The South Of Iowa blog on the recent discovery that Democratic Iowa Secretary of Agriculture candidate Denise O'Brien and her husband starved cattle to death in 1987:
There is no excuse for these cattle dying and being starved. I don't care if the calves were two counties away; they are living creatures, as well as sizeable investments, and no bridge being out should keep anyone away from checking on them. Where was the feed for these calves? This incident took place over the summer - the time of the year when hay and pasture would have been available.
To be honest, this shows POOR leadership on Denise's part - instead of being at home helping take care of her own livestock (and way to generate income), she was off in Des Moines or wherever else trying to save everyone else's farms but her own.
Anyone who lets animals die on their watch should not be allowed near them again, and sure as hell should not be allowed to be in charge of Iowa's agriculture. It doesn't make any difference if Harris was the one named in the charge - he and O'Brien were partners in this operation.
In the response on The Big Show to the incident, O'Brien's campaign manager (a non-Iowan) tried to change the tune, saying that Bill Northey's $1 million investment in Brazillian farmland is MUCH worse than a few calves dying, and that Denise was not involved. Unfortunately, this is showing the bad side of Denise. Attacking a political opponent while offering a non-apology apology seems to be a common theme in the Democratic party these day.
Having livestock die on you is not unusual in farming - baby pigs get laid on, calves are stillborn, cows die of old age, etc. But, when you simply neglect your duties and your livestock starve and die, it cannot be construed as anything but intentional. Death by starvation takes a long time; it is cruel, and at anytime it can be stopped by providing water and feed. Apparantly, Harris and O'Brien didn't even lift a finger to go drive around the down bridge and check on their cattle for 4 months. What does this tell you?
Some might say that digging up a 19 year old incident is dirty, and what happened then should be left behind. I might agree if the O'Brien had gotten a speeding ticket in 1987. But having livestock die because of your intentional neglect and then running for Secretary of Agriculture is like someone running for State Auditor that has a larceny conviction on their record. It just isn't the thing to have in your background for the position you are trying to win.
Compare and contrast this to the Political Forecast's excuse-making:
Look, no matter how you spin it, what happened is tragic and sad. But the situation was dealt with responsibly and as Sand pointed out, was an isolated incident that happened two decades ago.
Can you imagine what the Political Forecast would be saying if the Republican candidate, Bill Northey, had been busted for starving cattle to death in the past?
The Des Moines Register actually mentions the story in today's newspaper, but they sort of shrug it off.
It was the hired hand's fault!!!!
It was on a piece of land not easily accessible from the main farm!!!!
Denise O'Brien was away doing Really Important Work for women!!!!
Republicans are unable to win on the issues!!!!
[It] was an isolated incident that happened two decades ago!!!!
It is a cheap shot from Northey and his Republican cohorts!!!!
I'm 52 years old, and I don't know much about technology!!!! I don't even know how to send a response to an e-mail, that's how technologically deficient I am!!!!
If I saw it, I don’t recall!!!!
I was there to be a rubber stamp!!!! That was my function!!!!
I had made a deliberate choice to appear before the subcommittee without medication!!!!
It was a botched joke!!!!
I actually voted for the $87 billion before I voted against it!!!!
I made immediate and repeated efforts to save Mary Jo by diving into the strong and murky current but succeeded only in increasing my state of utter exhaustion and alarm!!!!
I did not have sex with that woman!!!!
Bitch set me up!!!!
Jews have bought everybody!!!! J-E-W-S!!!!
Did I win the Lotto????
Related: Democrat Denise O'Brien Starved Cattle To Death
0 comments:
Post a Comment