Posted on 03/10/2015 1:32:25 PM PDT by SoConPubbie
Iowa does not form a candidate's character as much as it reveals it. So far, this sunlight is not flattering for Scott Walker.
Walker, the second-term governor of Wisconsin, joined the parade of GOP presidential hopefuls last weekend at the Iowa Ag Summit, where ethanol mogul and GOP moneyman Bruce Rastetter asked candidates to pledge allegiance to the ethanol mandate and the wind tax credit.
The ethanol mandate is among the least defensible corporate-welfare boondoggles Washington has created (the sugar program, and the Export-Import Bank round out the unholy trinity). It forces drivers to put corn alcohol in their cars by forcing refiners to blend the stuff with real gasoline.
Ethanol is far less efficient than gasoline. It increases food prices by taking up cropland that could go to other crops. It makes animal feed more expensive, hurting ranchers and boosting meat prices. It places extraordinary stress on water supplies.
The ethanol mandate is not good for the environment or national security. It's bad for cars, drivers and eaters. And it's antithetical to free enterprise.
Walker knows that. In his 2006 run for governor, Walker stood alone in opposing a renewable fuel standard, calling it a "big government mandate" at the time. "Central planning will not help our family farmers, protect our environment or provide jobs," Walker wrote. "The free enterprise system must drive innovation to relieve our dependence on foreign oil, not mandates from the state or federal government."
That's how a conservative who believes in free enterprise speaks. It's not how Walker spoke last week in Iowa.
After saying "I'm someone who believes in a free and open market. I don't like a whole lot of government interference," Walker then said: "I'm willing to go forward on continuing the Renewable Fuel Standard." The Iowa crowd applauded.
Walker's people insist "[h]e didn't shift his position" on ethanol. "He's been against mandates and is still against mandates," spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski wrote to theWashington Examiner editorial page editor Philip Klein. "What he's saying is he isn't going to get rid of it on day one because there's a level of certainty that these people depend on and we need to factor that in when phasing it out."
Here were his own words on that subject: "Long-term … my goal would be to get to a point where we directly address those market access issues and I think that's a part of the challenge. So that eventually you didn't need to have a standard."
It sounds like Walker wants to keep the ethanol mandate until ethanol can compete broadly with oil in a free market. Given ethanol's inherent shortcomings, that day may never come.
All corporate welfare recipients defend their favors as a remedy for some other market distortion. And most of them say they'll give up their government goodies when free-market nirvana arrives. It's hogwash.
If Walker will swallow the hogwash from Hawkeye Energy and Archer Daniels Midland, then there's no subsidy-suckler to whom we can expect him to stand up. He has indicated he opposes the Export-Import Bank, but what will he say when the Chamber of Commerce drags him onstage to discuss it?
If Walker really believes in markets and opposes the ethanol mandate, he should say that clearly, even in Iowa. Especially in Iowa.
Dismantling political privilege, rejecting all forms of favoritism, and ensuring equal opportunity — these must be at the heart of any conservative candidacy and any agenda of economic liberty. They provide the moral basis for free enterprise. Absent a fierce attack on cronyism, any talk of free markets is really just a cover story for big business shilling.
Walker doesn't need to imitate Jesus in the temple, overturning the tables of the money-changers. He could just follow the example of Ted Cruz.
Cruz, before the same crowd, acknowledged his was an unpopular view, but he flatly said, "I don't think Washington should be picking winners and losers." He put ethanol in the context of other types of corporate welfare, but also in the context of burdensome federal regulations: "I have every bit of faith that businesses can continue to compete, can continue to do well without having to go on bended knee to Washington asking for subsidies, asking for special favors. I think that's how we got in this problem to begin with."
Some conservatives see the shameful ethanol cronyfest as an indictment of the Iowa caucuses. They're not wrong, but that argument misses the point.
The special-interest subsidy-sucklers do deserve our scorn for corrupting conservative politicians. But a candidate who believes what he says and cares about free enterprise can actually resist being corrupted — if he has the courage.Timothy P. Carney, The Washington Examiner's senior political columnist, can be contacted at tcarney@washingtonexaminer.com. His column appears Sunday and Wednesday on washingtonexaminer.com.
1.Scott Walker has been the only one who has defeated democrats .
2.Walker has passed conservative laws in his state.
