| For months now, Sen. Jim Bunning's had a hold on the confirmation of pesticide/biotech lobbyist Islam A. Siddiqui as America's Chief Agricultural Negotiator. Now we know why. This is hilarious, only it isn't really.
According to Congressional Quarterly, Bunning wants the U.S. Trade Rep Ron Kirk to stand up for tobacco. Yes, that's right. Canada has banned candy- and fruit-flavored cigarettes (note that is candy-flavored real cigarettes, not candy cigarettes) as they are seen to encourage young people to smoke. Bunning's upset because Canada's ban also applies to "regular cigarettes blended with flavoring ingredients to mask the harsh taste of burley tobacco." And which state is the largest producer of burley tobacco? Kentucky! The home state of Sen. Bunning.
Bunning wants Kirk to file a WTO complaint against Canada for this, which Kirk won't do. For that, Bunning is holding up any nominee that will work for Kirk, including Siddiqui.
In this case, I think it would be hard for me to agree that the enemy of my enemy is my friend. I certainly don't want Siddiqui and his pro-pesticide/biotech views in our government, and I'm both thrilled and amused that Bunning's the one keeping him out (at least temporarily). But how unbelievable that in 2010, a U.S. Senator would be taking such an action because he wants to promote tobacco!!!! |
