Biden’s Political Blunders Are Piling Up

In the galaxy of bad decisions made by President Biden, the proposal to ban menthol cigarettes doesn’t rank high up the list. It is, however, another reminder of just how terrible the president is at politics, an arena in which he should shine.

After all, Mr. Biden has done nothing in his entire life but politics. He hasn’t run a car dealership or renovated homes; he hasn’t harvested corn or operated Dunkin’ Donut franchises. If he is truthful about not having engaged with his son Hunter’s business dealings, it’s probably because no one thought he had much to add.

No, Mr. Biden has spent his entire life in politics, mostly in the Senate and the White House, but his learning curve appears flat as a pancake.

Let us consider the FDA’s newly announced ban on manufacturing or selling menthol cigarettes, which is meant to take effect two years from now.

The tobacco industry is understandably pushing back hard, since menthols make up more than a third of the cigarettes sold in the U.S. and generate more than $20 billion in sales each year. That’s a big hit.

The rationale for getting the products off the market is that menthol cigarettes are especially popular with young people and encouraging youth smoking is bad for the nation’s health. That is compelling; there’s little doubt that the decline in smoking has produced good health outcomes, not just in the U.S. but worldwide.

Consider the politics, though: The other group that is especially keen on menthols is black Americans. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports that 81 percent of black smokers, compared to 51 percent of Hispanics and 30 percent of whites, favor menthols. So, a key support group for Mr. Biden would be the population segment most annoyed to find their favorite cigarettes no longer available.

To read more…

https://www.nysun.com/article/bidens-political-blunders-are-piling-up

Published on The New York Sun