Big Tobacco's "Teacher" Letter Sent out With Fake Signatures

Source from:  healthykids-oregon.org (SALEM, OR) 10/11/2007

Big Tobacco's deceitful campaign against Measure 50 continues. A mass-mailed letter supposedly sent from a Salem teacher named Ben Matthews continues to be received by Oregon voters around the state. However, not only does the letter's envelope use Tobacco lobbyist Mark Nelson's office as the return address, but each letter is signed with a suspiciously different signature. An Oregonian editorial today said the misleading letter along with the suspicious signatures reflects "the pervasive dishonesty of the tobacco industry's Measure 50 campaign." "Big Tobacco has proven once again that they will do anything, say anything and spend anything to protect their profits, even at the expense of Oregon's kids. This letter goes too far by lying to Oregonians," said Cathy Kaufmann, Policy Director of Children First for Oregon and spokeswoman for the campaign. Enditem