Bush Tobacco Remark Criticized

Source from:  Cincinnati (OH) Post by Michael Collins  05/19/2004

Kentucky's two Democratic congressmen criticized President Bush Monday for recent remarks in which the president appeared to express opposition to a buyout for the nation's tobacco farmers. Tobacco industry officials in Kentucky, however, reacted with more forbearance, expressing hope that by highlighting the issue, Bush's comments -- combined with remarks by his presumptive Democratic opponent this fall, Sen. John Kerry, on the same subject -- might ultimately benefit tobacco farmers. Reps. Ken Lucas of Richwood and Ben Chandler of Versailles said they were surprised by and disappointed in Bush's comments. Lucas said the president's remarks are an affront to tobacco farmers, who are struggling to stay in business in light of declining cigarette consumption. "Growing tobacco has been the mainstay for thousands of Kentucky farm families for generations," Lucas said. "I'm disappointed in the president's comments about the buyout and the apparent lack of empathy for this very serious problem confronting our farmers." Republican lawmakers from tobacco-producing states have taken the lead on tobacco buyout legislation, Lucas said. "This is a slap in the face to them to find out that the president does not even support a buyout," he said. Chandler spokesman Jason Sauer said, "Certainly, there is no more pressing need for Kentucky farmers than comprehensive buyout legislation. We hope that President Bush's words do not reflect his true position, and that he is willing to work with the bipartisan coalition in Congress that is striving to pass a buyout this year." Bush's remarks, which were made in response to a question from The Post during his campaign swing through western Ohio two weeks ago, have ignited a firestorm of protests in the tobacco community, particularly in North Carolina, where a hard-fought Senate race is under way. Asked about whether there's a need for further government regulation of tobacco and how the interests of long-time tobacco farmers should be balanced against other concerns, Bush replied: "Well, they've got the quota system in place, the allotment system. And I don't think that needs to be changed." Farmers see a buyout of the government-controlled quota system as a way to ease financially strapped growers out of the tobacco business or provide a way for those who wish to continue raising the crop to stay solvent in light of market changes and increased foreign competition. Some insiders say the White House's concerns over a buyout are tied to the cost of the program and the regulation of tobacco by the Food and Drug Administration. Supporters in Congress have argued that the only way a buyout bill can be approved is if the FDA is given greater regulatory authority over tobacco. Kentucky's two senators -- Republicans Mitch McConnell of Louisville and Jim Bunning of Southgate -- are among those leading the push for a tobacco buyout. While the president's remarks brought an outpouring of criticism from other tobacco states, the reaction in Kentucky has been more low-key. Many Kentucky farmers didn't even know about Bush's comments until Kerry announced last week that he supports a tobacco buyout, said Danny McKinney, chief executive officer of the Burley Tobacco Growers Cooperative Association in Lexington. Only then did Bush's remarks start to gain some attention, McKinney said. While some interpreted Bush's remarks to mean that he opposes a buyout program, "I didn't read that into it at all," McKinney said. "I just took it that he was not informed about what all we are working on." Bush's staff probably had not anticipated reporters in Ohio asking him about tobacco and had not briefed him on the topic, McKinney said. In fact, however, the Post reporter who interviewed the president had alerted Bush aides several days in advance that tobacco was among the topics he might discuss with Bush. "It's one issue out of 10,000 he's got to deal with," McKinney said. "I assume coming to Ohio, probably the last thing he thought about was tobacco." Regardless, "If it brings it up on the radar screen, what Bush and Kerry said, our farmers will benefit from all of that, I guess," McKinney said. Enditem