Fox News: John Stossel supporting e-cigarettes

[Petrodus]

KUDOS to all who sent emails to Stossel

Why is it absolutely critical to our movement to throw our entire support behind high profile (spokespersons) for our movement?

Our movement began by spreading the truth by word of mouth.

A couple of friends who smoke come over to our house. We show the E-cigarette and pass on information and they are converted.

In sales we refer to that as a 2 for 1
2 sales with 1 presentation

High Profile spokespersons for vaping in just 1 TV spot will influence THOUSANDS to try E-cigarettes. Those that try E-cigarettes will tell everyone they know... and those tell their friends... ETC.

Stossel promoting vaping... Thousands for 1

Same scenario when Katherine Heigl appeared on the Late Show
and each time Limbaugh promotes vaping on his show.

We should not assume that high profile people (even those reporting the news) have all the facts or should we assume they feel they have the support of their peers.

They have those they report to and they have friends and associates in their network which will question and even ridicule them (on many levels). They need to be able to say... I have hundreds of emails with testimonials as well as documentation to counter the lies and misinformation. They need support to encouraging them to continue and influence others to promote the truth.

What do our spokespersons need?

Testimonials ... LOTS of Testimonials
Documentation and Research
Understand why there are those opposing E-cigarettes
Common lies and misinformation and the truth
Names of the groups opposing vaping and why

CASAA and other volunteers (on the record) willing
and ready to supply any information and research.
NOTE: CASAA already contacted Stossel

Future fights like King County (just to mention 1 of many)... Might be avoided, or positively influenced, IF we have numbers of well-informed high profile advocates.

The public and business' and our elected officials are influenced by high profile spokespersons on TV and Radio promoting vaping and spreading the truth especially when they see and hear them joking about the lies and misinformation.

Those who haven't sent emails to Stossel... Please send him one. The emails do not have to be eloquently written with tons of information. If you don't feel comfortable quoting facts and research... Email him with your testimonial and add thanks for putting the truth on TV. Then post on this thread "Email Sent".

Many times after I post I wish I said something differently or wish I included or excluded this or that... Others can post corrections and fill in those blanks.

 

[Crumpet]

I think he would be a good mouthpiece for the concept of Harm Reduction as well. Particularly so if he looks at it through the lens of fear mongering from the antis and how they oppose real possibilities to improve public health when it offends their 'social' agenda.

 

[legbuh]

You know, Stossel is on FB too... maybe "like" him and start posting on his board!

I too found it funny how he dragged on the e-cig and little vapor came out... he was hot boxing it! lol... But the rep there took a nice slow long one, inhaled and still got a good exhale out if it... too funny.

 

[MrBobVapor]

I solute you John Stossel.

 

[MrBobVapor]

My 2 cents....

Mr. Stossel,

Thank you for presenting the electronic cigarette (E-Cig) on Varney & Co. This product is saving my life. I am asking, please, conduct an in-depth TV report on it and bring to light the do justice that this product deserves. This product is clearly safer than "real" smoking and yet there are so many organizations that want it banned. It's time that the story of the E-Cig is told by a competent individual. Thank you.

 

[legbuh]

Seems a lot are talking about an intro to his show on Varney's show.. the full show was on Fox News Business on his own show "Stossel". It's replayed many times until his new one on Thursday, so set your DVRs.

 

[Bill Godshall]

Thulium wrote:
Other than the FDA's conflicts of interest, you don't really need to dig very far to see who is pushing for these bans: The National Association of Attorney Generals receives $25 Million annually through the Master Settlement Agreement funds from the sale of cigarettes.

Do you have any evidence the NAAG has publicly opposed the sale or usage of e-cigarettes?
While several State AGs sued SE and NJOY (e.g. CA, OR) or have taken other actions against e-cigarettes (CT), I wasn't aware that NAAG took any actions.

Petrodus wrote that e-cigarette prohibitionists would be writting letters to Stossel. But I doubt that they'll waste their time doing that.

 

[Thulium]

Thulium wrote:
Other than the FDA's conflicts of interest, you don't really need to dig very far to see who is pushing for these bans: The National Association of Attorney Generals receives $25 Million annually through the Master Settlement Agreement funds from the sale of cigarettes.

Do you have any evidence the NAAG has publicly opposed the sale or usage of e-cigarettes?
While several State AGs sued SE and NJOY (e.g. CA, OR) or have taken other actions against e-cigarettes (CT), I wasn't aware that NAAG took any actions.

Not NAAG itself, I just found it interesting that it is Attorney Generals that administer the portion of MSA funds that are distributed to the individual states...and it just happens to be AG's who are pushing for e-cig restrictions.

Petrodus wrote that e-cigarette prohibitionists would be writting letters to Stossel. But I doubt that they'll waste their time doing that.

Agreed. I would only suspect Stossel to receive negative letters (if any) from individuals who stubbornly and mistakenly believe that vapor must be as dangerous as smoke just because it looks like smoking, but many of those people aren't looking for a complete ban. True prohibitionists have a financial interest in keeping 46 million Americans on the Smoke-Quit-Relapse Merry-Go-Round.

 

[Crumpet]

Here's mine:

Dear Mr. Stossel:

First of all, allow me to tell you how much I have enjoyed your segments on 20/20 over the years. Your contributions and perspective have always been both informative and entertaining and I'm glad to see you have a new home on Fox News which will hopefully provide exposure to newer viewers while continuing to engage those of us who are familiar with your provocative style of reporting. Your willingness to tackle controversial topics and challenge the status quo has not gone unappreciated.

