Grassley signature on letter to Iran

Ted Cruz became the first “official” candidate of the 2016 campaign last week with his very uninspiring speech in front of a coerced audience in the very reddest part of red America. Even with all that, Cruz’s speech had the effectiveness of pouring water on a grease fire. Many in the forced audience spent time mocking old Ted on their smart phones.

But what Calgary Ted did do was help wake folks up to the fact that there is an election with huge stakes for each and every American and Iowan coming up really soon. Since Cruz’s announcement came at almost the same time as the 5th anniversary of the signing of the ACA, naturally Chuck Grassley crossed my mind.

Who can forget how Grassley did all he could to sink any chance of any kind of health care reform? How President Obama leaned over backwards to satisfy Grassley only to have Grassley act like a spoiled child? Who can forget the Grassley bald face lie broadcast around the country claiming that the ACA would “kill Grandma?”

Most Iowans now agree with most of the provisions of the ACA. Yet only a couple of months ago, Chuck came out four square in favor of repealing Obamacare yet again. Grassley is simply way out of step with Iowans. BTW – don’t think he wouldn’t be first in line to voucher-ize Medicare and cut Social Security. He would.

Of course it is not only healthcare where Chuck is many steps out of sync with Iowans. Grassley opposed the Lilly Ledbetter law back in 2009, in many ways reinforcing his well known view that women do not have the worth of a man. He is still one the few sitting congress members that opposed the Martin Luther King holiday.

But the coupe-de-grace in the Grassley portfolio is his signature on the treasonous letter to Iran. Grassley showed his true arrogant colors with this signature. Shred the Constitution, Chuck Grassley says.

A quick viewing of Grassley’s donor page shows Grassley is in the pocket of insurance companies and finance. Hard to fit any concern for the common Iowan in between all the special interests that own Grassley. Sure he drives around in an old Olds, but unlike many of his constituents he doesn’t have to.

Let’s track kitchen table economics and see where Grassley fits in. Are your wages keeping up with inflation or has Republican obstruction stopped any hope for raises? Are your children’s schools getting better or having to cut back? When it comes time for college, can your children go without having to incur a debilitating lifetime of debt? What about medical insurance? If Grassley gets his way and Obamacare is repealed, what are you going to do? Can you afford insurance the way it was before Obamacare? Should the advances in the economy all go to the top 1%? Grassley will work hard to see that they do.

And what if you hit some hard times and lose your job? Grassley will be working hard to cut unemployment insurance and any kind of food programs. Bet you never thought your own government would let you down, but that is what you vote for when you vote for a Grassley.

Economic issues, especially the huge and widening gap between the uber-rich and working Americans, should be the top issue in the next election. Who has done more to make the rich richer and the poor poorer than our own Chuck? Who is working harder to dismantle any gains that consumers have made? Grassley is the horse that the rich will be backing big time.

My best wishes to the two declared candidates opposing Grassley, Tom Fiegen and Bob Krause. Iowa Democrats need to start working NOW to let their fellow Iowans know what they are voting for when they vote for Grassley wherever and whenever they can.