In the upcoming November issue of Focus on the Family’s Citizen Magazine, Iowa 2010 Gubernatorial Candidate, Bob Vander Plaats is highlighted for his stand for traditional marriage in Iowa:
“They legislated from the bench by saying Iowa will be a same-sex marriage state. They don’t have that ability to make law, only the legislature does. Second, they executed it from the bench by saying that all 99 counties will follow suit. They have no executive authority. That belongs solely to the governor of Iowa. Third, they intended to amend the constitution by saying they’re holding up Iowa’s constitution to an evolving standard. And obviously they don’t have that ability. Only the people of Iowa have the ability to amend the constitution.”
There is debate within the Republican Party of Iowa whether or not this will be a “winning issue” for Republicans in general, and Vander Plaats in particular. It is clear that Vander Plaats can’t afford to be seen as a “one issue” candidate as that won’t play well with independents or fiscally conservative Democrats who are sick of the budget mess and fiscal mismanagement of the Culver administration. With former Governor Terry Branstad entering the race today, with the strong base of support that Vander Plaats has he can’t afford to gloss over gay marriage either.
This race is about to get really interesting.