FeedPolitics: Schock picks up Farm Bureau endorsements
August 27, 2008 in Politics Tags: 18th District, Aaron Schock, agriculture, Colleen Callahan, Farm Bureau
(press release)
ILLINOIS FARM BUREAU ENDORSES AARON SCHOCK FOR CONGRESS
Key constituency in 18th District endorses Schock
Agriculture leaders support Schock’s “depth on the issues”
The Illinois Farm Bureau has voted to endorse Representative Aaron Schock’s candidacy for Congress in Illinois’ 18th District. Schock has earned the Farm Bureau endorsement over his opponents, Democratic Party nominee Colleen Callahan and Green Party nominee Sheldon Shafer.
“I have worked hard in the General Assembly to develop a good voting record on agriculture and a strong relationship with the Farm Bureau,” said Schock. “I am gratified the Farm Bureau appreciates my record of being an effective advocate for farmers.”
“I am determined to successfully advocate on behalf of the economic interests of my district and with agriculture being the number one industry here, that certainly requires fully understanding the concerns of farmers,” Schock continued.
Farm Bureau leaders from all over the 18th District recently met to hold extensive interviews with both candidates. These ACTIVATOR trustees came away favoring Schock and impressed by his command of agriculture issues and his positions on the issues.
The Farm Bureau is the largest organization of farmers in the nation, with more than 418,000 members in Illinois. Their endorsement is one of the most prized endorsements in the Congressional district.
“We cannot take the prosperity and competitiveness of our farmers for granted,” said Schock. “Our government needs to be pro-active in ensuring adequate markets for agricultural commodities, efficient transportation for those commodities, providing a secure and stable energy supply, along with low taxes and reasonable rewards for hard work.”
Aside from communicating their endorsement directly to the tens of thousands of their members in the 18th District, the Farm Bureau ACTIVATOR committee will also contribute financially to Schock’s campaign.
(press release)
August 27, 2008
Rep. Schock earns Congressional endorsement from farm organization
For Immediate Release
ACTIVATOR, the political involvement fund of Illinois Agricultural Association, is endorsing State Representative Aaron Schock of Peoria in his bid for Congress.
Rep. Schock is the Republican nominee in the 18th Congressional District that covers all or most of Adams, Logan, Marshall, Mason, Morgan, Peoria, Pike, Sangamon, Schuyler, Tazewell, and Woodford County and portions of Cass, Macon, Putnam, and Scott County.
18th District ACTIVATOR Committee Chairman Dennis Hughes of Macon County acknowledged Schock’s experience as a state legislator and his sensitivity to agricultural and rural issues. If elected, Schock said he will ask to serve on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee.
“Aaron recognizes that agriculture represents the largest industry in the 18th District. He supports making the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts permanent, understands the importance of farm programs and trade, and will vote to expand domestic supplies of energy – including renewable fuels,” Hughes said.
Schock was born in rural Minnesota and grew up on a cattle and grain farm before moving to the Peoria area, which has one of the nation’s highest concentrations of ethanol producers. In addition to biofuels, Schock supports domestic oil and natural gas exploration, clean coal technology, and an expansion of nuclear energy as part of a comprehensive energy package.
“Our ACTIVATOR committee was impressed by Aaron’s resume, his ideas, and his enthusiasm for public service. We are pleased that he wants to serve on the agriculture committee and believe he will be an energetic and responsive voice in Washington for the citizens of our district,” Hughes said.
The Illinois Agricultural Association, also known as Illinois Farm Bureau, is the state’s largest general farm organization with more than 418,000 members.
August 27th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
That’s smart. Throw your support behind the person who wasn’t on the radio for years specifically reporting agriculture issues. I guess that’s why they’re in the Farm Bureau instead of NASA.
August 27th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Schock shows depth of issues? Where is the foresightedness to promote non-food crops like switchgrass for use as biofuel? That way we can adress the growing shortages in both food AND fuel and make a prophet as well. The only one with that kind of vision is Sheldon Schafer of the Green Party. Both Democrats and Republicans are turning themselves inside out to prove how “green” they are, but they are johnny-come-latelies, trailing after the Green Party’s lead. We know who the real leaders are, and they are not found amongst Democrats or Republicans, but amongst Greens like Schafer.
August 27th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
No doubt the Farm Bureau endorsement was probably voted on ONLY by the Bureau’s Board of Directors… probably just a handful of suits. They are historically GOP and I’m guessing they chose Shock based solely on his party affiliation (but if somebody can prove me wrong, feel free).
As for the farmers in the field, who I speak with regularly, one thing is clear: the everyday, hard-working “Joe Farmer” is squarely behind the CALLAHAN campaign.
In fact, a Tazewell farmer that I spoke to last week told me this: “That last time I did NOT vote a straight GOP ticket was when I voted for Harry Truman [1948]. That’s the last Democrat I voted for, and it was the right choice. So I guess that means a good Democrat only rolls around once every 50 years - because this year, I’m a Republican farmer for CALLAHAN!
(PS: By the way, if the ‘BoyWonder’ is so proud of the Farm Bureau endorsement, why did he wait almost 3 weeks to publicize it???)
