Cigar enthusiast Rush Limbaugh provided some commentary on this week’s show for ‘our side of the story,’ on proposed regulations for cigars in America . He stated:
“…It’s all about control. It’s all about… (sigh) I don’t know. I grow weary. It’s not the only thing. Here’s National Review today: “By proposing a ban on large sodas in New York City , Mayor Bloomberg made himself a competitive candidate for Chairman of the Anti-Fun Committee. But the FDA just might have him beat: They’ve moved to regulate cigars as they already do cigarettes.” We knew this was coming.
Just a second. My cigar happens to have gone out. (torch igniting) So I, El Rushbo, am gonna torch it up here. And I’m gonna puff on this baby while I tell you what the details of this story are. (puffing) All right. “Representative Bill Posey (R., Fla.) has introduced legislation, currently before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, to block the FDA’s effort.” So far, so good. He’s got “203 co-sponsors in the House and nine in the Senate, including Bill Nelson (D., Fla.), who has introduced a version in the [Senate].”
What they want to do is regulate cigars identically to the way they regulate cigarettes: Warnings, bans, can’t smoke them anywhere, can’t touch them. This FDA rule would prevent people from going into a tobacco store and actually touching the merchandise! Every day, folks.
When is this gonna end? It’s not minor; it’s not insignificant.
Out of context and by itself, it’s laughable. It’s funny.
And these people represent 30% of the thinking in this country. They are not the majority. And even if they were, it wouldn’t entitle them to impose every scientific belief they hold on the rest of us. Just because they believe it, doesn’t mean we have to. Just because they believe something doesn’t mean we must be subject to their mandates on these things. Not in the United States of America .”