Daily Doc: TI, Sep 14, 1989: 1 person, 672 calls
Daily Doc: 1 person, 672 calls
Title: Untitled
TI, Sep 14, 1989
Bates #: TNWL0034897/4898
June 14, 2000
This untitled, handwritten letter reveals an individual attempting to influence a phone-in television news poll that asked viewers to call in and say whether they favored banning smoking on airline flights or not. This informant reports that NO smokers the TV station interviewed at the airport responded that they would stop flying if a smoking ban was enacted. The correspondent writes:
"Alas, the news showed smokers interviewed at Sea-Tac [Seatlle/Tacoma] International Airport. NOT ONE said he/she would refrain from flying! Smokers always seem to be WIMPS when interviewed on TV ..."But the most revealing passage is this one:
"I phoned in 100 times and got the "beep" indicating vote recorded. A friend called in 672 times! I didn't tune into KOMO-TV until around 6:30 PM and as I recall, the poll was 60/40 then! Why no changes by next morning?"It is a homage to tobacco control efforts that two pro-tobacco advocates can generate 772 calls to a phone-in poll in Seatlle in 1989 and the results STILL reflected a landslide in favor of smoking restrictions.
CITATION
Title: Untitled
Type of Document: Handwritten letter
Author: V. Waite
Recipient: K.Mamgren, Tobacco Institute
Date: 19890914
Site: Tobacco Institute Document site: http://www.tobaccoinstitute.com/
Page Count 2
Bates No. TNWL0034897/4898
URL: (you'll have to magnify the document 2x) http://www.tobaccoinstitute.com/getimg.asp?pgno=0&start=0&bool=ACLU%20and%20letter%20&docid=TNWL0034897/4898&docnum=10
Litigation Usage: N/A
Found Using Search Criteria: ACLU and letter
QUOTES
To Kurt Malmgren:
9-12-89 KOMO-TV (ABC) SEATTLE POLL. A poll was taken by phone and I was told the results were 60% to 40% in favor of the airline smoking ban. Alas, the news showed smokers interviewed at Sea-Tac [Seatlle/Tacoma] International Airport. NOT ONE said he/she would refrain from flying! Smokers always seem to be WIMPS when interviewed on TV -- unless the anti-ban types are screened out of the newscast. I have my doubts re: accuracy of the phone poll. I phoned in 100 times and got the "beep" indicating vote recorded. A friend called in 672 times! I didn't tune into KOMO-TV until around 6:30 PM and as I recall, the poll was 60/40 then! Why no changes by next morning? Further, my friend called the following AM and got the beep. No deadline for calls was given - but probably they did not process calls after a certain time...
In closing, I think it's a waste of money to be spending millions on literature to educate smokers because no one believes them if they try to give facts--and when they get on TV, they "fold up" and say what the anti-smokers want (or else the stations just show the wimps).
(Mrs.) Viola Waite
P.S. - Where is the ACLU? This persecution of smokers is the most blantant infringement of smokers rights and manufacturers' rights which has ever occurred in the U.S.!
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