Dan the Tan Man. Candidate-Lobbyist
Some politicians like to use the “citizen legislator” moniker. Others, evidently, have the right to call themselves “lobbyist candidate”. There’d be no reason to lobby congress when you’re in congress, right?
Dan Humiston, Republican/Orsini Independence candidate challenging Brian Higgins in NY-27 is the President of the Indoor Tanning Association lobbying group.
It was recently revealed that Sarah Palin (R-AK) had a tanning bed installed in the Governor’s Mansion in Juneau. No one really cares, and Governor Palin is entitled to subject herself to UV rays during the long Alaska winters if she so desires. But check out this awesome press release:
WASHINGTON – Today the Indoor Tanning Association addressed rumors that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, who was recently chosen as Presidential Nominee John McCain’s running-mate, had installed a tanning bed in the Governor’s mansion.
According to online reports, a Palin spokesman confirmed in 2007 that the Governor “did have a tanning bed put in the Governor’s Mansion,” Adding that, “It was done shortly after she took office [in early 2007] and moved into the mansion.”
In locations such as Alaska, tanning beds provide important health benefits as a source of UV light. In the bleak winter months, many Americans experience vitamin D deficiency and the best way to manufacture vitamin D is through exposure to UV light. But it is impossible to get the requisite amount of vitamin D from the sun in cities north of 37 degrees latitude for as many as 6 months out of the year; people living as far north as Juneau, Alaska, are deprived of vitamin D from sunlight for even longer.
In addition to increasing the risk of many types of cancer and heart disease, vitamin D deficiency is also linked to many common wintertime complaints such as fatigue, depression and aches and pains.
While partisan bloggers and the sun scare industry will use this as an opportunity to undermine Gov. Palin and demonize the indoor tanning industry, the fact is that Governor Palin’s decision to get UV light from a tanning bed positively impacts her health.
“Moderate amounts of indoor tanning allow Governor Palin to experience the many health benefits that come with exposure to UV light,” said Dan Humiston, President of the Indoor Tanning Association. “Especially in dreary northern locations like Alaska, indoor tanning can help guard against wintertime depression and ward off diseases associated with vitamin D deficiency.”
“Kudos to Governor Palin for standing up to dermatologists and other members of the sun scare industry who are trying to frighten Americans away from UV light.”
OK.
1. Alaska has a “dreary northern climate”? Does Buffalo? After all, it’s north of 37 deg. latitude, and has winters.
2. “sun scare industry” FTW.
3. Dermatologists are medical doctors who undergo many years’ worth of training in anatomy, science, and medicine. It has been proven that exposure to ultraviolet light can cause melanoma, and most people get enough Vitamin D from incidental sun exposure, and can supplement with diet if they don’t. Dermatologists want to keep you from getting cancer. Tanning bed owners want you to use tanning beds for a fee.
Is Humiston’s campaign even remotely for real? This is the most blatantly ignorant piece of drivel I’ve ever read, and I’d expect it to be written by a gum-clacking teen, but am shocked that a candidate for congress – cum – lobbyist would release it.
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Typically sufficient sun exposure is on the order of 5 (sunny) to 30 (overcast and/or lower incident light) minutes of just the hands, arms and face.
Most tanning beds push 4-fold or greater doses of UV-A radiation compared to sunlight. Four-fold higher radiation in addition to substantially more skin being exposed…I don’t have to say anymore. You nailed it to the tee.
Frigid winters in North Dakota hardly gave me (let alone any of my acquaintances there) vitamin D deficiencies. There really is no rational reason to have your own tanning booth for those reasons listed above.
As far as I know, people are still allowed to decide whether or not they want to tan.
I’m more concerned about Higgin’s negative impact on our economy than I am about Humiston being involved in the tanning industry. We are electing a Congressman based on his ability to deal with real issues, not the pros and cons of UV tanning beds. This is a non-issue in what is supposed to be a free society.
The biggest complaints Dems can dream up against Sarah Palin and Dan Humiston have to do with indoor tanning. That’s what is important this campaign?
Dems are doomed.
It looks to me like an advertisement from the Indoor Tanning Association and it’s president Dan Humiston, not a complaint by the Dems.
