Friends, foes 'tweet' birthday greetings to Grassley

By James Q. Lynch

The Gazette

Instead of cards, supporters and potential challengers are “tweeting” birthday greetings to Sen. Chuck Grassley who turned 76 today.

Grassley, who is up for re-election in 2010, has embraced Twitter, a free social-networking service that allows users to send and read other people's updates -- known as tweets, to stay in touch with his constituents.

In addition to several birthday tweets from supporters, potential Democratic challenger, former State Sen. Tom Fiegen of Clarence, also tweeted: “Happy 76th Birthday Senator Grassley!”

Another potential challenger, Bob Krause of Fairfield, used the occasion to tweak Grassley, who, so far, has not embraced Democratic plans for health-care reform, with a tongue-in-cheek birthday song with references to the incumbent's penchant for social media.

 “Happy Birthday to you/we wish that you too/would Twitter to your following/that heath care can go through,” wrote Krause, a former state legislator who serves as chair of the Iowa Democratic Veterans Caucus and is a past president of the Reserve Officers Association of Iowa. 

If Grassley supports health-care reform, “And the public option is won/Then we can all Twitter/That the country has won,” Krause said in a “singing telegram” to the tune of “Happy Birthday”

Late this afternoon, Grassley responded to the birthday tweets with this Twitter message: “Thanks to everyone for for the bday wishes. Its been a busy bday starting with a 3mi run this am. Excited be on the farm tonite.”

Staff said Grassley observed his birthday with his usual three-mile morning run, was in his office by 7:15 a.m. and expected to enjoy some ice cream and cake with staff this afternoon.