Congressman Bruce Braley (D-IA) during a recent trip to Texas for a fundraiser with trail lawyers he was breaking down the importance of Iowa’s U.S. Senate race. In doing so he was caught on video making a swipe at U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) that won’t win him support among Iowa’s rural voters:
“To put this is stark contrast, if you help me win this race, you’ll have someone with your background, your experience, your voice, somebody who’s been literally fighting tort reform for 30 years in a visible and public way on the Senate Judiciary Committee,” Braley said. “Or you might have a farmer from Iowa who never went to law school, never practiced law, serving as the next chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Because if Democrats lose the majority, Chuck Grassley will be the next chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.”
“Bruce Braley thinks the way to suck up to Texas trial lawyers is by bashing Iowa farmers. How out of touch with Iowa can you be? I call on Braley to immediately apologize to Senator Grassley, and every other farmer in Iowa,” State Senator Joni Ernst, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, responded.
“On a day when we here in Iowa are celebrating the 100th anniversary of Iowa’s own Norman Borlaug’s birth, and on National Agriculture Day itself, Braley’s comments are stunningly offensive. As an Iowa farm girl myself, I find it amusing that Braley thinks what Iowans need is yet another trial lawyer or outside Texas influences…what we need are simply more good old Iowa values,” Ernst added.
“Once again, trial lawyer Bruce Braley is proving how grossly out of touch he is. Not only is Bruce Braley no friend to farmers, but no friend to Iowans,” said NRSC Press Secretary Brook Hougesen. “Bruce Braley might be trained to fool a jury, but his double talking persona and liberal views aren’t going to fool middle class Iowans. At the end of the day, he’s just another slick trial lawyer turned slick politician that would leave Iowans to reap what Bruce Braley sowed.”
“It will be my honor to serve with Chuck Grassley in the U.S. Senate promoting Iowa values,” said Sam Clovis, a Republican candidate in Iowa’s U.S. Senate race. “Maybe if Braley did a fraction of the town halls in Iowa that Chuck Grassley does, he’d know better how Iowans feel about condescending politicians.”
“How dare Bruce Braley attack Iowans for not being trial lawyers. Bruce Braley prefers to side with trial lawyers over the economic and moral well-being of America. Bruce Braley’s votes in the U.S. House prove that he will stand for laws that are unjust and wrong for Iowans. Chuck Grassley’s service in the United States Senate are a testament to his integrity and hard work for Iowans. His background, knowledge and dedication to public service go above and beyond what Bruce Braley will ever do for Iowans,” Clovis added.
“Bruce Braley apparently thinks he was sent to Washington to fight for tort reform. He is out of step with Iowans and his remarks about Senator Grassley are elitist and condescending,” said Matt Whitaker, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate and a former U.S. Attorney. “This fall, Iowans will have a choice. We can choose someone who will be a check on the last two years of the Obama administration or we can choose someone who thinks that Iowa farmers are a punch line.”
“Bruce Braley just insulted Iowa, its farmers and the millions of people who depend on farmers everyday. For months, Bruce Braley has tried to paint himself as someone who understands Iowans and can relate to the people across the state. But when the public cameras are off, we see how Bruce Braley really feels. Unfortunately for him there was a camera that was on, and it captured his real feelings about everyday, hardworking Iowans, and the rich farming history of this state,” said outgoing Republican Party of Iowa Chairman A.J. Spiker.
“I’m proud to call Chuck Grassley my Senator and believe he would make an excellent Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee if he were named so. Braley appeared to have a good laugh by bragging about being a trial lawyer and making fun of framers. That may play well to a room full of liberal lawyers, but it’s not a laughing matter to the hardworking Iowans he’s mocking. This upcoming race for U.S. Senate proves we need someone who understands Iowans, not just another politician with a big head who’s going to talk down to people. What happens when an Iowan calls Braley’s office for aid but they don’t have the formal education or degree that Braley deems is good enough? Having a degree or a diploma on the wall doesn’t equate to common sense. Barack Obama taught classes on Constitutional law for instance and we seen what he’s done to our Constitution over the last five years. Bruce Braley can have more degrees than a thermometer for all I care, but he’s still clueless,” Spiker added.
“Senator Grassley and all Iowa farmers should be celebrated, not denigrated for their tireless work providing food and energy not only for the people of Iowa, but beyond the borders of Iowa and across the globe,” Monte Shaw, Republican candidate in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District and executive director of Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, said. “Having served as his spokesperson on the Senate Committee on Aging and as his Iowa Campaign Manager, I believe Senator Grassley should be thanked for the decades of service he has given to Iowa farmers and families. Congressman Braley’s comments prove that we need an advocate for Iowa agriculture serving the people of Iowa in Congress. As the only candidate with an extensive background advocating for Iowa agriculture, I will take my experience and values to Congress to fight to promote Iowa’s farmers. I, for one, am truly proud of Senator Grassley and the work he has done and I look forward to continuing to fight for Iowa farmers at his side in Congress.”
You can watch the video below:
