Vander Plaats at an anti-gay marriage last week (WHO-TV) |
A Republican who wants to be Iowa's next governor continues to try and build a following on the same sex marriage issue.
Bob Vander Plaats has taken out an ad on a national Republican website to draw attention to the issue and his campaign.
Vander Plaats believes enough people oppose the Supreme Court ruling that it will get him elected next year. Vander Plaats says, if elected he would sign an executive order putting a stay on the Supreme Court's decision until Iowans can vote on the issue. Now he is advertising on the national stage to bring attention to what he says is Democrats' duty to let Iowans have a say.
Vander Plaats recently placed an ad on Republican-leaning news site, the Drudge Report, to show the nation that most Iowans are against gay marriage. Last year, a Des Moines Register poll showed 62% of Iowans believe marriage should only be between one man and one woman. Vander Plaats believes the issue alone could win him the election in 2010.
"The definition of marriage is also going to be an issue in the campaign, and in particular where the incumbent governor and the Democrat-controlled legislature is saying, 'We don't even want to hear from the people on this issue. The courts have said it so therefore we're going to back away and wash our hands of it.' I think that's going to be a major in the 2010 campaign," Vander Plaats said.
Iowa Democrat Party chairman Michael Kiernan says the Supreme Court already ruled on same-sex marriage and legislators have more important issues to deal with. The governor says that executive order Vander Plaats has promised isn't legal. Kiernan says that promise is just rhetoric and Republicans will do anything to get elected.
Gov. Culver hasn't officially announced he will run for a second term next year, but has told Channel 13 he will be on the ballot.
Bob Vander Plaats has taken out an ad on a national Republican website to draw attention to the issue and his campaign.
Vander Plaats believes enough people oppose the Supreme Court ruling that it will get him elected next year. Vander Plaats says, if elected he would sign an executive order putting a stay on the Supreme Court's decision until Iowans can vote on the issue. Now he is advertising on the national stage to bring attention to what he says is Democrats' duty to let Iowans have a say.
Vander Plaats recently placed an ad on Republican-leaning news site, the Drudge Report, to show the nation that most Iowans are against gay marriage. Last year, a Des Moines Register poll showed 62% of Iowans believe marriage should only be between one man and one woman. Vander Plaats believes the issue alone could win him the election in 2010.
"The definition of marriage is also going to be an issue in the campaign, and in particular where the incumbent governor and the Democrat-controlled legislature is saying, 'We don't even want to hear from the people on this issue. The courts have said it so therefore we're going to back away and wash our hands of it.' I think that's going to be a major in the 2010 campaign," Vander Plaats said.
Iowa Democrat Party chairman Michael Kiernan says the Supreme Court already ruled on same-sex marriage and legislators have more important issues to deal with. The governor says that executive order Vander Plaats has promised isn't legal. Kiernan says that promise is just rhetoric and Republicans will do anything to get elected.
Gov. Culver hasn't officially announced he will run for a second term next year, but has told Channel 13 he will be on the ballot.
