The Tennessee attorney general wants the country singer who made the song “Redneck Woman” a hit to stop “glamorizing” the use of smokeless tobacco at her concerts.
Retrophisch Nutshell Version™:
+ singer is Gretchen Wilson, song in question is “Skoal Ring,” the title of which refers to the imprint made in the back pocket of blue jeans from a can of Skoal
+ Tennessee AG is worried about a tobacco settlement signed by the state and tobacco manufacturers, including the maker of Skoal
+ Ms. Wilson is not paid by The U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company, maker of Skoal
+ people pay to get in to her concerts, and Ms. Wilson is not on the Skoal payroll, so exactly how is her video moment being construed as an “advertisement”?
Conclusion: more Big Brothering and posturing by a politician who should just keep his mouth shut.
(For the record, I have a few cousins who engage in the chewing of smokeless tobacco, but like cigarette smoking, I have always found it a disgusting habit and in no way endorse it.)
Retrophisch