The White House
The Democratic National Committee
The Republican National Committee

August 31, 1999

Gentlemen:

With campaigning underway and election time approaching we wish to express certain concerns regarding the political and social climate in this country.

The anti-tobacco campaign has done more to destroy freedom and damage the democratic process than any other factor within memory. The debate over tobacco is no longer simply about smoking or not smoking, but about fundamental American freedoms, particularly the freedom of the individual to direct his/her own life without undue governmental interference.

Spreading its rhetoric of lies and propaganda, its corruption of scientific principle, its punitive use of taxation and convenient legislation and its total disregard for ethics and democratic process, "politically correct" actions continue to erode American liberty at a deplorable rate.

Being totally excluded from the proceedings in the tobacco settlement tobacco users have been denied due process of the law. Furthermore, exorbitant taxes levied on tobacco products constitutes taxation without representation. We are thus reduced to third class citizenship.

In addition we are systematically preyed upon by a public health industry more intent on official control and the reaping of immense monetary grants than legitimate health concerns. And now, following the lead of the anti-tobacco crusaders, other choices and freedoms are being attacked in other areas of society; other individuals, other businesses and other industries are being unethically discriminated against.

Such treatment is grossly unfair. One might even say it is unAmerican.

This situation can no longer be tolerated!

About twenty-five percent of the population, or approximately 68,305,302 citizens still smoke. (It took a margin of only 47,402,357 votes to elect Bill Clinton in 1996.) We therefore urge you to keep us in mind when considering tobacco legislation in the coming months.

We smoke and we vote!

[signed]