Your recent segment on electronic cigarettes was a breath of fresh air (pardon the pun). Those of us in the e-cig community, or vaping community as we refer to it, have been very pleased to see your approach to the issue of smoking alternatives. We have become accustomed to seeing knee-jerk sound bite reports of the copy and paste variety, most of which is slanted negatively towards these devices we have come to love so much. Since we live in a sound bite world we know how many members of the general public will not think critically when they hear or read a negative report and that most will not bother to seek out information for themselves. The FDA and the pharmaceutical industry have a vested interest in minimizing consumer access to electronic cigarettes, as do rabid anti-tobacco groups who rely on donations from the pharmaceutical industry and will oppose any product that threatens their stream of revenue. Likewise, we have a government that tells us how important it is for Americans to quit smoking while raking in billions in tax revenues from the sale of cigarettes. The electronic cigarettes (or personal vaporizers, a more accurate term) pose the biggest threat that the tobacco and pharmaceutical industries have ever seen. Our community is seeing cessation rates of around 80% even for people who did not initially purchase e-cigs with the intent of quitting smoking altogether. Smokeless alternatives have been shown to reduce health risks by 98-99% compared to smoking and we are concerned about the resistance from anti-smoking groups who would lump all nicotine containing products into the same dangerous category. The concept of Harm Reduction offers a very tangible way to improve the health of all people without endangering the health of others the way second hand smoke does. Now these folks want to demonize anything that even looks like smoking or contains nicotine regardless of the impact on public health. In the absence of any real public health concerns these groups have morphed into social activists who want to utilize the momentum gained when they opposed second hand smoke to now create policy that supports their idea of how society should look. This includes trying to disallow vaping in public places because they think vaping promotes an image that they don't approve of. This tells me they stopped being about health a long time ago and are now in the business of social engineering in the most paternalistic way imaginable. Those who oppose harm reduction are very similar to those who oppose comprehensive sex education in favor of abstinence only sex education in that they believe that informing the public about how they can minimize their chances of disease while continuing to use smokeless products will encourage people to behave in a way that they don't find morally appropriate. That is not the job of public health officials and just because the tobacco industry lied for so long it doesn't make it acceptable for these groups to take their turn lying to the American public about very real options for improving their health.

I hope you will take time to visit the Electronic Cigarette Forum (ECF). We have 50,000 members worldwide and many members are very impressed with your recent report. Please read all the success stories posted there.They are real and heartfelt. I have been vaping for 6 months, as have my husband and mother. The transition from smoking has been painless and quite enjoyable and we have all seen friends be able to stop smoking for the first time in their lives with the help of these devices. Electronic cigarettes are saving lives and actually letting us continue to enjoy our lives while we leave behind a dangerous and costly habit. I suspect we are enjoying ourselves just a bit too much for the anti-nicotine brigade who seems to be quite annoyed that we have found a way to have our cake and eat it,too. They honestly seem angry with us as though we have gotten away with something when we are supposed to be suffering,relapsing and struggling to correct a bad decision we made years ago. Imagine that!

Happy New Year to you and thank you for letting me tell you my side of the story.

 

[Brewlady]

Great letter, Crumpet. Thanks for sharing it with us!

 

[Brutus Buckeye]

Man I wish I could go back and redo mine, it pales in comparison to these. Nice job!

 

[BCB]

I sent a testimonial about having accidentally quit smoking (after 46 years).

 

[Rosco]

This is excellent. I was not aware of this program. That's what happens when I don't get to watch TV I guess. Since I am getting ready to retire, I will send John an email as well. Military personnel sadly have to "stand down" when it comes to important issues such as this one. So....of course, this is strictly only my own opinion. There, my disclaimer, so it's all cool now.
Last week I became a supporting member of CASAA because I wanted to "put my money where my mouth is". I would encourage everyone concerned about this issue to do the same. If we aren't united - we aren't squat.
Vape on Crew.

 

[MalabarFront]

Agreed. I didn't see this show but if this was supposed to be some kind of showcase of the FDA overstepping its bounds, I wish they would dig a little deeper and uncover how the pharmaceutical companies are really pulling the strings.

I believe that if my personal freedom to choose e-cigarettes is taken away, the FDA official that does it will only be a patsy -- the true responsible parties will be some very wealthy people who control the (legal) drug trade and hate the idea that something is moving in on their territory.

 

[Petrodus]

I believe that if my personal freedom to choose
e-cigarettes is taken away...

The FDA refers to the Bill of Rights as
the Bill of Temporary Privileges

 

[MalabarFront]

Nah, sorry, that was George Carlin.

This is the Kansas City Shuffle, my friend. Government policy makers may be deluded but they can be reined in; it's the people behind the money that will decide whether you get to keep your freedoms or not.

 

[Petrodus]

Nah, sorry, that was George Carlin.

This is the Kansas City Shuffle, my friend. Government policy makers may be deluded but they can be reined in; it's the people behind the money that will decide whether you get to keep your freedoms or not.

Your right...that was a George Carlin line about temp privileges

"The Kansas City Shuffle"....
Are you saying George Carlin (years ago) was
telling us the truth?

Disclaimer:
If you find swear words offensive
Do NOT watch the video

 

[MalabarFront]

What I'm saying is that it's the job of certain people in the media to get you to look to the left while the people that really run things hit you from the right. Government - easy target - who doesn't hate the tax man, right? It appeals to our natural tendency to look for an easy-to-understand villain. The people that really have no concern for our rights and well-being are harder to detect, they masquerade as champions of "liberty" and they wrap themselves in the flag.

But back to the topic, I agree that we as a community need to keep the pressure on the FDA. But we also need to understand that the businesses that direct their research, that keep a stream of industry lackeys going through the revolving door, are the ones we really need to keep an eye on.