by Rick Pearson
DES MOINES—Sen. Barack Obama touted his support of family farms against corporate agriculture this morning by taking a couple of shots at two very big Illinois businesses, ag processor ADM and food producer ConAgra.
Delivering a populist-themed speech to the Iowa Farmers Union, the Illinois senator slammed a Washington culture that he said paid heed to corporate agricultural lobbyists over individual farmers.
"It's about time Washington started listening to rural America," Obama said. "You can't simply sit in Washington, talking to lobbyists. That's why the Washington insiders who matter to me live in Washington County, Iowa, not Washington, D.C. That's why as president, I'll be listening to the LRV, not ADM."
The LRV is the League of Rural Voters and ADM is Decatur-based Archer Daniels Midland Corp., one of the world's largest agricultural processors of soybeans and corn.
Obama also contended that $1.3 billion in federal farm subsidies is going to people "who aren't even farmers."
"You've got farm money going to Fortune 500 companies. Meanwhile, for an expensive steak, a small farmer gets less than a dollar. For a loaf of bread, it's a dime. That's what's happens when rural policy gets made in the backrooms by lobbyists in Washington," Obama said.
"We'll tell ConAgra that it's not the Department of Agribusiness," the Illinois Democrat said. "It's the Department of Agriculture. We're going to put the people's interests ahead of the special interests."
ConAgra has a major headquarters in west suburban Chicago.
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Comments
This is good news. If Obama has indeed taken his hands out of the pockets of ADM, Monsanto, and Conagra, he moves way up the line--right even with mu current fave, Dennis Kucinich. I'm looking for more signs to get back on the Obamawagon, and bring a few people with me.
Posted by: R F Wilson | November 10, 2007 1:55 PM
R F. If you're looking for more reasons to support Obama, you should check out this video:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/invite/jjspeech
Posted by: Jeremy | November 11, 2007 2:35 PM
I think that Ron Paul is right about abortion. I dont think that the child should be punished by any means. I mean if your going to get pregnant and dont want it..you should have either thought about that before you had the child or there is always an option for adoption. I mean think about it..if you was the child..and your parents killed you..you wouldnt like that. You would think that its very unfair. Having an abortion is basically murder. And some people disagree with me..but maybe they should experience it.
Posted by: Anslee Y. | November 12, 2007 8:40 AM