First Ever Iowa Ag Summit Presents A Different View On The Presidential Hopefuls
Protestor Joe Mangino was escorted from the premises after protesting New Jersey Governor Chris Christie on Saturday at the Ag Summit.
Des Moines, Iowa – It was slated to be a bi-partisan presidential candidate event, to be held on the Iowa State Fairgrounds. It turned out to be a GOP event, mostly, with one exception in former Lt. Governor Patty Judge.
Bruce Rastetter has made his fortune in the agribusiness, and some are calling him the next kingmaker in Iowa. Rastetter hosted the 10 potential 2016 presidential hopefuls, choosing to have a question and answer session with each, in effect controlling the conversation enough to have candidates answer questions focused towards agriculture in Iowa. The topics focused on renewable fuels, biosciences, GMO’s, grain and livestock markets, land conservation, and federal subsidies.
Nearly 1000 seats, and another 200 plus members of the media filled Elwell Family Food Center.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie started off the day in the hot-seat with Rastetter, and it wasn’t long until protestors inside showed their displeasure with the Governor. The pair of protestors came to show their displeasure towards the Governor because they say their lives are still disrupted from Superstorm Sandy. Joe Mangino was one of those escorted from the event after voicing his opinion.
Christie didn’t seem to miss a beat and joked with Rastetter that he was glad to see New Jersey had come to Iowa. “My people follow me everywhere Bruce, it’s fabulous.”
Christie has been courting Branstad for some time, and used his time with the Governor to try and attach himself to the Governor’s popularity.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee was the Iowa Caucus winner in 2008, and recently left his lucrative job at Fox News to explore the possibility of making a run for President in 2016.
Huckabee, in responding to Rastetter’s question on food labeling, said that he was in favor of some labeling, like where food is imported from. “I don’t want to see us importing food that competes with American food when we’ve got American farmers.”
Huckabee said that we need to get “serious and tough with the Chinese”. “We need to quit apologizing for being America and we need to start making it so Americans can prosper, and not just the Chinese can buy Louis Vuittian and Gucci bags.”
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee speaks with Bruce Rastetter at the first ever Iowa Ag Summit.
Continuing the parade of ex-governors was former Florida Governor Jeb Bush. Bush, like many of the other candidates, found every food or agriculture connection they could find. Bush revealed that he will be “cooking Iowa beef” after church at ‘Sunday Funday’, which brought applause from the audience. Bush said he would like to have labeling that informed him of where his food comes from. “I like the country of origin labeling,” said Bush.
Bush is a new player in the field of 2016 hopefuls. Absent from Steve Kings event just over a month ago, Bush has stormed onto the field, bolstered by a media frenzy.
Former Texas Governor Rick Perry placed himself in the hot seat next. He attempted to liken himself to popular Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Bill Northy, and as the farmer from Texas. His stance on the RFS for ethanol didn’t help him win many from the crowd.
The first Senator after a parade of Governors was another Texan. Senator Ted Cruz said he supports bio-fuels and ethanol. “I think bio-fuels have a major role in the energy market,” said Cruz. Cruz doesn’t believe that ethanol needs the federal mandate, saying that ethanol is now a major player in the market, “and not to have Washington dictate”.
Cruz did spend the majority of his time with Rastetter reverting back to his stump speech, with Rastetter working to bring the Senator back on topic.
South Carolina Lindsey Graham was the unknown man on the stage, but his sense of humor and quick wit helped him become one of the more memorable voices from the day.
Graham says that there will never be an immigration reform bill where you “get everything you want and the other side doesn’t get anything. That’s called life. I want to get this thing fixed and behind us.”
A migrant workforce is important for many agricultural industries in America, and the immigration reform, along with worker reporting issues, are an issue the agri-business world has been looking for a solution to.
I think there was many a shocked face when former New York Governor George Pataki took his turn to answer questions from Rastetter. The mostly unknown 2016 hopeful said he believes that the federal government in American shouldn’t require anyone to buy anything. “Whether it’s renewable fuel or Obamacare.”
Pataki said he believes the RFS should be phased out, but not before other markets are made available.
2012 Iowa Caucus winner Rick Santorum fielded questions from Rastetter and said that he supports RFS and ethanol. Santorum, using his experience on national security, said, “I support it because liquid fuels, historically, have been a big problem for us in this country from a national security perspective.”
Santorum continued his ‘Made in America’ stump, “Invest in American manufacturing and processing,” in an effort “to reclaim our industrial heritage.”
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has been gaining traction in Iowa, gaining the endorsement of some senior Iowa Senators like Brad Zaun (R-Urbandale). Walker walked away from the Freedom Summit being pronounced the winner of his coupon comments, which gained him some support because many people could relate to his story.
Walker called for free open and fair trade around the world, while China, and it’s growing global economic influence, is making its way onto Walkers radar. “We need to be the ones that lead that [global economic influence] so that it’s free and fair and open,” said Walker.
