germany bids auf wiedersehen
well, the germans have left the americans out in the cold by caving to EU pressure to sign and ratify the FCTC.
would it be wrong to say, “nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah”?
well, the germans have left the americans out in the cold by caving to EU pressure to sign and ratify the FCTC.
would it be wrong to say, “nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah”?
May 16th, 2003 at 10:34 am
Last I checked, and ignoring the issue of whether Corporations should have Constitutional Rights at all, the Constitution does not apply to speech overseas, so the argument that somehow it prohibits Constitutionally protected speach is laughable. Perhaps their fear is that even though the restrictions are no different than the current laws, it might impede the Republican-nature and their desire, no doubt, to roll back restrictions on tobacco advertising in the United States?
May 16th, 2003 at 12:40 pm
that’s not quite the issue. the administration party line is that they want to be able to send the treaty to the senate for ratification. because a ratified treaty would become part of US domestic laws, it would be unlikely to be ratified if it violated the first amendment.
that’s the party line, anyway. a cynic would suggest that the administration wants reservations so other countries can also ignore the advertising provisions, thus protecting the interests of american tobacco companies. but that would be downright cynical.