luckydevil Posted January 19, 2004 Share Posted January 19, 2004 http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-kerry-agriculture,0,3818927.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines Dean Blasts Kerry Agriculture Policy By NEDRA PICKLER Associated Press Writer January 16, 2004, 10:20 PM EST MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa -- In an appeal to Iowa farmers, Howard Dean's campaign on Friday criticized presidential opponent John Kerry for suggesting eight years ago that the Agriculture Department should be eliminated. ""I think we can reduce the size of Washington," the Massachusetts senator said in a 1996 interview with the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. "Get rid of the Energy Department. Get rid of the Agriculture Department, or at least render it three-quarters the size it is today; there are more agriculture bureaucrats than there are farmers in this country. We can probably meld the Labor and Education departments because the job of both is so symbiotic today." ." Dean spokeswoman Tricia Enright said the comments should alarm Iowans, who hold their Democratic presidential caucuses on Monday night. Dean and Kerry are in a tight race for a win in the state along with North Carolina Sen. John Edwards and Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt. "Teachers and farmers in Iowa will be disappointed to hear that Senator Kerry wanted to dismantle the Department of Agriculture and gut the Department of Education," Enright said. "That's not the kind of change that Iowans are looking for." Gephardt said he hadn't read Kerry's comments but told The Associated Press, "If that's his policy, I don't agree with it. ... We need a president who can help individual farmers continue to farm," he said. Gephardt wouldn't comment when asked what he thought about Dean's timing for releasing the statement. Iowa Agriculture Secretary Patty Judge came to Kerry's defense. "He showed his leadership when he called for an overhaul of the Agriculture Department," she said, "and he will show leadership as president to continue to fight for family farmers." Kerry spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said it was "a typical angry attack we've seen from the Dean campaign this year." "John Kerry takes a back seat to no one to protecting America's farmers," Cutter said. "In fact, he has stood side by side with Tom Harkin in the U.S. Senate to protect family farms." Harkin, a Democratic senator who represents Iowa, has endorsed Dean, a former Vermont governor. Dean did not discuss Kerry's comments while campaigning with Harkin on Friday. However, Harkin said at a rally in Marshalltown that they had just found out one of the other candidates advocated getting rid of the Agriculture Department. The crowd booed, but Kerry was never identified as the candidate in front of the audience. Copyright © 2004, The Associated Press | Article licensing and reprint options ---------------------------- Interesting. I wonder how this is being received in Iowa. Now, I have someone to vote for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted January 19, 2004 Share Posted January 19, 2004 Keep going Kerry. While you're at it, get rid of the Education Dept, Dept of Energy and Agro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ignatius J. Posted January 19, 2004 Share Posted January 19, 2004 Thing is, if you ask most teachers, they hate the department of education. It doesn't do anything but issue mandates of the unfunded variety. It's an entire beurocracy that does absolutely nothing for our kids. (that's not exactly true, but it is certainly WAY too big) -DB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancalagon the Black Posted January 20, 2004 Share Posted January 20, 2004 You know, I really hate the US's agricultural subsidies. Billions and billions of dollars for what? To keep the price of corn low? To benefit the "individual farmer" at great cost? I bet in the early 1900s, buggy-makers were clamoring for federal "protection" from evil automobile makers, who were threatening to erode into their business. Why should we pay billions to protect an outdated industry? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckydevil Posted January 20, 2004 Author Share Posted January 20, 2004 Ancal, Maybe there is hope for you after all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancalagon the Black Posted January 20, 2004 Share Posted January 20, 2004 Lucky, I'm a firm believer in the free market much of the time. I'm originally from India, and I've seen what misguided socialism did for that country. I think if the Indian government relaxed its "safeguards" against foreign money (read: preventing money from flowing into the country), it would benefit a lot more. And Coca-Cola has not destroyed Indian culture, no matter what the naysayers believe. However, I also believe in the balance between freedom and equality of opportunity. I think that to speak of the "liberty" of an individual who does not--and, practically speaking, cannot--have access to the resources of the privileged is all but meaningless. I think that most libertarians truly believe, in their hearts, that their views are both just AND good (will produce the best possible result). I believe that this view neglects a lot of failings of the market, but I will not discount it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckydevil Posted January 20, 2004 Author Share Posted January 20, 2004 Lucky, I'm a firm believer in the free market much of the time. I'm originally from India, and I've seen what misguided socialism did for that country. Well we share something in common. My parents are from India. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GSF Posted January 20, 2004 Share Posted January 20, 2004 Who really cares what Kerry says. He's got about as much chance of getting elected as I do.:laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancalagon the Black Posted January 20, 2004 Share Posted January 20, 2004 Originally posted by luckydevil Well we share something in common. My parents are from India. Y'know, I thought you might be Indian when your username was "luckydevi"; but then when you added the "L" to it, I thought it had just been a typo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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