Kudos to Kinky

It's nice to see someone on "cable TV's most watched news program" holding a big fat cigar. I'm talking about the recent appearances by musician, songwriter, politician, cigar enthusiast, and entrepreneur, Kinky Friedman, who has become a regular guest on The O'Reilly Factor. Even if you're not a fan of Mr. O'Reilly, it's worth tuning in to hear Kinky's straight from the hip political analysis. And as a cigar smoker, it's even more fun watching him wave an unlit, 5¾" x 60 Kinky Friedman "Governor" as he responds to O'Reilly's observations.

I had the pleasure of meeting Kinky at the RTDA last year in Houston (see photo above), and he was a true gentleman. So, in return for promoting premium cigars to the nation in prime-time, I thought I'd give Kinky a well-deserved plug.

Kinky Friedman Cigars are handmade in Honduras with a medium-bodied blend of Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos, Costa Rican binder, and an exquisite Honduran-grown Habano wrapper. (Kinky was also kind enough to give me a sample of his "Kinkycristo," a 6¼" x 54 Torpedo, and it tastes as good as it looks.)

But there's more to Kinky's notoriety than his music or his bids for Governor of Texas. He's also dedicated himself to the adoption and care of abandoned and abused animals. Kinky even created "Kinky's Select" cigars, a private label from which sales proceeds go to support his Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch in Medina, TX. Moreover, Kinky and his band, The Texas Jewboys, have toured extensively to help raise money for the ranch.

Will Kinky ever make it to the Governor's mansion in Austin? Who knows? But if he ever runs for President, you can be pretty sure he'll stand up for the rights of cigar smokers. Now that's a platform I can support.