An attempt by Rep. Bruce Braley (D-IA) to do some damage control for warning that a mere farmer could become the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee backfired badly.
Braley’s campaign on Wednesday sent out a campaign email highlighting his background in farming — but the press release misspelled basic Iowa farming terms. As the Des Moines Register pointed out, the press release described Braley time on Iowa farms “detassling corn and bailing hay.” As the Register notes, the correct spelling is “detasseling” and “baling.”
The line from the press release read: “Bruce grew up in rural Iowa and worked on Iowa farms, detassling corn and bailing hay. Bruce worked summers at a grain elevator, driving a truck, cleaning out grain bins, and delivering feed.”
Earlier in the week video surfaced of Braley, speaking at a fundraising event, warning that if Republicans take control of the Senate a farmer would run the Senate Judiciary Committee. Braley was referring to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), who is the ranking Republican on the committee. Grassley does not have a law degree.
Here’s the press release, via the Register:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, March 26, 2014
While Bruce Braley Fights for Iowa Farmers, Mark Jacobs Fights for Wall Street
Braley has always delivered for famers: fought for Farm Bill, RFS, & wind energy tax credit, stood up to EPA and administration regulations
DES MOINES, IA – Iowa farmers know that Bruce Braley has a long history of fighting for them in Congress, which is why so many of them stand behind his campaign for US Senate.
Bruce fights for Iowa farmers because of where he comes from. Bruce grew up in rural Iowa and worked on Iowa farms, detassling corn and bailing hay. Bruce worked summers at a grain elevator, driving a truck, cleaning out grain bins, and delivering feed.
Representing Iowans in Congress, Bruce has kept fighting for Iowa farmers and agriculture. That’s why he fought for three years to pass a long-delayed comprehensive Farm Bill. He fought to protect the Renewable Fuel Standard and the Wind Energy Production Tax Credit. Bruce fought the EPA when they tried to impose farm dust regulations on Iowa farmers, and he stood up to the administration when they tried to impose labor restrictions that would stop children from working on their own family farm.
While Bruce Braley has been fighting for Iowa farmers, former top Goldman Sachs executive Mark Jacobs has been calling for the repeal of the Dodd-Frank financial reform law, advocating for a return to his glory days on Wall Street when their reckless behavior crashed our economy while big bankers made millions.
Braley for Iowa spokesman Jeff Giertz said, “Bruce Braley grew up and worked in rural Iowa, and while he’s been fighting for policies that help Iowa farmers and strengthen the middle class, Goldman Sachs executive Mark Jacobs has been calling for a repeal of the Dodd-Frank financial reform law and a return to the days when Wall Street titans like Jacobs crashed our economy and made millions doing it. The choice is clear: Bruce Braley fights for Iowa farmers, and Mark Jacobs fights for Wall Street.”
More than 250 farmers and agricultural producers launched Farmers for Braley back in August, and their numbers continue to grow.
“While some folks try to score political points, Bruce Braley is delivering for Iowa farmers. He’s been a tireless champion for Iowa agriculture because he comes from a rural background. We need more people like him fighting for us in Washington.” -Gary Lamb, Farmer, Chelsea, IA
“There is no question in my mind that Bruce Braley is committed to fighting for Iowa’s farmers. I saw him work to help pass a Farm Bill that provides Iowa farmers with the certainty we need to succeed. It’s because I know him and I’ve seen him work hard for us that I support Bruce and want him to keep fighting for Iowa.” -Bruce Rohwer, Farmer, Paullina, IA.
“We’ve known Bruce Braley for almost 10 years and he has always been a champion for Iowa’s farmers. Beyond his background growing up in rural Iowa, he understands our concerns because he makes it a priority to get out on the farms and talk with us about the challenges we face. As farmers in Iowa, we want Bruce fighting for us in Congress.” -Russ and Donna Winburn, Farmers, Grinnell, IA
“I’ve met Bruce Braley, and shared stories with him about working farm jobs and the local issues that impact Iowa’s farmers every day. He’s always on our side, he understands where we come from and has spent his entire career making sure we have a seat at the table.” -Bob Bell, Farmer, Prole, IA
“When you talk with Bruce Braley about the concerns of Iowa’s farmers, you can easily see he’s genuinely passionate about our lives. That’s because he grew up around agriculture and understands what we go through each and every day. We need someone with that experience standing up for us in Washington.” -Phil Dougherty, Farmer, Dougherty, IA
“Bruce Braley doesn’t just work for Iowa’s farmers, he works with us to ensure the policies coming out of Washington make sense for us. He’s always made our priorities his priorities and that’s why I’m proud to stand with him.” -James Berge, Farmer, Kensett, IA
Bruce Braley was born in Grinnell and grew up in nearby Brooklyn, Iowa. Bruce started delivering newspapers in the 2nd grade and has been working ever since. Growing up, he did jobs like bailing hay, working at a grain elevator, shelling corn, and selling greeting cards door-to-door. He worked in jobs like road construction, truck driving, tending bar, and waiting tables to help pay his way through college and law school.
In the Senate, Bruce Braley will fight for middle class Iowans because that’s where he comes from. He’s working to raise the minimum wage, protect farms, strengthen small businesses, and create good Iowa jobs. Braley lives in Waterloo with his wife, Carolyn. They have three grown children: Lisa, David, and Paul.
