Franken says ‘truth hurts’ of his comments on rural Iowa

Iowa Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mike Franken speaks throughout a marketing campaign cease at Tic Toc, 600 seventeenth St. NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids on Friday, September 2, 2022. Franken, a retired U.S. Navy admiral, is difficult Chuck Grassley. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Lloyd Holecek of Marion, Iowa, places a John Deere ball cap on the pinnacle of Iowa Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mike Franken throughout a marketing campaign cease at Tic Toc, 600 seventeenth St. NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids on Friday, September 2, 2022. Holecek gave the cap to Franken and really useful that carrying the cap would possibly broaden Franken’s enchantment with voters. Franken is often seen carrying a Navy ball cap. Franken, a retired U.S. Navy admiral, is difficult Chuck Grassley. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Iowa Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mike Franken speaks throughout a marketing campaign cease at Tic Toc, 600 seventeenth St. NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids on Friday, September 2, 2022. Franken, a retired U.S. Navy admiral, is difficult Chuck Grassley. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Iowa Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mike Franken salutes as he greets voters who turned out to listen to him throughout a marketing campaign cease at Tic Toc, 600 seventeenth St. NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids on Friday, September 2, 2022. Franken, a retired U.S. Navy admiral, is difficult Chuck Grassley. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Iowa Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mike Franken shakes arms with Elwood Garlock of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, throughout a marketing campaign cease at Tic Toc, 600 seventeenth St. NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids on Friday, September 2, 2022. Franken, a retired U.S. Navy admiral, is difficult Chuck Grassley. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Iowa Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mike Franken takes {a photograph} with Betty Rover throughout a marketing campaign cease at Tic Toc, 600 seventeenth St. NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids on Friday, September 2, 2022. Franken, a retired U.S. Navy admiral, is difficult Chuck Grassley. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Born and raised in Lebanon, Iowa — a small farming neighborhood of fewer than 50 individuals in far northwest Iowa, not removed from the South Dakota border — Iowa Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mike Franken says he’s seen firsthand the decline of rural Iowa.

“We see the cities we got here from. My city was 48 individuals and I believe there’s 12 there now. And the vitality of that city is just predicated on the church, and that’s usually it,” Franken stated. “That’s the state of affairs in rural Iowa. I’ve acquired concepts on easy methods to re-scope issues — easy methods to re-craft issues,” by seizing on and investing extra strategically in Iowa’s renewable power capabilities with wind, photo voltaic and ethanol as a possibility to carry extra individuals, jobs and business to the state.

“I see Iowa having the most cost effective electrical grid — essentially the most redundant, most sustainable — and a net-negative carbon footprint earlier than I die,” Franken instructed a crowd of greater than 90 voters and supporters gathered Friday on the Tic Toc restaurant in Cedar Rapids. “This may change the way forward for Iowa.”

The retired Navy admiral — carrying costume pants, a costume shirt, a tie and a ball cap with “NAVY” scrawled throughout it — is working to unseat longtime Iowa Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley within the Nov. 8 election.

Grassley, a Republican looking for his eighth time period within the Senate, launched his first advert of the final election this week, criticizing feedback Franken has made about rural Iowa.

“And I’m sorry that the reality hurts a lot,” Franken stated Friday, responding to the advert. “However, it’s important to determine the issue earlier than you proceed to an answer.”

Franken on Friday additionally stated Iowa voters have to reject partisan politics and collect round a unifying message that places “nation over occasion” and “individuals over politics.”

He talked about President Joe Biden’s fiery prime-time deal with Thursday decrying the “excessive ideology” of former President Donald Trump and his adherents “threatens the very basis of our republic.”

“We have to deal with individuals with respect,” Franken stated. “We should be forthright. We have to converse the reality. … And I believe what you noticed with the president’s speech final evening is he’s had it. He’s completely had it. And I believe plenty of Republicans within the state — and each doggone Democrat as effectively — we’ve had it. Cease this. We can not have the divisions. … Cease the synthetic dividing.”

Grassley marketing campaign spokesperson Michaela Sundermann stated in a press release that Franken’s agenda “would remodel Iowa to be extra liberal than California and keep in lock step with President Joe Biden’s failed insurance policies.”

“Beneath President Biden, now we have entered a recession and seen the price of dwelling skyrocket,” Sundermann stated. “Iowans do not want one other liberal rubber-stamp of the Biden agenda in Washington, D.C. We’d like somebody who’s combating towards the failed Biden-Franken agenda and combating for Iowa. Iowans wish to get America and our financial system again heading in the right direction. We now have a confirmed chief in Senator Chuck Grassley.”

Franken, talking to reporters after the marketing campaign occasion in Cedar Rapids, stated he applauds Biden for signing the Inflation Discount Act final month.

“It’s a good-news invoice, in contrast to earlier payments which were handed, or handouts which were given to largely company entities or these industries which can be hazard by dangerous commerce coverage within the earlier administration,” Franken stated, including the brand new legislation will modestly reduce the federal funds deficit.

Franken, too, applauded the passage and signing of the bipartisan infrastructure invoice — which Grassley supported — stating Iowa, together with rural areas, will “reap big advantages” from the funding to improve the state’s ailing bridges, roads, locks and dams and develop high-speed broadband web service that help business and the move of products and companies.

The most recent Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Ballot printed in July confirmed Grassley main Franken by 8 proportion factors amongst possible Iowa voters, making it essentially the most aggressive election Grassley has confronted since his election to the U.S. Senate in 1980.

Cedar Rapids resident Randy Jacobson stated he has beforehand voted for Grassley however can be voting for Franken within the November election.

Jacobson stated he was a longtime unbiased voter who switched to the Democratic Get together through the 2008 presidential election.

He stated he’s been turned off by Grassley’s help of Trump and for spreading “false rumors about issues, attempting to scare individuals.” Jacobson referred to remarks Grassley made final month on “Fox & Buddies” speculating whether or not the IRS would use elevated funding from the Inflation Discount Act to ship armed items of brokers into small Iowa companies.

As soon as seen as a sober conservative voice in Congress prepared to work throughout occasion strains, Jacobson stated he feels Grassley has grow to be more and more partisan, targeted extra on robbing Democrats of legislative victories in Congress than advancing Iowans’ pursuits.

Voters can begin requesting absentee ballots and can get an opportunity to see Grassley and Franken debate on Iowa PBS on Oct. 6.

Comments: (319) 398-8499; tom.barton@thegazette.com