Our good friend, Bob Moffitt of the American Lung Association, turned up again over at MinnPost. Since I don’t know if they will publish my comment over there, I thought I would repost my comment here with the hopes of shedding some light on things.
Originally from the comments on: High drama in the courts: Bar owners try to skirt state’s smoking ban
Bob’s comment:
“People are under economic stress and they don’t have their regular watering hole to go to.”
Actually, they do. They are all smokefree now. In spite of the lousey weather this weekend, Spring is coming, and all smokers need do is move to the exit and enjoy their cigarette al fresco, providing a safer and healthier environment inside for the hospitality workers, musicians and patrons who work there.
We have seen these type of cheap theatrics before, and as Judith mentioned, they always fail.
I’m a Minnesotan — a veteran and a regular Joe (well, a regular Bob) who enjoys the VFW AND the Guthrie. See my counter to Mr. Benjamin’s points on this KSTP-TV story:
http://kstp.com/article/stories/S368429.shtml?cat=206
Bob Moffitt
Communications Director
American Lung Association of Minnesota
And my response:
The problem with Bob is that he refuses to admit that this is a power grab. He’s not only a spineless coward who refuses to engage any of us in a legitimate discussion, debate, casual conversation, pissing contest, whatever. He’s also an embarrassment. As a Veteran myself, I would not want to associate with somebody who enjoys the freedoms and rights that they served for but refuse to allow other the same privilege.
But I have a theory as to why Bob and his friends act the way they do. I think that they know that this isn’t a health issue and it never was. They know that this is about power and control. They know that if they didn’t have the money and the backing of their government lackeys and the media covering for them that they wouldn’t be in the position they are in. That is why they are quick to snap little smartass quips at us or to denounce us through the local news media, but when push comes to shove they somehow manage to disappear only to resurface again in an op-ed or a news at 10 puff piece.
Well, now is your chance, Bob. Step up to the plate and admit that you get a little a little pleasure from hurting others like this. You enjoy the power you have over smokers, don’t you? Don’t be shy. Who can blame you? It’s human nature to enjoy exerting power and force over another group of people – especially when you can hurt people that don’t fit into your ideological perspective. We won’t hold it against you, Bob, we just want to hear you say it.
Cheers!
-Ryan from Ban the Ban Wisconsin
Filed under: Defiance, Minnesota Ban News, Small Business Owners, anti insanity, health issues | Tagged: ALAMN, american lung association, bob moffit, minnesota smoking ban, smoking bans, theatre nights
Update:
Well, the “friends” in the media strike again. The comment above was on MinnPost for less than an hour before somebody over there removed it.
Personally, I don’t see why they removed it. I don’t see any harm in it.
But it’s just as I called it. Bob and those like him derive their power from those who back them and those who cover for them on the front end.
I don’t know if Moffitt saw the post before it was deleted or not, but his friends did their job once more.