Comments on: Utterly Without Shame

By: Peter

Peter — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:55:44 +0000

It all makes sense when you realize that there is only one special interest out there in Obama’s eyes. The taxpaying citizen.

By: dr kill

dr kill — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:32:37 +0000

Face it, people, independent farmers are gone. Farmers are serfs, working for the brokers, who set prices in collusion with the Feds and Agribusiness suppliers. That they may own the land they work does not make them any less dependent. Agriculture is the largest welfare momma we pay. It’s all about stability.

The political bullshit and hard-working backbone of the nation narrative seems to be enough for farmers. They should sell the cows and move to Miami.

I hope I live long enough to see food get expensive.

By: Michael Miller

Michael Miller — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:36:00 +0000

Not only did Al Gore vote to subsidize tobacco, he owned a tobacco farm. And since many of his constituents in Tennessee were fellow tobacco farmers, and tobacco was a very important part of the regional economy, they were pleased to vote for one of their own.

That is American politics in a nutshell.

By: frankania

frankania — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 04:43:29 +0000

Tobacco? Tobacco? How could anyone vote to subsidize tobacco and then face their voters? There is no hope, my friends.

By: Dr. T

Dr. T — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:34:05 +0000

Only growers of select products (wheat, corn, rye, barley, rice, soy beans, sugar beets, sugar cane, peanuts, tobacco, and milk) get federal subsidies, price supports, and/or protective tariffs. Farmers that raise other products (potatoes, most vegetables, fruits, nuts, beef, chicken, pork, turkey, etc.) get no federal support. I grew up in a “truck” farming and orchard region of upstate NY, and none of the farmers got federal money. The small dairy farms (back in the 1960s and 1970s) couldn’t compete with the big boys and went under. Once the big boys had the dairy business locked up, they successfully lobbied for price supports.

If potato farmers and peach growers can get by without subsidies, price supports, or tariffs, why can’t the big wheat and corn growers? This selective farm subsidy nonsense should have been cancelled decades ago. The federal government hasn’t been supporting family farms, it’s been supporting big agribusinesses.

By: mahtso

mahtso — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:23:25 +0000

As I recall, the joke goes something like: The hardest part about being a farmer is learning to keep a straight face while saying “Tell those people in Washington to keep out of my business” in the same sentence as “where is my subsidy check”

By: Methinks

Methinks — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:10:36 +0000

Charlie,

I don’t think anyone disagrees that farmers were his constituents and voting for the farm bill was politically expedient. I also don’t think anyone expected him to do anything that would decrease his chances of re-election.

What makes the comment funny is that he said “we need to stand up to special interests” by pandering to the special interests (farmers). Get it? Get it?

By: IgotBupkis

IgotBupkis — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:49:22 +0000

> lying for those who elected you is still lying.

It ain’t lying if you’ve convinced yourself you really believe it. And such convincing isn’t hard in the ever-fluid “reality” if Libtardia.

By: morganovich

morganovich — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:25:48 +0000

actually charile, i have to say i’m with jim on this.

just because they are his constituents, that doesn’t mean they aren’t a special interest. while i see you point about why he would support such a policy, his comment is utterly disingenuous no matter who it benefits.

lying for those who elected you is still lying.

By: Charlie B

Charlie B — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:05:09 +0000

Jim Clay, no comment on better or worse whatever that might mean. The President’s remark is totally understandable in the context of 2007 as Senator Obama of Illinois as agricultural supports are one of the truly bipartisan efforts in Congress.

The remark is amusing/sad/pathetic/ironic today because his words are much the same while his actions clearly are not.