King Corn Turns Up The Heat on Ted Cruz in Iowa

hotair.com ^ | DECEMBER 9

[Helicondelta]

King Corn has clearly noticed not only Cruz's rise, but his "dangrous" talk about ending the RFS and kicking the legs out from under the government gravy train on ethanol. Now they're striking back.

Supporters of the Renewable Fuels Standard, seen as key to the future of Iowa's corn-based ethanol production, are ramping up criticism of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, saying he's the only presidential candidate from both parties who has refused to either tour a biofuels plant or meet with industry lobbyists.

Critics of Cruz, whose has been rising in polls in a crowded field of Republican candidates, held a news conference Tuesday at Lincolnway Energy in Nevada. They accused him of abandoning 75,000 Iowans employed in the renewable fuels industry while supporting subsidies for the oil industry.

[JParris]

“They accused him of abandoning 75,000 Iowans employed in the renewable fuels industry.....”

That’s a whole lotta dough going to support 75,000 Iowans....

[Flintlock]

Higher percentages of Ethanol in gas is a BAD idea.
Ruins yer fuel lines and seals, too.

Corn for FOOOOOOD, not BS!!

[cripplecreek]

Yet Iowa can’t even pass a statewide ethanol mandate.

Methinks King Corn is a loud and demanding welfare baby.

[MuttTheHoople]

Iowegians need to get out of their socialistic mindset. There was a reason my parents fled from there over 50 years ago.

[trad_anglican]

From the Article:

The ethanol lobby has been running ads against Cruz non-stop, painting him as being too heavily invested in the fossil fuel industry. Even though Cruz received the endorsement of Steve King, he's under fire from Eric Branstad, executive director of America's Renewable Future.

Does that name ring any bells? Eric Branstad, son of Iowa Governor, Terry Branstad, trying to paint Cruz as advocate/beneficiary of Big Oil. They're as "establishment" as you can get in the Hawkeye State and running big dollar (and very misleading) radio spots but the message doesn't seem to be resonating.

[Durbin]

So they’re butthurt because he won’t meet with their lobbyists?

[Buckeye McFrog]

One of the Liberty Amendments needs to be a one-day national primary with uniform ballot access rules.

We can’t allow narrow special interests in a couple of small states to continue ruling the rest of us.

[muir_redwoods]

There is no rational, ethical or moral justification to turn human or animal feed into fuel when the ground is full of it. The net gain in energy from ethanol, after distillation processing, is near zero.

[FerociousRabbit]

“...he’s the only presidential candidate from both parties who has refused to either tour a biofuels plant or meet with industry lobbyists.”

This is the most telling statement in the article, possibly the campaign. It seems Cruz is a bit beyond reproach and is not willing to accept that brown envelope full of money.

I’ll cut The Donald a bit of slack on the “beyond reproach” from the corn industry. His envelope would have to have billions and be the size of a tractor-trailer to even catch his attention, if then. Plus, I think he has already said he wouldn’t end the corn subsidy boondoggle.

[ArtDodger]

I noticed the article did not give a monetary figure for the industry. I guess it would be too easy to divide by 75k and see how much the taxpayers ager getting bilked.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

““They accused him of abandoning 75,000 Iowans employed in the renewable fuels industry.....””

Fix needed.

“They accused him of abandoning 75,000 Iowans on corporate welfare in the Forced fuels industry.....”

[Dr. Sivana]

They accused him of abandoning 75,000 Iowans on corporate welfare in the Forced fuels industry....

That is basically an admission that without the ethanol mandate, the amount of ethanol sold (when oil is $30/barrel) is zero.

So, if you are making people buy a product they would not buy otherwise, you are right, that is corporate welfare.

[BibleGunClinger]

To Jazz Shaw, writer of the article. You might want to check again about your statement of the nearly non existent oil & gas subsidies. Big Oil is the largest receiver of gov’t subsidies. Just saying.

[FourPeas]

“King Corn” doesn’t like that Ted Cruz is a consistent conservative. Nor do the corporate welfare hogs like that he has integrity.

Being criticized by a group because you’re taking away their government-funded gravy train is a feather in the cap.

It’s good to see a candidate stand up and show leadership where most simply kowtow and say whatever the influential lobby wants regardless of what they actually believe.