Ted Cruz won the Iowa Caucuses. While everyone is trying to talk about how Rubio surged to third place, and a certain reality TV star didn't win despite his entire campaign being about winning, the real victory goes to Cruz. Because A. he actually won, and B. because he did it without promising a bag of freebies (read The Real Reason Ted Cruz was the Big Winner...). In fact when confronted on his stance regards Ethanol subsidies (hint, he doesn't like them) by an actual Iowa corn farmer, Cruz didn't back down.

The farmer tried to corner Cruz at first, starting with a Democrat narrative with a bullish attitude.

Farmer: "You're not going to get many votes in Iowa, going against subsidies in biofuels."

Cruz: "Sir, do you want me to answer the question?"

Farmer: "Yeah..."

Cruz then offered the farmer an overview about RSF and ethanol, the death tax, and how the government shouldn't be in the business of picking winners in losers in energy. The farmer tried another popular Democrat talking point, saying "You're going all in for oil!" Because TEXAS IS ABOUT OIL!

Cruz calmly explained that all energy industries (oil, nuclear, biofuel, solar and wind) should play on a level playing field where the government doesn't give favor (subsidies) to any energy industry. Included in Cruz's explanation was the EPA blend wall, which limits how much ethanol can be in fuel. Cruz told the farmer he pledged as president to rescind the ethanol blend wall. Cruz says rescinding the blend wall could result in higher ethanol production, and thus more profit for farmers, as the government wouldn't be limiting how much ethanol could be in fuel, resulting in a domino effect of new car engines being produced for higher ethanol fuel. We also call this "capitalism."

Imagine that. Government gets out of the way, and the marketplace is left to determine who succeeds and who fails. Not the government (related Ted Cruz on FIRE: Hits Back Hard on 'Birther' Nonsense).

After the lengthy but patient explanation from Cruz, the farmer says this: "I hope a lot of votes come in for you."

Some things to note here: Ted Cruz didn't deny that he's against farm subsidies. He didn't offer apologies about it either. He didn't try to walk back his stance to win this farmer's vote. Instead, Cruz offered an explanation of how the government was using subsidies to create government dependence. He treated the farmer with respect, talking ideas not slogans. When Cruz didn't have the details on the farming industry or how the EPA worked, he told the farmer to talk to an expert who was backing Cruz.

In other words, Cruz wasn't pandering. He won this farmer over the same way he won the state: standing firm, changing minds on ideas, not slogans. Put that in your memory bank (read DREAMer Attacks Ted Cruz on Illegal Immigration. Gets Creamed Instead...).

Speaking of Ted Cruz, he came by LWC for a little chat recently. You should watch: