U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-New Hartford, Iowa) was on C-SPAN yesterday. A caller asked Grassley about his tenure as an elected official. Here’s the video. (UPDATE: here’s another video — a little Grassley’s Greatest Hits remix, but I give you this link with the advice that this is not family friendly and might be frowned upon in some workplaces.)
Below is a transcript of the exchange on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal.
“I’m noticing from your biography that you’ve been working since 1952 in some form of government capacity both in Iowa and in the House of Representatives and the congress,” the caller began.
Grassley interjected: “Does that biography say I’ve spent 50 years as a farmer as well?”
“Well, I was going to ask that as well, whether you’re getting any subsidies, or whether you have been getting any government subsidies…”
Grassley interrupts again: “Yes, I participate in the farm program.”
Caller: “Oh, you do, OK…”
Grassley continues to talk over the caller: “Because I farm 50/50 with my son and you divide things 50/50, yes.”
The caller’s voice sort of fades up: “…offs for over half a century in some form or another….”
Grassley continues talking over the man: “And I made, for the first 16 years, I made $3000 every other year as a state legislator. Now, do you expect me to live on $3000 every other year? No, I was a factory worker for 10 years and I was a farmer for that period of time and farm with my son now, so if you’re trying to make a case that I’ve lived off the public tit all these years, I think you’re saying correctly the years I’ve been in the congress but not for the years before I came to congress.”
About O.Kay Henderson
Kay is a founding member of the Radio Iowa network newsroom. In 1994, she became the network’s news director. She’s a featured reporter and commentator on Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press,” and the 2002 recipient of the Shelley Award.
To be honest, I think he is saying “teat,” which is perhaps more colloquialism or even ag vernacular than vulgarity. Perhaps the senator should be more deliberate about elongating the vowel and make sure it’s an “e” and not an “i” in future interview settings. But what do I know, he’s been in the senate since before I could vote.
From 1995-2006 Subsidy Total $699,248.27
Crop Summary for Robin Grassley
Crop Payments
1995-2006
Corn Subsidies $522,676
Soybean Subsidies $121,519
Wheat Subsidies $3,132
Oat Subsidies $102
wow, he and 50/50 Robin claimed $102 for Oats………..did they really need to do that ?
I’m under the impression that the Senate has generous health and retirement plans, too.
He might not have lived off of the goverment tit but he’s sure been sucking on it for a long time.