Strickland and Tobacco Money: Big Deal or No?

Some neighbors of ours in Westlake are protesting State Senate candidate Tony Strickland's involvement in $50,000 in tobacco money. Sorry to my friends at The Indy, but is this worse than The Santa Barbara Independent accepting American Spirit ads? As for Strickland, would a truly green entrepreneur do this?

I tend to be a bit more libertarian about this -- they have every right to give and he has every right to accept. That also means we have every right to notice:

PROTEST AGAINST $50,000 TOBACCO DONATION TO VCRCC & TONY STRICKLAND FOR STATE SENATE

We will be protesting the Ventura County Republican Central Committee's acceptance of a $50,000 contribution from Altria (Philip Morris) on behalf of Tony Strickland. We view a contribution of this size as very significant and a further indication that the tobacco industry will continue to attempt to buy politicians in California. No other single company is responsible for more deaths of American citizens. Mitt Romney, keynote speaker at the Strickland fundraiser and on the shortlist for Republican Vice President, should speak out about tobacco and the cancer it continues to spread throughout our Nation.



Date: Tuesday, June 17, 6:00 P.M.

Place: Hyatt Westlake Plaza
880 S. Westlake Blvd.
Westlake Village