US judge sides with tobacco companies and rules graphic warnings violates free speech

[The Straight Story]

US judge sides with tobacco companies and rules graphic warnings violates free speech

(Reuters) - A U.S. judge sided with tobacco companies on Wednesday, ruling that a new regulation requiring large graphic health warnings on cigarette packaging and advertising violates free-speech rights under the U.S. Constitution.

Cigarette makers challenged the U.S. Food and Drug administration's rule requiring companies to label tobacco products with images of rotting teeth, diseased lungs and other images intended to illustrate the dangers of smoking.

"The government has failed to carry both its burden of demonstrating a compelling interest and its burden of demonstrating that the rule is narrowly tailored to achieve a constitutionally permissible form of compelled commercial speech," said Judge Richard Leon in a 19-page ruling.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/29/us-usa-tobacco-labels-idUSTRE81S23820120229

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. so free speech violates free speech? another trip to bizarro world.

[auburngrad82]

2. It's a strange world where silencing free speech is considered defending free speech nt

[meaculpa2011]

4. How does this ruling...

silence free speech?

[meaculpa2011]

3. Huhhhh????????

[11 Bravo]

5. So forced speech is free speech? Bizarro World indeed.

[LanternWaste]

6. It also causes night-sweats, diarrhea, stink-eye, pink-eye, balding, wrinkling of the uterus...

"So forced speech is free speech...?

It also causes night-sweats, diarrhea, stink-eye, pink-eye, balding, wrinkling of the uterus, lead poisoning, three cool forms of carcinoma, and the loss of vision.

Overall-- a win-win for anyone who cannot see context.

[kctim]

7. Good

Was no different than forcing a doctor to show an ultrasound before an abortion.

[frylock]

9. and that's a good thing?!

[kctim]

10. Yes it is

It is no one else's business if I choose to smoke or have an abortion and it is not governments job to convince me otherwise.

[Boojatta]

8. Next we need to get rid of skull and crossbones symbols on labels of poisonous products.

After all, a skull and crossbones symbol can have an emotional impact that interferes with the manufacturer's effort to create a feel-good communication experience with a prospective purchaser of a product.

Instead, I recommend a small print warning along the following lines:

This product is good to drink if you are Socrates. Yes, this product could be an excellent substitute for hemlock. However, the mean-spirited nanny state compels us to inform you that ingestion of this preparation is contraindicated for consumers who don't wish to go to a better place in the near future. In other words, this product has the potential to give you a personal interview with the Creator of the Universe. You have an opportunity to meet your Maker, but the government wants to spoil your fun.