The Original Tobacco Fighters

Source from:  lakewalesnews.com August 27, 2008 08/29/2008

Floridians have remained politely quiet, but no more. Too many people worked too hard for the heroic statement of John McCain took on "Big Tobacco" to continue, when in truth, Senator and Gov. Lawton Chiles, Buddy Mackay and the great Attorney General Bob Butterworth sued "Big Tobacco" for $400 million to pay for all the lives they had cost. We won the suit. Behind them solidly were youth and adult teams all over Florida who were nationally recognized, going into schools with music, dance, skits, whatever would send the message of "how to combat smoking" and the messages worked. The smoking rate dropped among our young people. Our group in Polk County was SWAT (Students Working Against Tobacco). It was a terrific group of kids and some oldies, me. When the money came it was to be used for prevention, TV spots, etc. Jeb Bush saw it was placed in the general fund. I could not trace its usage . . . maybe another bridge to nowhere. Alabama followed Florida. Maybe John McCain learned a few good lessons from our own fearless "Walking Lawton" and could lead the fight in Arizona. Enditem