Durbin urges law giving FDA power over tobacco industry

"Tobacco is the only product in America that is not regulated," Durbin said. "It's time for us to restrict their marketing techniques because their target is our kids." FDA regulation came before Congress in ...

[Pete]

"Tobacco is the only product in America that is not regulated"

Come again? Not regulated? Anyone can buy, sell or advertise it anytime, anywhere with no restrictions?

When will the voters finally get fed up with this embarrassing, self-serving career politician?

[Josh]

Please pass this bill.

[Ron]

Pete wrote:

"Tobacco is the only product in America that is not regulated"
Come again? Not regulated? Anyone can buy, sell or advertise it anytime, anywhere with no restrictions?
When will the voters finally get fed up with this embarrassing, self-serving career politician?

Fed up? People lap this Tobacco Is Evil / For The Children stuff right up. They love it so much that they won't even bother to find it suspicious that Phillip Morris (and probably RJR) are perfectly okay with this.

In any other context, if one said, "Let's help the two dominant players in Market X cement their oligopoly," they would be laughed out of the room.

[politwriter]

Does the FDA regulate alchoholic beverages?

[Robert Salm]

politwriter wrote:

Does the FDA regulate alchoholic beverages?

Yes they do, mostly via warnings when combined with other drugs such as aspirin and other pain relievers. They also approve drugs for alcoholism treatment and regulate alcoholic beverage advertising.

It stands to reason that the FDA should regulate tobacco products since current levels of carcinogens in tobacco products are proven to cause fetal birth defects, emphysema, lung cancer, oral cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, and chronic bronchitis.

[Joe Camel]

doesn't the department of Alcohol. Tobacco, and Firearms ( ATF )
do that?
Durbin also wanted to create a department of egg safety too.
my pints is Durbin keeps wanting more and bigger government.

[bill]

Robert Salm wrote:

<quoted text>
Yes they do, mostly via warnings when combined with other drugs such as aspirin and other pain relievers. They also approve drugs for alcoholism treatment and regulate alcoholic beverage advertising.
It stands to reason that the FDA should regulate tobacco products since current levels of carcinogens in tobacco products are proven to cause fetal birth defects, emphysema, lung cancer, oral cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, and chronic bronchitis.

WOW Robert, with all those side-effects you listed, one would think the good Senator from IL would call for a total ban. Wonder why he doesn't want to ban it?

[Mark]

And this guys is against any security for America!!!!!

Let's get him out of office as well!!!!

[homer]

Turbin Durbin and his Arab Master Tony "Slumlord" Resko need to get out of office before Osama Nobama runs he needs to tell us how much money he has taken on and under the table over the years...corruption is the rule in IL.

[Logical]

Well, the FDA screws up everything else so now Dickie Durbin wants them to totally screw up the tobacco too. Get his ass out of office ASAP.

[Robert Salm]

bill wrote:

<quoted text>WOW Robert, with all those side-effects you listed, one would think the good Senator from IL would call for a total ban. Wonder why he doesn't want to ban it?

According to a recent Houston Chronicle article, those are also some of the same side effects as people living near oil refineries in Baytown and Pasadena, Texas, yet few in congress try to control Big Oil either. It's all about money.

[Robert Salm]

Logical wrote:

Well, the FDA screws up everything else so now Dickie Durbin wants them to totally screw up the tobacco too. Get his ass out of office ASAP.

You're right! Who needs an agency that looks after pharmaceutical companies, product safety and safeguards our food supply? I'm sure everyone would agree with you that the FDA is a big wasted effort.

[Thirdpower]

Not that I'm supporting the tobacco industry but apparently Dick's speech writers used the "Replace Text" function on their computers. Word for word those are the same lines he uses against firearms.