LETTERS: KINDER IS IN TOBACCO'S CORNER

To the editor:

So now Peter Kinder, in his April 26 column, is defending the tobacco industry against a mindless assault. I'd say it's a safe bet that Kinder has few peers when to comes to the subject of mindless assaults. Indeed, it seems to be one of his specialties. I'm sure it took a great deal of courage to stand up for a multibillion-dollar industry that employs thousands of legal and media consultants and spends millions on political contributions.

Kinder should be careful not to spread himself too thin in his role as the bulwark for the tobacco companies, especially since he's going after the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Maybe he and Wes Pruden, the columnist for the Washington Times, could enlist the help of Gordon Liddy or even Tim McVeigh in their crusade against ATF agents. They evidently share similar views on that particular group of federal law enforcement officers.

Kinder's column also included a very interesting comment that the dangers of tobacco has been "known throughout its 500-year history in North America." Was this 15th century study solely the work of Indians, or was it a collaborative effort with the Europeans? I am amazed that the various forms of cancer and cardiovascular disease were documented without the benefit of modern medical and scientific technology, not to mention the identification of the toxic substances present in various tobacco products. By the way, were the dangers of second-hand smoke, snuff and chewing tobacco included in the study, or was this information perhaps added to the 16th century edition? It's a shame those people conducting tobacco research over the last 40 years didn't save a lot of money and just the 500-year-old study.

It's too bad more members of the GOP don't have the stomach to stand up with Kinder in this cause. I'm sure it's especially discouraging when one of the leaders of this mindless assault is U.S. Sen. John McCain, a highly decorated Navy aviator and former prisoner of war who, I suppose, no longer meets Kinder's standard for high principles. Well, at least the tobacco companies can breathe (or should I say cough?) more easily knowing the gallant Sir Pete is firmly in their cloudy corner.

RICK BOHN

Scott City