Substance of Braley comments correct

Republicans, media allies and the super PAC world think they have an issue with Rep. Bruce Braley's comments about Sen. Chuck Grassley possibly becoming chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The flap and controversy are artificial. Read the exact words. They are factual; contrary to the hype, they are not derisive.

Grassley refers to himself as a farmer. He didn't attend nor is he a graduate of any law school. He doesn't have a law license nor has he practiced law. That's all Braley stated.

Braley's only questionable term is the word “farmer.” It is true, Grassley owns farms and he resides on the farm during his many congressional vacations. However, since 1975, Grassley has been a full-time professional career politician with a taxpayer-paid salary. Grassley also has double-dipped taxpayer dollars on numerous farm subsidy payments during that time and now that he is 80, he probably draws Social Security, which would make him a triple-dipping career politician. In other words, his qualifications to be chairman of the Judiciary Committee are questionable. And that is the only point that Braley was making.

Roger L. White

Cedar Falls