The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A war on U.S. farmers?
State Republicans show support for presidential hopeful.
DES MOINES, IOWA — Donald Trump warned Saturday of a “war on the American farmer,” telling a crowd in Iowa that rival Hillary Clinton “wants to shut down family farms” and implement anti-agriculture policies.
Trump’s speech at the annual “Roast and Ride” fundraiser for Republican Sen. Joni Ernst came just hours after Clinton got her first national security briefing as the Democratic presidential nominee.
Trump skipped the 42-mile motorcycle ride that preceded Ernst’s event in a state where polls show a tight contest. Joining him on stage were top Iowa Republicans — among them Ernst, Gov. Terry Branstad, Sen. Chuck Grassley and Rep. Steve King — in a rare show of support for a candidate who has struggled to unite his party.
Trump renewed his commitment to continuing a requirement that all gasoline sold contain an ethanol-based additive, an issue key to Iowa corn growers. He also promised to cut taxes on family farms, which he called the “backbone” of the country.
“Hillary Clinton wants to shut down family farms just like she wants to shut down the mines and the steelworkers,” he said. “She will do this not only through radical regulation, but also by raising taxes on family farms — and all businesses — to rates as high as nearly 50 percent.”
Clinton’s campaign website touts a plan to increase funding to support farmers and ranchers in local food markets and regional food systems, saying she will create a “focused safety net to help family farms get through challenging times.” It also says she plans to target federal resources in commodity payment, crop insurance, and disaster assistance programs to support family operations.
Branstad, in an interview prior to the speech, said he felt that Trump could score points against Clinton by focusing on agricultural issues. The governor, whose son runs Trump’s campaign in the state, said he also hopes Trump will launch campaign ads there and he sees the race as “about even.”
“I don’t like that but, hopefully, that’s going to change,” Branstad said.
Speaking to an overwhelmingly white crowd, Trump again pledged that as president he would help African-Americans living in cities with high crime and low employment. He offered no specifics for how he would achieve that goal. He also continued to criticize Clinton for branding some young criminals as “super-predators” in comments more than 20 years ago. Clinton has since apologized for the remark, which some — including Trump — branded as racist.
“Remember that? ‘Super-predators,’ ” Trump said. “And they were very, very insulted. But now people have forgotten.”
Amid his ongoing appeal to black voters, Trump drew an online backlash Saturday for a tweet he sent in response to the shooting death of NBA star Dwayne Wade’s cousin, who was gunned down Friday while pushing a baby carriage near a Chicago school where she had planned to register her children.
“Just what I have been saying. African-Americans will VOTE TRUMP!” Trump tweeted. He later sent a second tweet offering his “condolences to Dwyane Wade and his family.”
Campaigning in Florida, Clinton running mate Tim Kaine said, “We ought to be extending our sympathy to the family,” and added, “That’s the only reaction that’s appropriate right now.”
Clinton met Saturday for more than two hours with intelligence officials at the FBI office in White Plains, N.Y., for her first overview of the major threats facing the nation around the globe since becoming the Democratic nominee.
Trump received his briefing earlier this month, a customary move for major party nominees but one that has been the subject of a political tussle during the campaign. Trump critics have questioned whether he could responsibly handle sensitive information, while some of Clinton’s critics say her use of a private email server while secretary of state raises concern over her ability to protect classified information.