A reader forwarded the text of a robocall that numerous Iowans have received from AFA Action targeting Chief Justice Marsha Ternus.
Imagine you’re a sheriff’s deputy. In the middle of the night, you’re dispatched to the home of Marsha Ternus, chief justice of the state Supreme Court. What you don’t expect to find at the home of Iowa’s chief justice is an illegal underage drinking party, her son and six other teens surrounded by, quote, “countless beer cans,” and preparing to drive home. You arrest them. You do your duty. It’s against the law. But you didn’t expect having to arrest Marsha Ternus’s husband too, another prominent lawyer, for obstructing your sworn duty. He’ll get twelve months probation. But you can’t help thinking: Is this any example for young people? Does it speak respect for the law? Adult responsibility? Does it make your job any easier, when the state’s chief judicial officer claims she was asleep at the switch? Should someone who doesn’t meet such minimum standards remain chief justice of the Iowa Supreme Court? No. Vote No on retention of Justice Marsha Ternus. This message paid for by AFA Action, including our many supporters here in Iowa.
I’ve heard a similar radio ad, and I want to be consistent. I hate personal attacks regardless of who does them.
While I am voting no on retention, this isn’t the reason why. I read about that case and was one of the first to blog about it. I wondered how much the Chief Justice knew, and so far there is no proof that she was aware of the party. We may assume that she was aware, but that is all it is an assumption.
So let’s hold her accountable for the right reasons – her overstepping her constitutional role when she legislated from the bench. Hold her accountable for the decision made on same-sex marriage.
Let’s knock it off with the personal attacks. I don’t like it when liberals do it, and we should be better than that as well.