Like many people, my first reaction on seeing Herman Cain’s bizarre campaign video was that it had to be a hoax.

I mean, come on. Who could ever consider Mark Block — twitching and shaking his head spasmodically, speaking with a weird flat affect and nicotine-stained teeth, then taking a drag off a cigarette — to be a good spokesman for a presidential campaign?

Answer: Herman Cain, that’s who.

For those who doubted its authenticity, Mr. Block has weighed in with an e-mail to the CBS News senior political writer Caroline Horn: “Only comment is – I smoke. Its a choice. It’s Block being Block.”

Could this mean that the right wing will now revive their pro-tobacco “smoking is good for you!” campaigns? It wouldn’t be difficult; the propaganda machines are still in place. They simply shifted focus to denying global warming.