Beware the Attack Robo-Call from Northey

By Sam Garchik (with response)

I was listening to 102.9, the top 40 station in Cedar Rapids, when the GOP attack on O'Brien came on. That's kind of a weird place to air that, I thought. Then, I got a robo call from the same old lady. So, I wanted to post this response.

Friends,

I have to respond to the vicious attacks on Denise O'Brien's family from the Republican Party. I am a farmer in Cass County, Denise's home county, and I've known Denise O'Brien for over 35 years, including in 1987 when she was fighting for family farms in Iowa and Washington D.C. I've also known Larry Harris for years and believe him when he says this is the way it was.

The accusation that Larry willfully harmed livestock is just one of many distortions by her opponents to take away her lead.  Please spread the truth about this situation that happened almost twenty years ago.

Here are the facts:

In 1987, like so many farmers during the farm crisis, Denise and Larry were working off the farm to make ends meet.  Larry hired a neighbor to take care of some steers and he moved them to that hired hand's farm. When Larry learned that the steers were being mistreated, he fired the farmer and took the steers into his own care.  The steers were not in Larry's care when the reported neglect took place.

These attacks on Denise's family just shows the Republican Party has no shame. This is one of the many negative attacks waged by Denise's opponents in the last few weeks.

Her campaign depends on supporters like you to make sure that her vision of clean water, local control, and safe and healthy communities is not drowned by her opponent's mudslinging. Please continue spreading the word about Denise's message to help her win on Tuesday.

Sincerely,

Connie Russell
Anita, Iowa