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26TOBACCOOUTLETBUSINESSJULYAUGUST2010Thatx19swhytheCRAjustlauncheditsSmoketheVotecampaignx14whichitisdubbingthex1clargestpoliticaleffortincigarenthusiasthistory.x1dAccordingtoapressreleaseputoutbyBrianBermantheCRAx19sdirectorofmembershipx1cAswereflectonthehitsandslapswetookfrom2007to2009itx19sourmomenttobeginafightbackforfreedomanddefenseofpropertyrightswardingofflocalstateandfederalgovernmentregulationordinancesthatdictatewherewecanenjoyacigarandanefforttodefeatoneroustaxationthatresultsonlyinfurthereconomicharmuponourcommunities.Nowisourtime.x1dHefurtherbelievestheFDAisdeterminedtobringcigarsunderitsdomainx1cpotentiallyrippingthecultureandsoulfromthisindustry.x1dLocalstateandfederaleffortstofurthertaxthislegalproductuponwhichthousandsofjobsaredependentwillnotceasehemaintains.x1cAndwhiletheyx19retaxingtheywanttobanx14theultimateoxymoroninthepoliticalprocess.x1dSowhatistheCRAx19sprimaryplanofattackItintendstomakeanimpactonelectionsthroughitsSmoketheVotegrassrootsnetwork.x1cAllweneedisbasiccontactinformationforeverypassionatecigarsmokerinAmericaandwecanchangesomeelectionsx1dsaysBerman.x1cFrom25000to50000andoffto100000andmorewecanbegintheprocessofrollingbacktaxationandsmokingbanregulationsappealforamendmentstoexistinglawsandsendamessagethatspansfromMainStreetUSAtoeachendofPennsylvaniaAvenue.x1dStartingwiththecampaignandworkingitswaytothefallelectionstheCRAplanstokeeptheindustrypostedoncriticalracesthroughoutthenationfocusingontheU.S.HouseofRepresentativestheU.S.SenateandtheGovernorx19sOfficeineachstate.x1cWex19llletyouknowabouttheirrecordsandsuggestthosewhowouldmostbenefitthispassionforcigarswesharex1drelaysBerman.x1cWex19llletyouknowaboutthevoterregistrationstateandfederalissueupdatesandhowwex19regrowingthisbaseofcigarvoters.x1dItistheCRAx19sintenttoflexitspoliticalmusclex14andworktobuildnewcoalitionswithotherlike-mindedgroupsandalliesx14forthesakeofcigars.x1cWex19veallheardstoriesofthecloseelectionx1dBermansays.x1cGeorgeW.BushbeatAlGoreinFloridaby537votesx14whichallowedPresidentBushtotwicevetoSCHIPtaxes.In1974JohnDurkinwonaU.S.SenateseatinNewHampshirebytwovotes.A2008electiontoCongressinAlaskawasdecidedbyonevoteanda2007statesenateprimaryinVirginiawasdecidedby75voteswhenalocalcigarshopownerralliedcustomerstobeattheadvocateofasmokingban.x1cItistimetochangethecigarpoliticalcalculusinAmericax1dhecontinues.x1cWiththeranksoftheCRAgrowingthroughoutthecountryweareenteringapivotaltimeinprotectingoneofthegreatpleasuresoflifex14afinecigar.x1dTobaccoretailerscanstarttheprocesswithaphonecall.x1cEveryretailershouldbeonthephonetomembersofCongresstoleavecigarsalonex1dsaysLoope.x1cTheyarenotmarketedtochildrenandthereisnohealththreatpresentedbycancerorganizations.GiventhattheFDAhasopenlysaiditsobjectiveistopreventhabitualsmokingandsellingtounderageindividualsx14neitheroneofthosecomesintoplaywiththecigarindustry.Childrenarenotbuyingfive-totwenty-dollarcigarsthecigarindustrydoesnotmarkettothatdemographicandtheyx19renothabit-forming.Thatx19sthemessageweneedtogetouttotheFDAbuttheyhavetohearitfrompowersgreaterthanourselvesandthatx19sCongress.x1dThewayDaveRiservicepresidentofexternalrelationstrademarketingforR.J.ReynoldsTobaccoCo.seesitx1cPoliticalinvolvementisnolongeraluxuryinthisindustrybutanecessity.x1dHesaysthatbybeingpoliticallyinvolvedx1cWecanhelpshapethefuturelegislativelandscapeoritwillbeshapedforus.Therewillbebumpsintheroadbutweasmanufacturersandretailersoftobacconeedtobeprogressiveinourapproachesandincorporatepoliticalinvolvementintoourbusinessmodels.x1dTOBx1cPoliticalinvolvementisnolongeraluxuryinthisindustrybutanecessity.x1d