Radio Iowa

Raising Social Security As Issue in Legislative Race?

U.S. Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) spoke with a few Iowa reporters by telephone this morning from his home on a farm near New Hartford.  After briefing us about his travel schedule through some flood-damaged eastern Iowa towns today, Grassley launched into the following commentary about political advertising: "I was sitting here in my living room watching some commercials about state legislative races and I observed one that was a negative ad against somebody by the name of Schulte where the Democrat was accusing this Republican candidate of being for privatizing Social Security and something else dealing with some of Bush's economic programs and we don't need more of that, and I just wonder how much the Democrats running for office know about government -- that state legislative candidates don't have anything to do with Social Security or anything to do with Bush's economic programs, that they're running for the state legislature.  They're not running for congress and I think I've seen some similar ads, maybe not exactly the same, used against other candidates and I wondered just what sort of qualifications some of these candidates have if they don't know that their opponent doesn't have anything to do with Social Security.  Do they think they're going to Des Moines to do something about Social Security?  It reminds me after the 1964 landslide there was a Democratic candidate elected and he didn't know whether he was going to Washington or Des Moines to serve his people and I would just hope that people would keep state legislative issues and state candidate races to state issues not trying to confuse the public -- unless the candidates for the Democrats don't know the difference."

I've run into a couple of people in Windsor Heights, a Des Moines suburb, who say the Democrat in a state legislative race in their area has raised the Social Security issue.  "Do they think we're that dumb?" one of my elderly friends asked me.  Brooke Borkenhagen, spokeswoman for the Iowa Democratic Party, has not responded to a request for comment regarding Grassley's assertions.

UPDATE:  At 5:54 p.m. (about 8 hours after this was posted) Borkenhagen issued the following statement via email:  "Renee Schulte’s judgment in supporting George Bush’s failed policies is fair game.  Like George Bush and John McCain, Renee Schulte and Iowa Republicans want to privatize Social Security, which 558,000 Iowans rely on.  The crisis on Wall Street has shown just how disastrous privatization would be for Iowa families. Iowans should take a close look at the judgment of Iowa Republicans who still want to risk our Social Security on Wall Street." 

CNN: McCain pulling out of Iowa?

CNN's John King reports the McCain campaign may be crossing Iowa off it's "to do" list.  Obama is due in Des Moines on Thursday (see update below) and there is a rumor out that McCain intends to "do" Meet the Press on Sunday -- from Waterloo, Iowa, so the signs are confusing as to Iowa's place in the electoral college equation.

UPDATE -- this just released this evening by the Obama campaign: Senator Barack Obama’s visit to Iowa on Thursday has been cancelled.  Please see the below statement from Senior Adviser Robert Gibbs.

"Senator Obama's grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, has always been one of the most important people in his life. Along with his mother and his grandfather, she raised him in Hawaii from the time he was born until the moment he left for college. As he said at the Democratic Convention, she poured everything she had into him.

“Recently, his Grandmother has become ill, and in the last few weeks, her health has deteriorated to the point where her situation is very serious. It is for that reason that Senator Obama has decided to change his schedule on Thursday and Friday so that he can see her and spend some time with her.  He will be returning to the campaign trail on Saturday."

In Memoriam: Grant Price

One of the pioneers in Iowa broadcasting has died. Grant Price was 85.  Wartburg Magazine produced a profile of Grant in 2005.

The Iowa Broadcast News Association's annual $1000 student scholarship is named in Price's honor.  Price did not retire easily. He helped found an archive of Iowa broadcast journalism and earlier this year won an award for his dedication to the project.

MONDAY UPDATE from the Iowa Broadcast News Association:  A tribute to Grant Price, including file video clips, has been posted at the Archives of Iowa Broadcasting Web site. There are also tributes posted on the main page of the Iowa Broadcast News Association and at the IBNA’s online newsletter site.

Dole, McGovern talk about the campaign, the economy

Bob Dole and George McGovern are co-winners of this year's $250,000 World Food Prize for their work on the issue of world hunger and they've been in Des Moines this week for WFP festivities  The two men were guests on last night's "Iowa Journal" on IPTV.  At the end of the program, host Paul Yeager asked the two about the current political campaign and what they would say to the country were they president today.  (McGovern was the 1972 Democratic nominee for president; Dole was the 1996 Republican nominee for president.)

Yeager:  "I can't let two guys who've run for president off the hook on this race that's going on right now...Have you been asked for any advice?"

Dole:  "I've given a little advice...I've talked to McCain himself about some things I thought that might be helpful, but I'm not really a part of the campaign...I'm just watching it like everyone else...I'm more concerned about the race in North Carolina.  I don't even go on TV programs because I might say something that would be misinterpreted by somebody in North Carolina that would impact what my wife might be doing."

Yeager:  "We'll let you off the hook on that one and I'll go to Senator McGovern now.  What advice would you have for the Obama camp?"

McGovern:  "I already talked to him about my advice and that's to, if (Obama) gets elected, to give high priority to the international school lunch and the WIC program transferred to an internal scale and he says he's sympathetic to that.  He didn't tell me how much he was going to ask, but I got a pretty clear answer that he's in favor of what Senator Dole and I are trying to do."

Dole:  "Whoever's in has got to learn one lesson and that's congress is different than a state legislature and you've got to wrap your arms around the members, the leaders in both parties and work together.  We've got real problems that have to be addressed."

Yeager:  "One problem has been the economy....Tonight, you're the president and you're delivering the address at eight o'clock to the nation.  In 30 seconds, what do you say, senator, to the nation about this economy and what they should do -- to calm fears?"

Dole:  "I'd probably say, 'I've forgotten my script. I'll come back tomorrow evening.' (There's laughter among all three on the TV set) 

Yeager: "It's a challenging time."

