Each side uses counterfactual thinking in order to lure people into their perspective on the issue. A lot of blame is placed on the tobacco industry for much of the public's health problems. This is used by the President and Congress to cause intergroup bias. Also, counterfactual-thinking causes both sides of the issue to question what could have happened if certain outcomes had occurred in the past. If Camel cigarettes used their original logo of the old man and his cigarettes instead of the colorful cartoon Camel, then the company would most likely not be selling as many cigarettes, especially to minors.
Many products create an image in order to sell their product.
The Marlboro Man portrays a rough and rugged individual smoking the Marlboro product. The implication in this is that you will be rough and tough too if you use their product. By getting the public to think about good, healthy, or interesting things like this, many companies sell their attitude rather than their products. Another factor that we looked at was the idea of authority in this issue. President Clinton, Congress, Senator McCain, and Steven Goldstone all play the role of authority figures.