HSUS linked to terrorists by CCF in six steps; Now CCF linked to terrorists in just 2!!

December 16, 2008

I can link that group to terrorists in ______ steps, Bob. Tell her what she won!!!!

From Green is the New Red

Center for Consumer Freedom Helps Terrorist Groups Raise Money

Posted: 15 Dec 2008 06:30 AM CST

Last week the Center for Consumer Freedom, an industry front group, took out a full-page ad in The New York Times accusing the Humane Society of the United States of supporting “terrorism.”

Their crime? A speech at a “holiday gala” for a group called the Humane League. If you’re not following, well, you’re not the only one. The ad included a flow chart to explain CCF’s convoluted logic, and their website has a 70-page document trying to support the flow chart.

CCF argues that they connect the Humane Society to bullhorn-wielding “eco-terrorists” in six steps, and in response I created a little contest called “Six Degrees of Consumer Freedom.” I asked you all to trump CCF by connecting them to real terrorists in fewer steps.

I’m proud to say… we have a winner!

Karen left a comment connecting CCF to terrorism in two steps: CCF was created by Philip Morris, and Philip Morris has ties to cigarette smuggling, which directly funds terrorist groups. (Congrats Karen! You’ll be receiving your “domestic terrorist” apron!)

Below, I’ve added in my own research to substantiate the claims.

In 1995, Philip Morris created the Guest Choice Network. It’s a front group that was proposed by Rick Berman in a letter to a Philip Morris executive. Here’s the letter. In January, 2002, the Guest Choice Network renamed itself the Center for Consumer Freedom. Rick Berman is still in charge. Philip Morris has been exposed for its involvement in illegal cigarette smuggling, including smuggling into Iraq in violation of United Nations sanctions. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives says cigarette smuggling funnels millions of dollars to groups like Al Qaeda [see Washington Post, ""Cigarette Smuggling Linked to Terrorism" and the UK Telegraph, "US tobacco companies face claims of smuggling to Iraq," and the six-month investigation by PBS and NOW with Bill Moyers.]

I created this new and improved version of the CCF ad… what do you all think?