Mike Pence, the Indiana governor chosen by Donald Trump to be his vice president, wrote while a congressman that warnings about smoking causing cancer deaths is big lie perpetuated by "big government" to control its citizens.
Hillary Clinton's campaign tweeted an excerpt from the Pence column soon after Trump tweeted his vice presidential choice Friday. "Oh, and one time Pence wrote an op-ed titled 'Smoking Doesn't Kill.'" the tweet said.
Oh, and one time Pence wrote an op-ed titled "Smoking Doesn't Kill." pic.twitter.com/5K38GlXO4Y
-- The Briefing (@TheBriefing2016) July 15, 2016
Pence wrote the column after the tobacco industry settled a class action product liability lawsuit with a huge payout and as congress considered new anti-tobacco laws.
"Despite the hysteria from the political class and the media, smoking doesn't kill," Pence said.
He acknowledged that "smoking is not good for you," but argued that anti-smoking campaigns are about "big government" not good health.
The anti-tobacco movement is just a step toward a march to deny Americans everything that's good, he warned. If the government takes your tobacco, they'll go after your fatty foods and caffeine next. "A government big enough to go after smokes is big enough to go after you,"
Clinton is acting quickly to paint Pence as "Donald Trump with a different haircut."
Mike Pence: He's Donald Trump with a different haircut. pic.twitter.com/R2hYduGaym
-- Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 15, 2016