Dole: "What do you (say)? You know, when the market drops 100 points -- why did it happen? I don't know and I'm not sure that anybody knows. I mean I talk to a lot of these people that are in the corporate world.  It's going to bottom out one of these days and then people are going to start making money.  They're going to start buying equities and making some money, but I thought it was going to be today, but it wasn't today."

Yeager:  "Senator McGovern, same question: what do you say to the nation in light of what's happened?"

McGovern: "I'd just say be cautious how you invest.  Be cautious how big that mortgage is, that you may have to pay for the kind of house you'd really like to have and have one more that's more within your means. Those are a couple of things I think we've learned, but I've yet to meet a human being that really knows exactly what to do about this crisis.  Have you found that Bob?"

Dole:  "No, but I think you touched on it -- personal responsibility.  Owning a house is the 'American Dream' but some of them have to wait a while."

Lovable Losers?

WHO-TV's Dave Price wrote a blog post headlined "Lovable Losers" yesterday, noting several second-place folks had flooded into Iowa.  I'll amplify on his point.  There are 10 men living today who have been the presidential nominee of one of the two major political parties in the U.S. and three of them were in Iowa yesterday.  John Kerry, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, campaigned around the state on behalf of Barack Obama.  George McGovern, the 1972 Democratic presidential nominee, and Bob Dole, the 1996 Republican presidential nominee, are both in Des Moines for World Food Prize festivities. Dole & McGovern are recipients of this year's $250,000 World Food Prize for their collaboration in congress on world hunger issues.

Howard Dean, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee who ran for president in 2004, is in Iowa on a two-day swing, headlining rallies around the state targeting young voters.  Mr. Price also noted that Al Gore, the 2000 Democratic presidential nominee, was in Iowa earlier this month.  Price closed with this:  All we need now is to invite Ernie Banks from the Chicago Cubs and Jim Kelly from the Buffalo Bills. We can have the first annual second place convention.

If Mr. Price intends to organize a "Second Place" convention, he might want to invite Bo Bice and Clay Aiken.  How about Fran Tarkenton or any of the people who've lost to Roger Federer at Wimbledon?  Dave, do not invite Suzette Charles, the runner up to Vanessa Williams in the 1984 Miss America contest as you may recall Williams resigned and Charles assumed the duties of Miss America.  Dave, you may invite Halle Berry, though.  Berry finished first runner up in the 1986 MissUSA pageant.

Lovable losers?

WHO-TV's Dave Price headlined his blog post "Lovable Losers" and used the graphic of a red ribbon carrying the words "2nd Place" on it.  I'll amplify it a bit.  There are 10 men living today who have been a major party candidate for the presidency and three of them were in Iowa yesterday.  John Kerry, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, campaigned for Obama.  Bob Dole, the 1996 Republican presidential nominee, is in Iowa to attend World Food Prize events.  George McGovern, the 1972 Democratic presidential nominee, is in Iowa to attend World Food Prize events, too.  That's because Dole & McGovern are the co-winners of this year's $250,000 World Food Prize for their work in congress on world hunger.

Newsman Price did not mention that Howard Dean, the current chairman of the Democratic National Committee, the former Vermont governor and the 2004 Democratic presidential candidate, is in the midst of a two-day swing through Iowa to rally young voters.  Price did mention that Al Gore -- another one of that exclusive club of 10 -- was in Iowa earlier this month.  Price closed with this observation: All we need now is to invite Ernie Banks from the Chicago Cubs and Jim Kelly from the Buffalo Bills. We can have the first annual second place convention.

I'll keep an eye out for Jimmy Carter, Walter Mondale and Michael Dukakis sightings in Iowa.  If Mr. Price oganizes one of these "Second Place" Conventions he might want to invite Bo Bice or Clay Aiken.  How about Fran Tarkenton?  Or how about any of the many tennis players who have fnished second to Roger Federer at Wimbledon?  Don't invite Suzette Charles, Dave.  She was the runner-up to Vanessa Williams in the 1984 Miss America pageant, but remember she became Miss America when Williams resigned.  Dave you can invite Halle Berry, first runner up in the 1986 MissUSA pageant.

New U-of-I poll on Obama's religion

A new poll from the University of Iowa's Social Science Research Center asked registered voters about Obama's religion.  The full results, as detailed in a news release from the university, are below. 

Greenwald pleased by Latham attack

The headline may be incongruous, but it's accurate when you see the quote from this morning's news conference at fourth district congressional candidate Becky Greenwald's headquarters. "I think the biggest hope we have is knowing that he's actually on the attack," Greenwald says. "I'm mean he's a 14-year congressman. You don't see the other congressional members attacking their opponents, so I think this is a nice turn of events."

Greenwald, as you may know, is a Democrat from Perry who is challenging Republican Congressman Tom Latham of Ames in the November election.  Just before this morning's news conference began, Greenwald made this observation as she saw the lectern full of five microphones.  "You should know this is a record number of microphones for me."  You can listen to the entire 10 minute news conference here.

The attack Greenwald references is a news release issued by the Latham campaign on Monday.

McCain mailer hits Obama over floods

The Politico's Jonathan Martin has the images.  The McCain camp has sent mail into eastern Iowa and has placed "robocalls" critical of Obama and other Democrats in congress for their response to the springtime floods in Iowa.  A spokesman for Obama calls it "disgraceful." 

Hartsuch says he was "snubbed" by McCain

David Hartsuch of Bettendorf, the GOP candidate in Iowa's first congressional district, did nto get to speak at Republican presidential candidate John McCain's rally in Davenport on Saturday.  Hartsuch issued a news release to complain about being "snubbed." Read the Hartsuch news release after the jump (he accuses McCain of having "gay pride") followed by the McCain campaign's two-sentence response.