Republican presidential candidate Pat Buchanan wanted to talk about the tough markets facing apple growers. Andy Sneller put the words in his mouth.
"We lost $250,000 last year," the Newaygo County farmer said, politely stepping through the crowd to speak over a picnic table. "One more year, what is the bank going to think?" Buchanan, back for a third run at the White House, is sticking to his old playbook. The nation's economic policy, he said, encourages U.S. companies to shift blue-collar jobs overseas and also allows other countries to flood America with farm products.
"The overall American economy is in great shape. But beneath that, we're running a horrendous merchandise trade deficit," Buchanan said, referring to the balance of imports and exports.
"We're creating two countries, two societies . . . The people who make things, build things" are not doing well, he said.
Buchanan found a small but receptive crowd Tuesday at Robinette's apple farm in Grand Rapids Township. Apple growers face significant competition from China, which dramatically has increased exports of cheap apple-juice concentrate.
As a result, the price U.S. growers get for apples turned into juice has dropped; in Michigan, it fell to 3.5 cents per pound last fall. That price also can have an impact on prices for other apples.
"This gentleman has laid out what exactly is wrong with so-called global free trade," Buchanan said, referring to Sneller. "People who talk global free trade don't understand or don't care."
Apple growers and some processors are asking the Clinton administration to slap tariffs on Chinese concentrate.
"If I were there, my friend, you'd have the tariff right now," Buchanan said.
Buchanan and his wife, Shelley, got a quick tour of the Robinette operation, which includes a cider mill, bakery, retail store and gift shop at 4 Mile Road NE and East Beltline Avenue.
"This is what we've done to survive," Jim Robinette said.
The Buchanans signed autographs and posed for pictures before traveling to their next Michigan stop. The candidate acknowledged that many influential Republicans, including Gov. John Engler, have "closed ranks" and endorsed Texas Gov. George W. Bush for president in 2000.
"Are we a democracy or a plutocracy?" Buchanan said. "Can a campaign like ours go up against the establishment? We're going to find out."
Maruszka Hufstader and her daughter Kristin, 12, drove from Lowell to see Buchanan.
"He's a man of integrity, honesty -- all the qualities lacking in the White House," Maruszka said.
