TOBACCO SHILL

Editor -- Carolyn Lochhead's June 7 shrill column on tobacco smoking
research and legislation made no sense, ignores the documented record and
defies all logic.

In making groundless and sophomoric accusations against public health
advocates, she blatantly ignores the obvious fact it's the tobacco industry
that has a well-worn pattern of making up or distorting statistics and
misusing science to cover-up the health dangers and addictiveness of
smoking, and that it targets children in its marketing.

As a typical tobacco industry shill, Ms. Lochhead ignores the scientific
consensus that increasing the price of cigarettes through increased excise
taxes reduces tobacco consumption among teens and adults.

The tobacco industry is currently orchestrating a masterful national public
relations campaign of misinformation and deceit to get special protection
and treatment from Congress. It appears Ms. Lochhead and The Chronicle are
acting as tobacco industry surrogates in this campaign.

RICK KROPP
Santa Rosa

Checked-by: (Joel W. Johnson)