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Miles Archer

(24,110 posts)
Sat May 9, 2026, 11:04 AM 7 hrs ago

Iowa Ethanol Lobbyist sends text: "I will give you $100" if you show up for V.P. Couch Effer's "rally"

Vice President JD Vance spoke at a “packed rally” last Tuesday in Des Moines, Iowa, touting the Trump administration accomplishments on the economy — but according to the Iowa Starting Line, some of those attendees may very well have been paid to be there.

“I wanted to invite you to join me in seeing Vice President JD Vance this afternoon in Des Moines,” wrote Jake Swanson, an Iowa ethanol lobbyist, in a text message obtained and confirmed as authentic by the Iowa Starting Line.

“I do some work for an ethanol company and so if you’re able to join, I will give you $100, and for anyone that you recruit, an additional $25. No limit on referrals, so if someone recruits a group of 20 to show up, that’s $500.”

Swanson is the president of High Yield Strategies, a consulting firm that specializes in economic development. He’s also served in Republican Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ administration as the lead agriculture and energy policy advisor.

https://www.rawstory.com/jd-vance-2676873480/

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Iowa Ethanol Lobbyist sends text: "I will give you $100" if you show up for V.P. Couch Effer's "rally" (Original Post) Miles Archer 7 hrs ago OP
If he was offering a million bucks I might give it some thought, but I'd pay $100 not to go. Vinca 7 hrs ago #1
This guy claims he has gotten rich from Soros. Norrrm 7 hrs ago #2
There should be no such thing as a goddamned Hey Joe 7 hrs ago #3
$100 might cover the cost of the gas to attend, if you don't live too far away lapfog_1 6 hrs ago #4

Vinca

(54,279 posts)
1. If he was offering a million bucks I might give it some thought, but I'd pay $100 not to go.
Sat May 9, 2026, 11:06 AM
7 hrs ago

Norrrm

(5,466 posts)
2. This guy claims he has gotten rich from Soros.
Sat May 9, 2026, 11:25 AM
7 hrs ago

Conservatives will believe any lie, especially if it involves Soros.

This guy claims he has gotten rich from Soros.

And the Congressman 'believes' him.

Hey Joe

(769 posts)
3. There should be no such thing as a goddamned
Sat May 9, 2026, 11:29 AM
7 hrs ago

corporate lobbyist.
Just another reason why we are losing our democracy to oligarch$.
Fuck these people!

lapfog_1

(31,959 posts)
4. $100 might cover the cost of the gas to attend, if you don't live too far away
Sat May 9, 2026, 12:25 PM
6 hrs ago

anything over 100 miles... nope

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