3.Scott Walker turned a deficit into a huge surplus in his state while lowering taxes
4.Scott Walker lowered Taxes.
Actions and results mean everything. Words and liberal media spin mean NOTHING. Walker has a record of passing conservative laws which has vetted him and shows who he is a conservative. Words mean nothing.
You want to set up a circular firing squad to get Jeb and Hillary
Yeah, as if the GOPe nominee would put a stop to that nonsense. Right.
Sneakier than that.
It’s not a subsidy. It a mandate for oil companies to use xxx number of gallons of ethanol. Corn is just the easiest way to get it in enough quantity.
When it’s not your candidate, it’s flip-flopping.
Nice of you to only quote one part of what Walker said.
Your dishonesty is showing.
Let me educate you about Walker's position.
Currently, ethanol producers cannot sell ethanol as a fuel into the market. They are only allowed to do so by the EPA program.
Many jobs are tied to ethanol. Yes, they rely on subsidies.
Walker wants to change the rules to open access for ethanol to compete with gasoline, diesel, CNG, hydrogen, etc. Walker wants ethanol to compete in the open market.
The subsidies would phase out over time.
This is the compromise a leader makes when writing legislation in order to get the votes necessary in Congress to pass that legislation.
Morons just want to just the rope without any consideration for the consequences.
Walker is thoughtful, creative and a conservative capitalist.
He needs to work on his rhetoric, then, because the pull quote is pro-corn-fuel.
And while we’re at it, please stop calling me “dishonest.”
Further, what have you to say about Walker’s late-breaking conversion on Open Borders?
No offense, but were you born yesterday?
This is a liberal rag that wants to divide the conservative base that is already coalescing around Walker in terms of support and money.
Liberals hate Walker and know the exact quotes to pull in order to cause splits among his base.
Conservatives are smarter than this. We should not be falling for headlines or quotes about decent conservatives until we find the facts for ourselves.
Liberals know the game and want to divide and conquer. We cannot be so weak and lazy as to allow them to get away with it. There is too much at stake.
Show me.
With supporters like you, Walker needs a fumigator.
Please cite the source of that piece of dishonesty.
I just wish the potentially best candidate was above the blatant pandering.
I’ll concede this is a great article.
I’ll concede this is a great article.
Yes that’s what the liberals are doing dividing conservatives
You are beginning to sound like a broken record mate. OK we get it, Scott Walker has passed conservative laws, lowered taxes etc. You can post all that in every Scott Walker thread, but that won’t change the fact that he seems to changing his position on quite a few issues, including illegal immigration and the corn/ethanol subsidies because he is running for president (all but certain). Plenty of voters have a problem with politicians who continue to pander to audiences in order to win elections.
And when did the GOP primaries, which won’t start for another year, become only between Walker and Jeb Bush? Were you here 8 years ago this time when Giuliani was far ahead of everyone in the polls for the GOP primaries? Where did he end up at? And where were you 4 years ago when nearly every major candidate from Herman Cain to Michelle Bachmann took the lead in the polls at some time or the other? It’s way too early to go about claiming that the GOP race is just between Jeb Bush and Scott Walker. That is fan boy talk, which also he pens to be incorrect.
Walker's got an unmatched record as governor. you all buy the bs in a few articles that are meant to divide and get Jeb Bush the nomination. and you want us to believe somehow these articles negate Walker's amazing accomplishments
Walker's actions show who he is , a conservative as he's passed conservative laws. articles , words, slander meant to divide conservatives mean nothing.
Walker has been the only one to get conservative laws passed , defeating democrats. who else has defeated democrats? if you can't name someone then you admit you are wrong.Actually no one has defeated democrats only Scott walker has.
You all don't realize that this communist monster Obama is destroying America and freedom and our rights and opportunity to make a living.at this point bozo the clown or a mass murderer is a million steps up from barak Obama. and you dare say Scott Walker is not good enough? I see now why this country is in trouble. do you people realize the danger we are in ? Look at what Scott Walker's done in Wisconsin as governor , lowered taxes, balanced the budge , passed right to work, many other conservative laws etc. and you want us to believe some articles negate that and that we should throw him out because of those articles . I say go jump in the lake to you all! Go Scott Walker!
Troll alert!
Well said, Democrat_media.
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