10/16/08 Agriculture on the Campaign Trail

Agriculture on the Campaign Trail. I'm Greg Martin with today's Line On Agriculture. This week we are taking a look at what the candidates have to say about agriculture from a couple of spokesperson at a recent Farm Foundation Forum. John McCain is represented by former Ag Secretary John Block and Barak Obama is represented by former Assistant Secretary of Ag, Jim Webster. Once again, John Block for McCain. BLOCK: It's appropriate if we've got a wet hole out in our field we ought to be able to tile it out. We shouldn't have the government telling us what we can or can't do. And I'm not saying that Senator Obama is going to get in there and try to tell us what we can't do but I will tell you this, he's got a lot of people in his party  in his party that would like to tell us. And once the election is over, should he win, you know what  who's going to hold our finger in the dyke? Because it'll be Obama and his party off on the left hand side of the road taking us down that route and it's a very worrisome thing to me. In closing, let me just say I trust John McCain. I've known him over the years  not agreed all the time but he's a great American and he is indeed ready and prepared and experienced enough to lead our country in these difficult times. Thank you. Finally Jim Webster for Obama. WEBSTER: I think that the events of the last month in financial markets, in the economy have taught us one thing. We cannot know what the next crisis is going to look like after a new President takes office in January. We may have some bright minds in this room and I see a lot of them but none of us knows with any precision what that next crisis is going to be. For farmers, for voters in rural America, for all those who depend on agriculture the question comes down  who do want to be steering the ship? A President who is cool and calm and collected under pressure? A President that cares about farming and agriculture who is willing to work to help the countryside and have the government step up to the plate to help? Or do you want a President with a consistent record of hostility to farm and rural issues? I submit it's the former ladies and gentlemen and I thank you for your time. Election Day is only a few weeks away. It is important to exercise your right to vote but make sure it is an informed vote. That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.