Mouths agape with heads tilted up to the television, a group of farmers shook their heads at the firing of NBC’s Matt Lauer. Lauer, a 20-year fixture on the Today Show, is the latest popular journalist to fall during the torrent of sexual misconduct accusations.
One man mumbled something to the others, and they and the waitress refilling coffee cups chuckled at the comment. It was breaking news to the entire Northern Indiana restaurant and sparked a few conversations, but I was waiting for a specific interviewee, and so refrained from taking names and quotes.
Brad, 41, the aforementioned interviewee, arrived and ordered a diet cola. He is a fifth-generation dirt farmer slowly moving into the cattle business, as well as a husband and father who earned a BA degree from Purdue University in Agronomic Business and Marketing. Brad works two jobs, farming 600 acres and selling agricultural products, to make sure ends meet and college funds are healthy in a few years for his two sons.
I asked him what he thought of Matt Lauer’s fall. “Who’s that,” was his response. I guess the Today Show is not watched much at the homestead.
But Brad did want to talk about politics and the impact he has felt over the years from poor decision-makers sent to The Swamp.
“We elect people who promise us if they get to Washington, gridlock will become a thing of the past. So, we vote for them, and nothing changes.”
He went on to explain that for 20 years, from presidential to congressional candidates, they claim they need a House majority, followed by a Senate majority. But wait, they must win the presidency and then we’re cooking with gas, so to speak. His takeaway, "We gave them the whole candy store, and still we have no budget, no wall, no tax reform. They either have to play the game or get off the field."
Migrant workers harvest watermelons near Vincennes, Indiana.
I asked if he thought illegal immigration talk and the travel ban was nothing more than a racially motivated, fear-mongering tactic. “Well, I work with migrants during harvest every year. They are hard working families that go home once the job is done. Illegal border crossings are a problem. We have no way to keep track of who is here and what kind of person they are." And when I pressed for more on the proposed travel ban, it sparked a bit of a temper.
"It's not racist to want to protect our country from an onslaught of refugees, with a completely different culture and language, from resettling in our cities and towns. It's pragmatic. They will be on the government dole, won't assimilate to our ways, and will cause problems."
He went on to say if they would be contained, taught conversational English, and work toward achieving a job and citizenship, he would say the more, the merrier. "You can't just turn them loose with a blue food stamp card and cross your fingers. It is not fair to them or us.”
Brad is a hard-working, Christian man and devoted husband who raises his sons to be the same. He is the face of the heartland in his beliefs, charity, family life, and as a steward of the land that helps feed a nation. He may sound like the busiest guy in three counties, but don’t believe it. He’s just one of millions across the Heartland, who works hard and builds for the future, laying a solid foundation for generations to follow. And like those millions of Americans, scattered across the flyover states, he will not be silenced again by the leftist agenda.
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