IOWA CAUCUSES

Kasich calls for uniting America in State Fair speech

William Petroski
bpetrosk@dmreg.com

Ohio Gov. John Kasich painted a portrait of himself as an independent leader who would strive to bring Americans together in remarks at The Des Moines Register’s Political Soapbox Tuesday.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich, left, visits with Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey Tuesday at the Iowa Farm Bureau booth at the Iowa State Fair.

“There is too much anger in America today. Too much division,” the Republican presidential candidate told the audience at the Horner Service Center at the Iowa State Fair after his speech was moved indoors because of heavy rainstorms that struck the Des Moines area.

The nation needs a strong leader, Kasich said, someone who can set a tone and unite the people. But government can’t fix the nation’s problems alone, he emphasized, explaining the public must also accept personal responsibility by mentoring young people, asking young people not to do drugs and performing other acts of goodwill.

Similarly, one political party shouldn’t be relied upon alone to reform government entitlement programs, solve immigration and other controversial policy issues, the governor added.

“Above all, we are all Americans,” he said.

Speaking philosophically, Kasich issued a call for people to address inhumanity and work to build a better world.

“I believe that all of us have to be a center of justice and a center of healing, and to realize that life is not just about ourselves alone. Life is about doing something bigger in our lives than ourselves,” he said.

Kasich spoke proudly of his service as governor, describing himself as some who has helped to spur the creation of thousands of jobs in Ohio while restoring fiscal discipline to state government.

During his 18 years in Congress — which included time as House budget chairman — Kasich told Iowans he was a “cheap hawk” who was strong on defense but wanted to cut wasteful Pentagon spending.

He warned that ISIS represents an attack on Western civilization by people “who want to destroy our very way of life.” But he believes military force is only part of the solution to destroy ISIS, which aims to create an Islamic state, known as a caliphate, across Iraq, Syria and beyond.

He expressed concerns about young Americans joining ISIS, saying it offers them a sense of family and importance and a ticket to paradise.

But the reality, Kasich said, is that leaders of ISIS are “liars, distorters, murderers and rapists.”

AT THE EVENT

Quote: “I ran for office because I thought I could make a difference. But the Republican Party has always been my vehicle and not my master. Throughout my career, I have been pretty independent.”

Crowd: Kasich’s Soapbox speech, which was originally scheduled outdoors, was moved into a small venue at the Horner Service Center after nearly 2 inches of rain doused the fairgrounds. The crowd spilled outside the doors and people gave him long, enthusiastic applause after he finished his remarks.

Other stops at the fair: Kasich spent four hours roaming the fairgrounds prior to his Soapbox speech, accompanied at times by Gov. Terry Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, and U.S. Rep. David Young. He prompted chuckles when he drew a Branstad-esque mustache on his photo at the Iowa Republican Party booth inside the Varied Industries Building. Then he astonished reporters at the Iowa Pork Producers tent by eating three pork chops and a side order of beans, and then purchasing an ear of roasted corn on the cob at a fair booth. When asked about it afterward, he pointed to his slender build and joked that “I ain’t leaving until I get my ice cream.” (He indeed ate some after his speech.)

Up next: This was just the third trip to Iowa this year by Kasich, who announced his plans for a presidential run a month ago. His state fair visit on Tuesday was his only stop in Iowa, and he planed to fly Tuesday night to New Hampshire.

Kasich: Treat drug addicts, mentally ill to reduce prison population

Ohio Gov. John Kasich told The Des Moines Register Tuesday he endorses drug counseling and psychiatric treatment in an effort to reduce the nation’s prison population while also preparing inmates for work when they are released.

“The fact is that you give people a chance. Now I am going to tell you, if you are a drug dealer, a gang banger, we are going to lock you up for 1,000 years. That is the way it is going to be. But if you want to try to get your life in order, we are going to give you a chance and I think that is what we ought to do,” he said.

Asked about his vision for agriculture, Kasich said agriculture needs to be looking 20 to 25 years ahead with an emphasis on products from traditional agriculture that can improve the lives of all Americans.

“I keep pushing our people to think about that, to use our universities to do the research to make sure that agriculture and business is closely linked together, and that we can spawn new industries out of agriculture,” he said.