August 27th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
“and make a prophet as well”…..I think the Dems are already attempting that at the national level.
August 27th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Plaudits, Bill, for two consecutive Schock posts sans wry commentary.
August 27th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
That’s funny, Peo, because the only ones I hear referring to him as a messiah are Republicans.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
What an insult to Coleen Callahan! I think the Farm Bureau needs a new board of directors.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Linda, you didn’t see what the Farm Bureau members saw. They grilled each candidate extensively. Callahan was all superficial platitudes. Schock had depth and offered detailed answers to every question. She has been in the business a long time but apparently she is good simply at reading scripts because when off the script, she did not perform well. She actively sought the endorsement.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
lee: I appreciate what you’re saying, but it’s very clear that the real farmers know that CALLAHAN is a farm advocate! “Joe Farmer” is supporting Callahan because they know that she understands them on their level… the farmers in the field (not the suits in the Board room) trust Callahan’s 30+ years in agri-business and having spent more years on a farm than Shock has spent breathing.
August 27th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Ginny, how is it very clear what farmers are thinking? Just because you have spoken to a vast minority of the farmers in the district does not mean you have a clear opinion on what they are thinking. None of us do.
The farm bureau endorsement is something that matters. If it wasn’t, Colleen wouldn’t have so heavily sought their support - suit wearing farmers or not.
August 27th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
Doesn’t surprise me , they know a winner when they see one … Aaron will do a great job for all the people. Go Aaron!!!!!!!! . I have watched this young man and he is going places. He’s a very hard worker and i support him all the way.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:40 am
It’s likely not the farmers who will be as influenced by this endorsement as the non-farmers who will see that CC did not get the endorsment, despite her ag background, and be given pause enough to think something more of AS.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:43 am
On the contrary, Ms. Callahan’s comments from the news last night could be construed as offensive to Farmers. She stated they only voted for Schock because of the “R” after his name. So apparently they are incapable of having any legitimate opinion of their own?
August 28th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Sorry… that was in response to Lindas comment #7. A few of us posted at the same time.
August 28th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Several thoughts and responses:
“Why did he wait 3 weeks to publicize the endorsement?” Because smart campaigns roll out information in a strategic way, when it will have the most impact, e.g. during the conventions when people’s minds begin to turn to politics.
“It must have been only the board of directors who made the vote.” No, the Farm Bureau is one of the most archane endorsement processes. It requires approval by “activators” in each county farm bureau, meaning that it perhaps the most grassroots endorsement int he state. Far more than the IFT endorsement which is often voted on by the executive board of the State IFT after “consultation” with the locals.
“The endorsement was all partisan.” So apparently Dave Koehler and Mike Smith are recent GOP converts? Laughable! I think you could fairly criticize the farm bureau as simply backing the winner, lots of groups side with candidates they perceive are a lock if their answers are good enough. Or we take their answers at face value and assume AS did his homework and was knowledgable about farm issues. But any way you slice it, this endorsement is nothing short of a dagger into Colleen’s political heart. It would be like Jim McConnaghey NOT receiving a Chamber endorsement.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:37 am
A fatal dagger? Hardly. If you eat, you might think again about this endorsement.
Callahan is a journalist, not a PR flack for the agriculture business. In that role as a truth teller she may have offended the farm establishment by telling the truth instead of using their spin. Is it payback time?
Voters should judge her on policy issues, and not whether she has curried favor with agri-business.
Members of Congress should represent the public interest, not special interests.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:57 am
Elaine, Colleen WAS a journalist before she was a PR flak, including FOR the “agri-business” who now opposes her. I’m not saying her “speaking truth to power” isn’t noble, but politically, this endorsement is devastating to her political rationale. And since when is the farm bureau the PR arm of ADM or ConAgra or some other agri-biz concern. Its activators ARE farmers, now simply employees of the mega businesses. Most voters WON’T reveiw in detail her policy decisions, they’ll get the mailer from the organizations most closely allied with them, factor in their personal impressions and whatever personal contact they get. And if “special interest” endorsements don’t matter, then why did her campaign tout her IFT endorsement? Elaine, as a PR flak for your friend and colleague, you are doing a good job in dismissing the impact of this endorsement. As a journalist, your post is not up to your ususal standards. As a lowly political observer, not actively involved in Schock campaign, even I can hear the fat lady warming up.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
I have to agree that CC losing this endorsement is devastating to her campaign.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
MJ… Well HOO-RAY for the “smart” campaigners at Aaron’s house. I’m sure Callahan would gladly relinquish that branding, since she is not a professional politician, and she is NOT simply running for this office until he thinks he can ladder-climb all the way to the Bush-soiled White House. Instead, Colleen Callahan is a successful, career agri-business woman (based on past remarks by Aaron, I’m sure he has a problem with the entire concept of “a sucessful career woman” anyway!!).
Callahan, most likely, is far less concerned with strategic timing of publicity stunts, than she is with doing the right thing - for the right reasons.
Oh yeah, and why did Boy Wonder’s voice robot fail to mention the debates that his komrade dropped-out of, on short notice??
