Perry ‘spoke to middle America, represented those values’

WILTON — There was a dust, bees and wasps, homemade food, plastic chairs and tables, a John Deere tractor in the background, a tent to block the sun, a couple off-color mother-in-law jokes and lots of politics. In short, it was quintessential Iowa — and attendees said Texas Gov. Rick Perry looked right at home.

Perry, noting his location and after shaking hands with a number of the rural people in attendance, began his comments by discussing the value of farmland and agriculture-related industry to Iowa.

“It’s a real treat to spend some time on a family farm,” Perry said. “It reminds me of the place I grew up. … I was driving and looking at the corn being harvested right now and thinking about what this agricultural land is worth in Iowa. Steve King and I were together this morning and we were talking about the value of Iowa farmland and how much it has increased in just the past decade and what it means to the state.

“You learn a lot growing up on a farm — it doesn’t make a difference if it is Wilton, Iowa or Paint Creek, Texas, there’s just a lot that you learn when you grow up on a farm. It is universal.”

Perry said his values toward a hard day’s work, a sense of community and nearly every aspect of his life was developed as a part of his rural upbringing, which was rustic even by the most rural of Iowa standards.

But because Perry could draw such parallels from his own upbringing, Mary Frieden of Muscatine said she could relate to and better understand what he was saying.

“I’m not exactly sure of his quote, but he implied that what he learned growing up on the farm works at the White House too,” said Frieden, who is president of the Muscatine County Republican women and was recently elected a regional director for the Iowa Federation of Republican Women.

Frieden’s sister, Donna Anderson, nodded while Frieden spoke and quickly chimed her agreement. “That is so true. We believe that,” she said.

Both Anderson and Frieden grew up on a farm near Illinois City, Ill., which is just across the river. Neither of the women have made their final decision for the 2012 caucuses, both indicating they were still “researching” the candidates, but they both admitted that Perry scored points with his remarks at the rural fundraiser for Iowa Rep. Jeff Kaufmann.

“I’m looking favorably at him — I really am,” said Anderson, who will be participating in her first caucus next year. She moved to Iowa about a year ago from Illinois because of politics. That is, she wanted to be able to cast her vote for Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who launched an unsuccessful bid to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack.

“I did red velvet cake for Mariannette — and I’ll do one for Rick,” she promised.

In addition to his background, Anderson said she liked the way Perry handled himself in the debates.

“I’ve watched probably three of the debates,” she said, “and I love the honesty and the sincerity he shows even while standing next to Mitt [Romney]. I mean the two of them go back and forth, but I like what Rick says. I really do.”

Johnson County GOP Chairman Bob Anderson (no relation to Donna) will not issue an endorsement until after the Iowa caucuses are held in January and says the “Republican party has an outstanding field of candidates” from which to choose. Looking only at this event, Anderson said Perry did well for himself.

“I think he articulated the concerns that are affecting middle class America on the economy, and I think he articulated the things that affect our life non-economically as well in terms of social issues,” he said.

“I think the governor spoke to middle America today and represented those values extremely well.”

This, Frieden added, motioning to the dispersing crowd and tent that had been set up on the Kaufmann farm in Cedar County, is first-in-the-nation.

“We got to meet Governor Perry. We’ve met Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, Tim Pawlenty … nearly all of them, I think,” she said, adding that if she lived in a different state, or if Iowa lost its first-in-the-nation status, she and her sister wouldn’t have the opportunities to take their concerns directly to the presidential candidates or hear directly from them how they would serve in the White House.

“It is about having an opportunity like this in a small setting on farm — this is an old farm that has been in the Kaufmann family for years — and I’ve got a presidential candidate here, shaking my hand and asking for my support directly. That is absolutely wonderful,” she said.

During his public remarks and while taking questions from the audience, Perry highlighted the need for the U.S. to become energy independent and pledged to open off-shore drilling. He espoused his 2nd Amendment credentials, not only while answering a direct question on the topic, but while highlighting his morning pheasant hunt with U.S. Rep. Steve King. He also touted job creation in Texas, noting that he would push for the same economic policies nationwide if elected president. Of course, he touched on social conservative issues, but framed that discussion as a part of his own rural values and growing up on a farm. Above all else, he promised to do everything in his power, if elected, to reduce government oversight of the private sector.