The above ad ran on page 16 of today’s Mitchell Daily Republic. It is an open letter to Tom Daschle from BPI, the South Dakota business Daschle portrays as an evil special interest that John Thune lobbies for. BPI paid for the ad. Here is the content of the letter by Eden Roth:
I just saw an ad that you approved referring to BPI as a large meatpacker that is opposed to country of origin labeling (COOL). We are writing you this open letter in response to your recent campaign ads, published without any prior contact with BPI regarding the accusations made in those ads. It is inconceivable that your campaign would spread false information about a South Dakota business like BPI Technology – especially when you know that the information isn’t true.Your campaign had no concerns about BPI earlier this year when they attempted to solicit campaign contributions from BPI for prior campaigns. Apparently, your problem is that I decided to contribute to you opponent in this election and now that makes BPI fair game for attack.
BPI is a small, value-added processor of beef trimmings – not a large meatpacker as you allege in your ads. We do not buy live cattle, and do not import meat from South America, Australia, or New Zealand. In fact, we compete directly against the frozen imported meats that would be most affected by COOL. The value we add translates into more than $7.50 per head for each and every head South Dakota producers sell to any large packer for processing. While that processing may occur in neighboring states, the value flows back very directly to the producer, whether from South Dakota or any other state.
BPI has NEVER stated any opposition to COOL, and has never paid anyone to lobby on the issue. Our position has consistently been and will continue to be neutral. If mandatory COOL becomes the law, we will implement it. If not, we will label based on customer demands. Again, since we directly compete against frozen imported meats, COOL could actually benefit BPI. Meanwhile, your campaign is knowingly, falsely accusing BPI of opposing COOL.
As a native of South Dakota, I have invested significantly to the State and would hope to do so in the future. We have been discussing a potential $60 Million investment in South Dakota that would employ more than 700 people in a technologically advanced food processing operation. We have met with the Governor and state economic development officials to that end. Making an investment of this magnitude in new, value-added technology is challenging enough, without the additional risk of defending against false attacks by a leader of that State.
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