Secondly, if A-ron is so wise, why does he continue to dodge Schaefer & Callahan from having a true DEBATE on the issues?? If he’s that “smart”, wouldn’t he be able to stand on a stage with his oppenents and share his ’smartness’? In fact, why did his website NOT have these listed before? And mention the debates he ran away from, too?
This could all be settled if he would just show his face on-stage -in a REAL debate of issues- not just a show-n-tell glad-handing day when the other candidates happen to be in the same room with him and a handful of voters. (Shearer should check the definition of “DEBATE” before claiming that Aaron has committed to 10 or 12 or 14 (if you count the one’s he “committed to” and then backed-out), and why can’t the taxpayer/voters of Shocks own state district get an answer as to his whereabouts when he dropped-out of the previously scheduled debates? What is he running from (or to)??
Hey, of course the Farm Bureau endorsement matters, but I interact with farmers everyday (dozens each week), and the comments I’m hearing sure make it sound like the FB endorsement does NOT reflect the views of “Joe Farmer”.
Likewise, one might wonder why the Teachers endorsed Ms Callahan… afterall, wasn’t Aaron the ‘educator’ (sorta like Arnold’s ‘terminator’)?? The IL teachers had endorsed him previously, so why not this time??? Could it be due to the troubles that befell those Peoria schools after he pushed to hire that Rooster person as super??
So really, why was he at a fundraiser in LA? And how is that going to benefit we farmers in mid-IL ?
C’mon MJ, Lee & vespa… if he’s so righteous and ’smart’, why won’t he just show-up for a debate???
Bless ya’all.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Because his task is to engage the people of Illinois, not Colleen Callahan.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:38 am
There’s certainly more going on here that is being revealed by the Farm Bureau. It must be politics as usual (shudder).
WCBU, the PJStar, WEEK and WMBD all reported that the Farm Bureau claimed to have interviewed ALL candidates extensively, yet I didn’t even receive a phone call.
Although they may not acknowledge me now, at the Putnam_Marshall Farm Bureau booth at that fair, Ms. Callahan and I were the only ones who answered their questionnaires, and our answers were posted for all to see. I distinctly remember Mr. Schock’s responses as they posted them too on a large 2′x3′ posters in the exhibit hall for everyone to see. His responses to the Farm Bureau Questions were “no response”, “no response”, “no response”. How someone can flaunt their questions, and then have them come back to say that ALL of us were interviewed extensively is more than curious.
I also noticed that both Ms. Callahan and Mr. Schock were absent from the USDA’s full day Biofuels seminar in July. Talking with the individual researchers of next-generation crops, the USDA staff from Washington, and visiting the research labs was invaluable. It’s amazing what we have to look forward to if we don’t get stuck on corn-based ethanol. Perhaps they know all there is to know about Net Energy Yields, fermentation efficiencies and problems and promise of celluosic ethanol? I certainly intend to find out in the debates.
August 29th, 2008 at 2:10 am
Once again not a Schock fan, but I do feel the necessity to point out errors, especially when one candidate is making claims of another. First its Marshall-Putnam, not Putnam-Marshall. Second, Schock already met with the MP Farm Bureau I believe more than once.
Besides, Marshall County going for anyone other than a Republican would be like Obama losing in Chicago…
August 29th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Ginny,campaigns are suppose to be strategic…get with the program. Any campaign that isn’t shows no interest in winning. What comments did Schock make regarding career women? Where can I find his quotes on that subject?
Doesn’t the federation of teachers typically endorse democrats? If so, Colleen touting it as important counters with her own assessment of the farm bureau’s endorsement as politics as usual.
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:49 am
MJ & Allison;
Sorry I didn’t respond sooner — I actually found a life this wekend and vacationed for the Labor Day holiday…
OK, enuff talking about strategery in campaigns, and smart/organized campaigns, etc. I don’t know any of the 3 candidates personally (for the 18th CongDist race… so for outsiders like me, I can tell you that Shock’s “professional & strategic” campaign rings more hollow and is more offensive to me - as a voter. I’d much rather have a non-politician who was at least genuine in his/her campaign, than a professional politician like Shock, who is only interested in raising $$ and hob-knobbing with “important people” - too busy to come back home and debate his opponents face-to-face.
Instead, Shock sounds more like Tricky Dick Nixon (ahem! another non-corrupt GOP, ehh); Shock appears to be in this only so he can get to the next office level, then another. He does not seem to be in it for the people. Callahan & Schaefer do (yes A-ron - real people do make real mistakes sometimes… that’s why they want real people to represent them in Congress.
I have bad news for you, Alli… look at your history books: campaigns are NOT about strategery or professionalism — they’re about meeting the potential constituents, and learning their concerns so he/she can represent those people. I’ll take a non-professional politician for office ANYday, over a pro-pol. (Think Abraham Lincoln was professional??)
Aaron has been successful only at streching his 15-minutes into a 1/2 hour, but the clock is ticking.
Oh MJ… by the way, if Shock’s team is SOOOO organized & professional, whazzup with that CJ Ward guy they hired as Treasurer - sight unseen??
Uh oh… has corruption began seeping into TeamShock already???