (Taxaholism, the disease you elect to have (TY xcamel))
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To: Gabz

Sorry to hear it. It is still wet from the big rain last night. Very cloudy...maybe I'll reconsider later. ;*)


67 posted on 07/23/2006 11:18:02 AM PDT by Just A Nobody (NEVER AGAIN..Support our Troops! www.irey.com and www.vets4Irey.com - Now more than Ever!)
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To: Raycpa

shhhhhhhhhhhh

It's super-secret blackmarket....... for muscle cars....


68 posted on 07/23/2006 11:20:44 AM PDT by 383rr (Those who choose security over liberty deserve neither- GUN CONTROL=SLAVERY)
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To: MarkL
It's really all pretty silly.

I agree.........look at NASCAR - cigarettes can't be sponsors, but beer sure can.....

It makes no sense.

69 posted on 07/23/2006 11:41:07 AM PDT by Gabz (Taxaholism, the disease you elect to have (TY xcamel))
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To: sakic

No children yet.


70 posted on 07/23/2006 12:16:33 PM PDT by Prodn2000
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
What do you call people who sanctimonously cloak themselves in the banner of the Bill of Rights when it comes to defending their own interests, but would deny those same rights to others?

"Liberals". Technically, I call such people hypocrites, but tomato, tomahtto...

71 posted on 07/23/2006 12:18:08 PM PDT by Still Thinking (Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?)
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To: Mears

bump


72 posted on 07/23/2006 3:19:14 PM PDT by Mears
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To: Raycpa
They prefer to have dinner without smoke.

Can't cook without smoke, Ray.

Some of us prefer to have dinner without Pecksniffs.

73 posted on 07/23/2006 6:46:48 PM PDT by elkfersupper
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To: Raycpa
These folks go beyond rude and border on abuse. If they can't even have the decency to refrain from smoking around thier own children, who would expect they have the deceny to respect others without being forced ?

It takes an awful lot of nerve, or a massive ego, or a religious conviction on the smoking question to say something like that, Ray.

Or maybe all of the above.

74 posted on 07/23/2006 6:50:43 PM PDT by elkfersupper
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To: jburkovi; Raycpa
Why should I ask people 20 feet away if I'm in a smoking environment!

Ray would not be happy if you were to light up anywhere in the universe.

75 posted on 07/23/2006 6:57:01 PM PDT by elkfersupper
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To: Abram; albertp; AlexandriaDuke; Allosaurs_r_us; Americanwolf; Americanwolfsbrother; Annie03; ...
Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here
76 posted on 07/24/2006 3:31:34 AM PDT by freepatriot32 (Holding you head high & voting Libertarian is better then holding your nose and voting republican)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
What do you call people who sanctimonously cloak themselves in the banner of the Bill of Rights when it comes to defending their own interests, but would deny those same rights to others?

Communists.
.
77 posted on 07/24/2006 6:49:31 AM PDT by mugs99 (Don't take life too seriously, you won't get out alive.)
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To: seasoned traditionalist

Very well said! FReegards.


78 posted on 07/24/2006 7:44:44 AM PDT by beltfed308 (Nanny Statists are Ameba's.)
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To: Raycpa
As for the taxes, smokers are an easy target because they are addicted and do not reduce their consumption when the tax is increased.

Fair or not we enjoy something called freedom. As a poster said on another thread "it's still a free country". There is no appeasing someone like you and you pettiness will bite you in the ass one day. You throw the term "addiction" around but the same applies to those on medications. What is the difference? One party at least gets to make a choice without your pious opinions. You are an enemy of freedom an need to go live in the biosphere.

79 posted on 07/24/2006 7:53:53 AM PDT by beltfed308 (Nanny Statists are Ameba's.)
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