I think the Democratic Party realizes, having lost two presidential elections, we need to do a better job of creating a farm team.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
We need to make sure the Department of Agriculture is promoting farmers and ranchers.
As I've long said, the farm bill is in need of major reform. At first chance, I voted to remove direct payments. Both the House and the Senate passed bills that end direct payments, and as we move forward, I hope we can work out the rest of the issues to implement the necessary reforms.
Do we need farm program reform? Absolutely.
I feel at some point that the farm state politics will overwhelm the Florida politics.
As long as there's a few farmers out there, we'll keep fighting for them.
If we win, we'll make history, and I'll serve you on the Agriculture Committee.
Most agree, whatever their party political position, that the West can and should open its agricultural markets more fully to the products of the poorer countries of the globe. They are agricultural societies that need our markets more than our charity.
As the Republican platforms says, the welfare of the farmer is vital to that of the whole country.
I think the Democratic Party is about family, about unity, about bringing people together. We're all in this together. We're all trying to rebuild the economy together.
Now listen, the one thing about agriculture is we've lost our manufacturing, we've lost a great deal of jobs overseas, lots of our industry. The last thing in the world we need to do is lose the ability to produce our food.