STOP!
I am hearing WAAAAAAAAAAY too much about this!
I think Sarah Palin is a bible thumping MORON and am disgusted with McCain for picking her.
HOWEVER, there are dozens of great points to illustrate what a HORRIBLE choice this has been…….
….but a TANNING BED in her house IS NOT one of them!
CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES, MEDIA!!!
Nothing worse than hearing a bad point argued when there are far more credible ones all around you!
Nonsense like this gives McCain/Palion some traction—’cause it’s NOT that big a deal.
UNLESS………….
Perhaps this is an attempt to create a shitstorm of nonsense so McCain/Palin is so busy putting out these fires that they get off-balance.
Hey, that’s what mcCain/Palin has been doing to Obama/Biden recently, so maybe there’s a method to this madness.
Um
I never made this about Palin. I expressly wrote,
The thing that makes this whole thing hilarious is Humiston’s dual role as a candidate for congress and lobbyist for a special interest group, plus the fact that this lobbyist is actually going negative against dermatologists and the “sun scare” people. It’s patently hilarious and only very tangentially related to Sarah Palin.
Are you serious? What negative impact is Brian Higgins having on the economy? He’s still the only guy who’s getting anything done around here. And all this story does is expose that his opponent is a ridiculous tool.
But now that you mention it, there is an important point here. Humiston has railed against the so-called “special interests.” Hello kettle, you’re black. He’s a friggin’ lobbyist himself. And, as noted previously, a ridiculous tool as well.
I know this if off topic and may bring down the scorn of the pundit, but I always thought it was silly that Nixon had bowling alleys build in the white house when he was president.
Our major problem is that we pay the highest taxes in the country and higher than most of the emerging economic powers such as China.
That pretty much explains everything else.
What has Brian done about that?
Brian Higgins is the Dale Volker of the Democratic Party.
Actually, the current research strongly suggests that great many people are Vitamin D deficent. From the last issue of the noted medical journal, Buffalo Spree: “Above 42° north most people are not able to get enough direct sunlight to produce Vitamin D in the winter.”
A personal tanning bed is probably not quite as efficient as supplements, but the Palins have a big family. Maybe it works out for them.
A “sufficient” blood level of vitamin D is necessary for optimal mental health. Perhaps it is time (past time, actually) for the BuffaloPundit to have his/her/it’s vitamin D level checked. My guess is that it will be low, i.e., <50 nmol/L and I recommend that you patronize one of Mr. Humiston’s tanning salons (and take a daily 1,000 IU vitamin D supplement) to bring your vitamin D level up to the point where you will understand what the words “fair and balanced” mean.
Humiston promotes his own busines. If that makes him a lobbyist, I guess every business owner is a lobbyist.
Perhaps you didn’t read the post thoroughly enough.
Humiston’s quote came not as candidate for Congress, or as Presidient of Tanning Bed, Inc., but as President of the “Indoor Tanning Association”, The ITA maintains a pro-tanning PAC, and…
I read it right. Humiston is part of a group advocating against unfair business practices within his industry. Considering the climate of over-regulation we are currently subjected to, that seems pretty reasonable. Regulating the tanning industry is just another example of the government violating the natural right of people to do what they want with their own bodies. It is a big waste of the taxpayers’ money.
If he were advocating for government subsidies for people who can’t afford a tan to get a tan, then I would have a problem with what he is doing.
I am once again forced to join the Mike in WNY chorus. What he said.
Just for a bit more info, the Indoor Tanning Association is a non-profit working in conjunction with medical experts to promote safe indoor tanning standards. This is a voluntary effort and the executive committee does not receive compensation for their efforts. You can view their bylaws here to get more information.
Yeah, that’s why they affix the warning stickers on the tanning beds to the TOP of the bed, where the gum-clacking teens won’t see it as they work on their melanomas.
Hey Homer, where’s the parents? That’s right, the government does their job now.
So how many of you pro-tanning, pro-Humiston commentators are members of Humiston’s senior Tanning Bed staff, who work on his campaign day and night?
Seriously…who are the tools here…really?