"Under the auspices of the CPD, debate sites have become corporate carnivals, where sponsoring corporations market their products and propaganda to influential journalists and politicians. In 1992, after providing some $250,000 in contributions to the CPD, cigarette manufacturer Philip Morris won the right to hang a large banner that was visible during post-debate interviews. For the third 2000 presidential debate, Anheuser-Busch, which contributed $550,000 to the CPD, set up several information booths to distribute glossy pamphlets touting the benefits of consuming beer, denouncing 'unfair' beer taxes and calling on the government to 'avoid interfering' with beer drinking. "

Our parent company recently changed its name to Altria Group, Inc. to better clarify its identity as the owner of both food and tobacco companies that manage some of the world’s most successful brands. For more information, please visit www.altria.com.