I wondered if they were airing those ads because either (1) the government made them do it or (2) their lawyers suggested they do it.
Even if that's not the case, I wouldn't call them hypocrites. They're selling a product that some people want. If they want to give potential customers the chance to make a fully-informed decision, that's not necessarily hypocritical. That's just free enterprise.
How could it be free enterprise if the government forced them to do it?
I've referred to Philip Morris as hypocritical on many occassion, and at times have wondered if I was right.
I have finally come to the conclusion that I am because they choose to protect themselves to the detriment of their customers.
Everything PM has done in recent years, in regard to it's tobacco business, has been against the very people that keeps hurting that segment of their business viable. They don't give a flying flip about the people who purchase their tobacco products.......they just want to make sure that most users of tobacco products purchase only theirs.
they work with governments to accomplish this.......they don't oppose bans and they don't oppose tax increases.....and in exchange they get deals to enact laws that in the end hurt little guys., and always the consumer.
I watched them do it in Delaware and I'm now seeing it in Virginia.