Sarah Palin's 'brash' stand against ethanol subsidies

The Alaskan political star says it's time to end all energy subsidies. If she runs for president, will this hurt her in ethanol-producing Iowa?

Sarah Palin said she is against ethanol subsidies, which may make her unpopular in Iowa but may be the right position for taxpayers, say some.
(Image credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Sarah Palin may or may not be running for president, but she has already weighed in on a key issue for Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucus-goers: Ethanol subsidies. She's against them. "I think that all of our energy subsidies need to be relooked at today and eliminated," Palin told RealClearPolitics. "We've got to allow the free market to dictate what's most efficient and economical for our nation's economy." Palin's call to end the subsidies, popular in Iowa because they boost the price of corn, echoes 2012 GOP candidate Tim Pawlenty's stance. Presumptive frontrunner Mitt Romney backs the subsidies. Is Palin playing smart politics, or will this move haunt her?

Mama Grizzly is showing "courageous" leadership: Palin's "brash" stand against Iowa's pet agricultural boondoggle is bold and principled, says Erika Johnsen at Townhall. She and Pawlenty are "acting like conservatives instead of politicians," which will play well politically in other states, if not Iowa. "Green energy subsidies" need to end, and if Palin doesn't run, "I will vigorously support her nomination as Secretary of Energy."

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