Club For Growth Controversy

The man behind those national "Club for Growth" ads, attacking Senator Tom Daschle, had an unexpected welcome to Sioux Falls this morning... one he tried to avoid.

Stephen Moore was here to drum up local support from two dozen notable republicans. What he didn't expect, was a group of farmers, waiting to challenge his ideas.

Ultra-conservative and republican-funded "Club For Growth" is running half million dollars in ads attacking Daschle, saying he's the one man who stands in the way of President Bush's fight for lower taxes and more jobs.

Club For Growth has referred to farmers as welfare recipients - that's not sitting well with some.

A sign on the door says "Compass Care" is meeting in this conference room. It's actually Stephen Moore talking with local republicans. These farmers weren't invited, but hope to sit in anyway.

Larry Green, a Fulda, MN farmer says, "Just to let Mr. Moore know we're hard working people out here. We're not welfare recipients."

They've seen the ads and want answers.

Green says, "They're putting a lot of untruths out there about farmers."

"Yes, would there be a chance to talk to Mr. Moore out here for a minute?" asks Green.

The farmers even brought a gift basket for Moore to help him understand what South Dakota's about.

Ron Foster, a Brookings County farmer says, "I've got a book, potato chips, I've got honey and cheese."

Green says, "He's from out east and I think he needs to be educated a little bit."

While the farmers wait for two hours, republican lawmaker Matt McCaulley, candidate for governor Steve Kirby and Roger Hunt who's running for U-S House all leave. Minutes later, Moore slips out a side door, avoiding the farmers.

Flandreau Craig Severtson says, "I think that's self-evident that they're doing things behind closed doors and it's not the right way."

Club For Growth's President Stephen Moore says, "I didn't have 20 mintues to talk to them but I wasn't avoiding them."

Moore held a press conference later in the day and says Daschle took his welfare comments out of context.

Moore says, "When I was talking about welfare for farmers, I was talking about welfare for these huge agri-business that collect the vast bulk of these dollars."

Farmers, big or small, argue if they were paid a fair price at market, they wouldn't need government subsidies to survive.

Moore says his push for local members was very successful and hopes to have 500 South Dakota members by year's end.
DeeAnn Tiede
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