Reynolds American Tells Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids: Stick to the Facts

In a press release issued Wednesday, Reynolds American (parent of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company) instructed the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids to "Stick to the Facts."

The Rest of the Story

Reynolds American - I feel your pain.

I've been saying the same thing now for the past two years or so. And no changes were forthcoming.

I have documented, for example, an entire campaign of deception being waged by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids in favor of the proposed FDA tobacco legislation. This campaign has been based not on sticking to the facts, but on wild speculation, exaggerated propaganda, unsupported claims, and outright deception. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, unfortunately, continues to use the same deceptive tactics and has not changed its approach in the two years that I have been writing about its unethical and inappropriate behavior.

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids continues to hide Philip Morris' vigorous support for the legislation, to conceal the process that led to the legislation and to its specific provisions, and to misrepresent what the legislation does. In addition, the Campaign continues to misuse youths, using them as pawns in a political game without informing them of the facts about the legislation. Its entire campaign for the legislation is based on a withholding of facts, rather than sticking to the facts.

To Reynolds American I can only wish that you get a better response than I have obtained. As I think you will realize, asking the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids to stick to the facts is like banging your head against a brick wall.