We Need More "Exploiting"
Reported by Eleanor - August 17, 2004 -
Special Report with Brit Hume (Aug. 17, 6:00 p.m.) spent about 40 minutes on the Swift Boat and Backlash ads, including a ten minute interview of John O'Neill and a twenty-five minute panel discussion, but the only story worth reporting is a short segment on the high cost of prescription drugs.
Due to the cost of prescription drugs in the U.S., Rod Blagojevich, Governor of Illinois, will contract with a Canadian company to get cheap drugs for the citizens of Illinois that will violate U.S. law. He also plans to get drugs from the UK and Ireland. Illinois residents can save 20-60% on their prescriptions. One lady was interviewed with drug bills as high as $2,000-$3,000 a month. The FDA says they're "sympathetic," but "safety" is their concern, not cost.
The Fox reporter (Hume, I think) said that Kerry is trying to "exploit" this issue on the campaign trail. Bush said he supports getting drugs from Canada if "safety" can be assured. The FDA said they cannot do it. It's too complex, even with an "army." The issue will have to be fought out in court. Blagojevich asked why so little has been done to stop drug imports until now. The FDA has always looked the other way. He seems to be inviting a fight in court. (I hope)
Comment: The use of the word "exploit" is interesting. According to my dictionary, the most common meaning for the word is: To make use of, selfishly or unethically. Personally, I wish Kerry would do more "exploiting" of this kind of issue. He could "exploit" and get the best of Bush on dozens of similar issues that have serious impact on people's lives - if he could get an audience almost every time he makes a speech on the campaign trail, as some people seem to be able to do. The media is full of ads and surrogates for the ads talking about Viet Nam. Not much is out there about important, life changing issues.
