Appalling Branstad Statements: Taxin' Terry goes Negative on Blind and Visually Impaired Iowans
Iowa voters looking for a “compassionate conservative” in Taxin’ Terry Branstad are going to be sorely disappointed. In one of his first campaign meetings, Branstad made a strange and deeply insensitive attack on Iowans who are blind and visually impaired.
On Wednesday, October 28, Branstad met with some evangelical pastors in Des Moines. He told the pastors how he tried to eliminate the Iowa Department for the Blind, but was thwarted by legislators:
"We went from like 64 agencies to 25 agencies. The one we weren’t able to get done was the Commission for the Blind, because the Legislature just couldn’t take the heat from the tap tap tap of the white canes."
You can download and listen to the audio file here.
As if the statement itself weren’t appalling, the timing of it adds further embarrassment to Branstad. His statement came just two days before the Iowa Department for the Blind celebrated “50 years of Opportunity” with a speaker’s panel and awards ceremony on October 30 and 31.
The 63-year-old who was elected Governor nearly three decades ago brings an outdated, uncaring mentality to the table when it comes to people with disabilities. Just one more sad piece of evidence Branstad is out of touch with Iowans