Politicians and their games

A few days ago, I wrote a story about a new ban on smoking in cars when children are passengers. Senator Jenny Oropeza, D-Long Beach, wrote Senate Bill 7 and had her office issue a press release when it was signed into law.

Now, press releases are funny things. They are meant to get out information on an issue, but they are often written by people who have personal, political or monetary stakes in that issue. That sometimes makes the information contained in a press release a bit biased.

Take Oropeza’s press release about the new smoking ban. In the last paragraph, the press release writer – who is working for a Democratic senator – takes a quick jab at the state’s Republican governor.

It read, “Gov. Schwarzenegger, despite being a well-known cigar smoker, signed both AB2067 and SB7. Both measures were supported by numerous health groups.”

Was that piece of information needed? No. Did it make this reporter laugh? Yes.

Schwarzenegger signed this bill, which means he supports it. Actually, I don’t think any elected official would ever come right out and say he or she doesn’t support a bill that is trying to keep youngsters from breathing in cancer-causing second-hand smoke. But this press release writer just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to stick it to the Governator.

And, for the sake of my enjoyment, I couldn’t be happier that he did.