[Washington Free Beacon] Rep. Bruce Braley (D., Iowa) threatened to sue a homeowners' association after a chicken crossed onto his vacation home property in Iowa, again raising concerns that the Senate candidate is out-of-touch with farmers in the state, the Iowa Republican reports. The dispute started this spring after one of his neighbors chickens appeared on his vacation property in Holiday Lake, Iowa:
Braley's wife Carolyn attended a May 8 meeting of the Holiday Lake Owners Association to complain about the fowl. The dispute escalated, causing the association to incur nearly $1,700 in legal fees after Braley called the association's attorney with an implied threat of legal action.
"Its stupid that it went this far. Any reasonable person would have talked to their neighbor in a reasonable fashion instead," said Bill Nagle, an association board member. "For being brought up on a farm, he sure has lost his rural, farm values."
Pauline Hampton, Braley's neighbor, a licensed therapist, and a U.S. Air Force veteran is a registered Democrat. She reportedly used her four chickens to work with children who have mental health and communication problems.
Hampton said she was disappointed with how the Braley's handled the affair:
"It [is] very important the citizens of Iowa know who they would be supporting and voting for to represent their best interests and the interests of farmers, and in [this] particular case, the support of children with mental illness and disabilities. It's sad this situation is based on something as simple as a chicken at large situation," Hampton told TheIowaRepublican.com.
She's also upset about the way the Braleys blindsided her with the complaint instead of trying to work it out neighbor-to-neighbor.
"I only found out about the complaint being filed when I went over and offered [the Braleys] a dozen fresh, organic eggs from the chickens," Hampton said. "[Carolyn Braley] refused to take them, stating she had filed a complaint against me. I offer all of my eggs to my neighbors, they are the only ones who have refused."
Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa), the lawyer/candidate who has already faced harsh criticism several times for his disparaging comments about Iowa farmers, seems to harbor a compulsive predisposition for stepping in pig farm doo doo. At a fundraiser in Texas, Braley berated Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) for being a farmer who never went to law school. While marching in an Independence Day parade, Braley stepped in it again by falsely claiming to be a farmer himself. Braley is running in a virtual tie in the polls with Republican Senate nominee, Joni Ernst.
Joni Ernst is the pistol packin', Harley Davidson riding, Iowa Army National Guard Lieutenant Colonel, and Republican member of the Iowa Senate, who speaks fondly about castrating hogs during her youth. All of which she claims would be useful assets for eliminating pork in Washington. Ernst is endorsed in her candidacy by former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. I don't think either one of them shoots chickens or pigs (or sues people for owning them).