Posted on 05/02/2008 10:36:56 PM PDT by NoLibZone
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Some things never change: Republican John McCain dislikes farm subsidies. "I have to give you a little straight talk about the farm bill that is wending its way through Congress," McCain said Thursday at the Polk County Convention Center.
"I do not support it. I would veto it," he said. "I would do that because I believe that the subsidies are unnecessary."
McCain was in the heart of farm country, a place where subsidies for corn and ethanol fuel are wildly popular.
His long-held position against subsidies has cost him in Iowa, the state that traditionally begins the presidential nominating process and is a potential swing state in the fall. Yet the Arizona senator didn't hesitate to bring up the issue.
"I just thought I'd start out with that non-controversial statement," he said as he began the town hall-style meeting.
Congress, struggling to finish a farm bill that can survive a threatened veto, passed another extension and sent it to President Bush, who, like McCain, says it is bloated with subsidies for wealthy farmers. The nearly $300 billion bill would pay for farm and nutrition programs for the next five years.
Negotiators on the bill agreed to cut an ethanol tax credit previously considered off-limits because of its popularity in Iowa. And they cut $1 billion in support for blending ethanol, bringing the per-gallon credit from 51 cents to 45 cents.
McCain did take a break from the straight talking for a little pandering.
"The farmer in the state of Iowa in the United States of America is the most productive, the most efficient and the best," he said. "And I will open every market in the world to your products, and I will sell them, and I can compete."
I agree with him on this. And I live in Illinois in farming country.
I waited 24 hours to see if this would make any impact At GOP Central.
Sadly it did not.
Proving that the GOP is now in lock step with Hugo Chavez on Socialism.
Wow! Republicans with no problem paying to NOT grow Food for cash.
Makes FDR look conservative.
Even Reagan had no issue with paying for this kind of Socialism.
McCain stands well to the right of Reagan.
It’s a lot harder for a farmer to get upset at this policy nowadays, when he can sell every bushel of grain he can grow, at eight or nine times the price of a few years ago. I suspect McCain will win the Farm Belt by wide margins.
I agree too! The farm bill is W-A-Y beyond the constitutional jurisdiction of the government.
So do I. And I grew up on a farm. It's no different than collective farming in Russia. Let the commodities reflect the actual costs of farming. BAN all food from any country that subsidizes farming.
Get real. I'd quit working and go back into farming in a heartbeat if that were true.
-ccm
With corn priced as high as it is, it would be insane for farmers to be agaisnt the ethanol mandate. Although it has put many large and small dairy farmers and ranchers out of business.
I'm warming up to him. I think he will be a heck of a lot better than Bush was on spending. Aint saying much, but he's miles ahead of most in Congress and ahead of any Dem for sure.
Wheat is up a whole lot, too. I was up in Montana a couple months ago, and the wheat farmers up there are absolutely giddy.
“Republican John McCain dislikes farm subsidies.”
So do I. And I grew up on a farm.
And I, as well, grew up on a farm (wouldn’t trade that for anything!). My dad, almost 90, is a 3rd generation farmer (along with a trucking business w/his brother) - and HE also has always said that these subsidies are a bad thing.
In part, because of subsidies...
"And I will open every market in the world to your products"
And he'll use international law to do it!
I live in farm country just East of Iowa and every farmer I have known, including my son’s FIL in central WI, wants the government out of their lives and business.
McCain will win the heartland.
With corn priced as high as it is, it would be insane for farmers to be agaisnt the ethanol mandate. Although it has put many large and small dairy farmers and ranchers out of business.
It’s innately wrong on so many levels! Already, using food to create fuel (in an inefficient, non-economical way) is wreaking havoc with food supplies, both here and abroad. Yes, corn is bringing an exceptionally high price for the farmers at the time of sale, BUT it comes back to bite them in the butt on several levels. When they have to turn around and BUY seed corn to plant for the next year, THAT price has now sky-rocketed as well, they have to pay big fuel prices to run the tractors, combines, etc., to work the fields, and...many, many farmers still raise livestock as well, and the price of feed (corn-based, primarily) is now much, much higher.
FIL?
Yep...
PS - you’re so right on. My dad always told me, “remember, for every dollar the government gives you, they take away a freedom”. He always eschewed the easy dollar for doing what made sense and what was right.
Yay for your family!
You were raised “good”. ;o)
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