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• Philip Morris a sponsor of Illinois' delegation 

Democrats, including some prominent members of the Illinois delegation, have been among the harshest critics of the tobacco giant and other cigarette companies, but Philip Morris was among the sponsors listed on a banner that hung behind speakers at the delegation's opening breakfast on Monday. That made some of them uncomfortable. "I've made it clear to the national and state leaders if it were my decision I would take all the tobacco money out of this convention," said Sen. Dick Durbin, a well-known anti-tobacco crusader. "I think these people should be out of the picture." Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. of Chicago said the Philip Morris sponsorship was "not necessarily a good idea, considering the impact, the role ... that tobacco has had in misleading the American people. It looks like politicians are on the side of big tobacco, which is not right." But Illinois Democratic Party Chairman Michael Madigan pointed out that Philip Morris makes more than just cigarettes. Along with Marlboros, it also churns out Maxwell House coffee, Jell-O and other food products. Its Kraft foods division is based in Northfield, Ill.

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I have not received a contribution myself from Philip Morris. I do know that they have a number of other companies other than just tobacco. They have cookies. Some of us like cookies. We would accept contributions from the cookie dimension of Philip Morris, but not necessarily the tobacco.
DNC Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. of Chicago. ECKERT, T., <I>Philip Morris a sponsor of Illinois' delegation</I>