Obama slams corporate agriculture, two Illinois firms

DES MOINES—Sen. Barack Obama touted his support of family farms against corporate agriculture this morning by taking a couple of shots at two very big Illinois businesses, ag processor ADM and food producer ConAgra.

Delivering a populist-themed speech to the Iowa Farmers Union, the Illinois senator slammed a Washington culture that he said paid heed to corporate agricultural lobbyists over individual farmers.

"It's about time Washington started listening to rural America," Obama said. "You can't simply sit in Washington, talking to lobbyists. That's why the Washington insiders who matter to me live in Washington County, Iowa, not Washington, D.C. That's why as president, I'll be listening to the LRV, not ADM."