ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, August 27, 1996 TAG: 9608270091
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CHICAGO
SOURCE: WARREN FISKE STAFF WRITER
NOTE: Below
Five months ago, Virginia Congressman Norman Sisisky and a few colleagues sat down with President Clinton to talk about tobacco.
Sisisky said all agreed that, for moral and political reasons, something had to be done to keep youths from smoking. He said they also agreed that cigarette manufacturers would voluntarily cooperate and that there was no need to impose new federal regulations on tobacco use.
``We did it very quietly. We didn't do any press. We didn't talk to any tobacco companies,'' the Petersburg Democrat remembered Monday, in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention.
``But we knew the tobacco companies would agree. Did they pander to children before? Probably. But they're too smart to do it now. They'd be in litigation for 10 years.''
Sisisky is among many Virginia delegates who expressed surprise and disappointment with Clinton's decision last week to declare nicotine an addictive drug. The president's mandate gave the Food and Drug Administration authority to curb the sale and promotion of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.
Of the informal agreement reached with Clinton, Sisisky said: ``Someone talked him out of it and I don't know who or why. But this is a political year. There is an election to win.''
Clinton's decree put Democratic delegates from Virginia and other tobacco growing states in a difficult position this week of defending an industry that manufactures health-threatening products because it brings jobs and commerce to the state.
Several said they fear the mandates will be the start of intensive smoking regulation that will all but destroy the industry.
``Clearly, we have to stop kids from smoking,'' said state Sen. Louise Lucas, whose district stretches from Portsmouth to the tobacco fields of Southhampton County. ``But I also believe in freedom of choice for adults. Just as we can't regulate morality, we can't regulate the freedom of adults to chose to smoke.''
Also distasteful for many of the delegates was being put in a position where they felt constrained to criticize the president they traveled 1,000 miles this week to renominate.
``What am I supposed to say?'' said U.S. Rep. Robert "Bobby" Scott whose district includes portions of Norfolk and Portsmouth. ``I'm in a corner.''
What Scott and others do say is that most tobacco companies were starting to make good-faith efforts to limit teen access to cigarettes and should have been trusted to continue doing so voluntarily.
``Most of what the president ordered would have happened anyway,'' Scott said. ``Everyone already agrees that tobacco shouldn't be marketed to children. Even the tobacco companies support that.''
Scott and many other delegates acknowledge that tobacco is addictive and a threat to health. Why do they defend it? ``You know the reason,'' Scott said.
Tobacco is Virginia's top cash crop, producing $174.9 million in sales for farmers last year. It's is also the state's No.1 export commodity, with about $3.5 billion of the crop each year being shipped abroad.
Since their arrival in Chicago over the weekend, many Virginia delegates have found themselves sought out and tongue-tied by reporters from across the country. State Democratic chairman Susan Wrenn issued delegates a four-page set of ``talking points'' that could be used in interviews.
The main point, Wrenn said, is for delegates to assure reporters that they continue to vigorously support Clinton's candidacy even though they may disagree on tobacco.
``People chose a president for his leadership qualities, rather than because he is for or against any one issue,'' she said. ``As for tobacco, the president's goal is to prevent teen-age children from smoking and I think everyone shares that goal. There may be some disagreement on how we can achieve that goal, but those can be resolved.''
Cigarette producer Philip Morris - with headquarters in Richmond - has thanked the delegation by holding a posh reception on its behalf on Sunday and Monday nights. The company has also made a $100,000 contribution to the Chicago host committee of the convention through its subsidiary, Kraft Foods.
Philip Morris also had a strong presence at the Republican National Convention two weeks ago in San Diego.
Jay Poole, a spokesman for the company, declined to discuss Clinton's executive order at a party Sunday night for the Virginia and Kentucky delegations.
``This is not about politics,'' he said. ``The reason we're doing this is because Virginia and Kentucky are two of our home states. A lot of delegates spend a lot of their own money to come to this convention, and if we can make them a little more comfortable, we will.''
Philip Morris' sentiments were hardly disguised, however. At the door were big baskets of political pins saying ``Keep FDA Off the Farm,'' and most in the crowd put them on.
``It's all economics,'' said Lucas, the state senator. ``I disagree with the president on this matter because I can't turn my back on any of my constituents. I'm just hoping this issue won't divide people who would otherwise support Clinton.'' - Staff writer Robert Little contributed to this story.
LENGTH: Medium: 95 lines KEYWORDS: POLITICS PRESIDENTby CNB