Candidates tout their farm crendentials
Obama was trying to suggest to small-operation farmers at a Des Moines farm summit that Edwards has changed positions on policies regarding confined-animal feeding operations, which Obama referred to by the acronym CAFO.
The Edwards campaign jabbed back, saying that its candidate is the only one who supports a national moratorium on such confinements because of the environmental destruction they cause.
Five Democratic presidential candidates laid out their vision for rural America at the 2007 Food and Family Farm Presidential Summit, an event in Des Moines hosted by the Iowa Farmers Union, which advocates for preserving small family farms. No Republican candidates attended.
Obama, a U.S. senator from Illinois, told the crowd of about 250: "When I hear other candidates say they'll stand up for the special interests on the matters that are a concern to you, on CAFOs, I'm reminded that the test of leadership isn't what you say, it's what you do. Voting records matter.
"Unlike other candidates who have changed their position on CAFOs, I've looked at this issue as a matter of principle, not politics," he added. "That's why I've always stood for tougher environmental regulations and local control over whether CAFOs can be built in your neighborhoods."
In 2002, Edwards, a former U.S. senator from North Carolina, voted against a lower payment limit for farm subsidies, and against legislation called a "packer ban" that would have banned meatpackers from owning their own supplies of hogs. Edwards now supports both subsidy limits and a so-called packer ban.
CAFO operators say well-run facilities are a safe, efficient way to raise hogs and compete in the world market. But many neighbors say the facilities stink up the air and foul the water, devastate their property values, and drive small farmers out of business.
Within seconds of stepping on stage shortly after Obama, Edwards said he would stand up against "these huge corporate operations" and enforce a ban both on new construction and expansion of confined-animal feeding operations.
"Just to be clear about this, I have been fighting these people, these big corporations that are driving you out of business, I have been fighting them my entire life," said Edwards, a former trial lawyer.
An Edwards Iowa spokesman, Dan Leistikow, said in an interview: "Senator Obama has been consistently against a moratorium."
Here's what the candidates had to say:
JOE BIDEN: The U.S. senator from Delaware said he is "smart enough to pursue policies that help farmers by connecting the dots between farm policy, foreign policy and economic policy."
Biden said agriculture is the single biggest industry in his home state.
"So I'm here to just get a little respect," he said. "That's all I'm looking for. Just a little respect. I'm one of those boys from the East Coast that knows a hell of lot about agriculture."
He said he supports limits on farm subsidies.
HILLARY CLINTON: She supports investing in renewable energy sources, tax credits for small businesses that stay in rural America, fixing crumbling infrastructure, and "a national broadband strategy to bring the Information Age to every corner of our country."
"I am confident and optimistic that with the right leadership, we'll be proud of our country again and we'll make progress together," said Clinton, who also supports limiting farm subsidies.
EDWARDS: He said he's the candidate "who grew up in rural America. I don't have to read it in a book somewhere. I don't have somebody to explain it to me. I've seen it up close.
"One of the things that worries me about these presidential candidates is, sometimes I think they think of farmers and agriculture and rural America as a place to fly over when you're going from New York to California," Edwards said. "Well, that's not what it is for me."
CHRIS DODD: The U.S. senator from Connecticut said renewable energy is a priority, as well as ending "the digital divide."
He said he would have a secretary of agriculture "who comes from farm America," and a justice department that would start enforcing the anti-trust laws.
Dodd said he would insist on trade policies that ensure prices of American farm products aren't undercut.
"I will never sign, I will never, ever sign as your president, a trading agreement that doesn't have labor standards, environmental standards and health standards in it," he said.
OBAMA: He said that, upon taking office, he would hold a summit on rural issues in Iowa, bringing Democrats and Republicans together. "We'll take action on a rural agenda in my first 100 days in office," he said.
