2008-05-20
Obama and the Farm Bill. Commentary by David Brooks, NYTimes, May 20, 2008. "My colleagues on The Times's editorial page called the [farm] bill 'disgraceful.' My former colleagues at The Wall Street Journal's editorial page ripped it as a 'scam.' Yet... the bill is certain to become law. It passed with 81 votes in the Senate and 318 in the House -- enough to override President Bush's coming veto. Nearly everyone in Congress got something. The question amid this supposed change election is: Who is going to end this sort of thing? Barack Obama talks about taking on the special interests. This farm bill would have been a perfect opportunity to do so. But [he] supported the bill, just as he supported the 2005 energy bill that was a Christmas tree for the oil and gas industries. Obama's vote may help him win Iowa, but it will lead to higher global food prices and more hunger in Africa. Moreover, it raises questions about how exactly he expects to bring about the change that he promises."
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