Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.
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When Gov. Chet Culver delivers his annual Condition of the State address next Tuesday, opponents of same-sex marriage from around Iowa will be there.
Last summer's Tea Party protest at the state capitol advocated for legislator's to allow a vote on gay marriage (file photo).
Spearheaded by the influential social conservative group Iowa Family Policy Center, the gathering is advertised as a public call for lawmakers to pass an amendment to the state’s constitution banning same-sex marriage, the first step toward allowing the public to vote on the ban in 2012. If it doesn’t pass the legislature in 2010, the earliest it could be on the ballot is 2014.
Despite the soaring rhetoric and lofty goals of the campaign, most conservatives agree — even if it is reluctantly — that there is no chance a gay-marriage amendment will pass the Democratic-controlled legislature in 2010.
“There’s just no chance at all,” said Jeff Angelo, a former Republican state senator from Creston. “Democratic leaders have really put themselves out there and said they are not going to allow a vote, so it won’t happen. I think Republicans know that.”
From the moment the Iowa Supreme Court issued its decision legalizing same-sex marriage last April, Republicans have vowed to pass an amendment overturning it. In the closing days of the 2009 legislative session, Republicans in both the House and Senate attempted numerous procedural moves in the hopes of forcing a vote on an amendment, including attaching it to a tax proposal and the state’s Health and Human Services budget. Democrats successfully blocked the efforts.
Last week, Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, upped the ante by declaring in an interview with The Iowa Independent that not only will he oppose an amendment, he won’t even let it come up for a vote. And with a commanding 32-18 Democratic majority in the Senate, Republicans don’t have a lot of options to prove him wrong.
“As long as Mike Gronstal is the de facto governor of Iowa, there’s not going to be a marriage amendment, barring direct intervention in that man’s heart by God himself,” said Steve Deace, who hosts a Christian drive-time program on Iowa’s largest radio station. “Beyond that, like the Pharoah of old Mr. Gronstal’s heart is hardened towards righteousness and morality, and it’s clear that promotion of homosexuality is something he’s serious about. He’s not budging, and the few of his fellow Democrats who might otherwise share the views of folks like me are too intimidated by him to stick their necks out for what’s right.”
The last time an amendment banning same-sex marriage came to a vote in the state Senate was in 2004. That year, 21 Democrats were joined by four Republicans to defeat the measure. Since then, the Senate has either been evenly divided or dominated by Democrats, a fact that has killed any momentum for passing a ban.
“The strategy going forward is to focus the debate not on passage of an amendment, because that’s not going to happen, but on who has the final say in this debate — the people or the courts,” Angelo said. “I think this could be a significant issue in the next election.”
So even though a ban won’t pass, gay marriage opponents should still hold their rallies, give their speeches and show up at legislative forums throughout the state, Angelo said. Even attempting to attach it to other bills, as was done last year, is a good strategy, because it forces the issue into the spotlight.
“This is about starting early in the battle for the hearts and minds of the public,” he said. “That’s why what they are doing will be important.”
The only way an amendment can ever be passed is if Democrats are voted out of office, said Kevin Hall, a conservative blogger and Republican strategist from Des Moines. So those who oppose same-sex marriage should be working to get Republicans elected in November.
“Republican leaders have already promised to make it a key issue in 2010,” he said. “It remains to be seen how well that helps them at the ballot box. Gay marriage is the key issue with the Iowa GOP’s social conservative base, but I think more people are concerned about the economy, jobs and the ineptitude of the Culver administration.”
The most recent Des Moines Register Iowa Poll, conducted in September, found Iowans almost evenly divided about whether they would vote for or against a constitutional amendment to end same-sex marriage, with 41 percent supporting a ban and 40 percent opposing. And while 43 percent say they oppose the Supreme Court’s ruling, a whopping 63 percent say other issues are more important going into the fall election.
Nearly all — 92 percent — say gay marriage has brought no real change to their lives.
Even if Republicans are not able to completely win back the House or Senate in November, by focusing on kitchen table issues the party could close the gap in both chambers and make a marriage amendment more likely, Hall said.
“Then, Republicans might be able to force the legislature to vote on a constitutional amendment in 2011,” he said.
Ultimately, while he doesn’t agree with Gronstal’s stance on the issue, or his promise not to allow an amendment to come up for a vote, Deace said he has a lot of respect for the Council Bluffs Democrat for being willing to stand up for what he believes is right.
“Although I vehemently disagree with his worldview he’s at least honest about it and acts on the courage of his convictions with great boldness and ferocity,” he said. “If only our alleged ‘Christian leaders’ had done the same when they had the chance, this discussion may not even be necessary. “
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