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.
A recently introduced bill could have far-reaching impact on the U.S. sugar industry, including American Crystal Sugar, a farmer-owned cooperative that locked out 1,300 Midwest workers on Aug. 1.
The chairman for Herman Cain’s Iowa effort says the campaign “relied more on the word of farmers than Washington regulators” in deciding to run an ad containing claims the Environmental Protection Agency says are false.
The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.
Steve Deace, the controversial conservative drive-time host on Iowa’s largest radio station, has resigned from his show, according to an e-mail from station manager Van Harden to employees. His last day will be Friday.
Harden told employees of WHO-AM in Des Moines that Deace said he and his family had been talking about resigning for some time, and “finally felt lead to make a change.”
“While he does not have another position to which he is going, he has had the ear and interest of many politicians and political campaigns seeking his strategic advice, and he says there is a possibility he may be doing some consulting,” the e-mail said. “While this came as a surprise to us, we at WHO, and Steve, want all to know this is a very friendly parting, so much so that Steve says he may be able to make himself available occasionally to do some fill-in work for us if needed.”
Deace was an outspoken supporter of Mike Huckabee’s 2008 caucus campaign and Bob Vander Plaats’ 2010 gubernatorial campaign. In fact, in the months leading up to the Republican primary, Deace repeatedly used his show to hammer Gov. Terry Branstad and praise Vander Plaats, leading many observers to give him some credit for Vander Plaats beating Branstad in Polk County, the heart of his radio audience.
Last month, Deace ran unsuccessfully to become chairman of the Polk County Republican Party.
And he’s no stranger to controversy. In 2004, Deace garnered headlines when he criticized Shawn Green, a Jewish outfielder who at the time played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, for missing an important game scheduled during Yom Kippur. Deace said Green could solve all his problems by converting to Christianity and recognizing Jesus Christ as his Messiah.
He’s referred to TV star Oprah Winfrey as the “high priestess of American paganism,” consistently called same-sex marriage licenses “sodomy permission slips,” and said state Sen. Matt McCoy (D-Des Moines) could not be a Christian because he is gay. In the aftermath of the shooting spree at Ft. Hood, Texas, Deace said the shooter “may have done America a favor” if the tragedy serves as a wake-up call that Islam is incompatible with military service.
Last month, Deace called Steve Scheffler, president of the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition and one of three Iowans on the Republican National Committee, “the most treacherous figure in Iowa politics” due to his support of an anti-abortion bill Deace didn’t feel went far enough.
Following the assassination of Kansas doctor George Tiller, who was murdered in his church by an anti-abortion activist, Deace admitted to being conflicted about someone taking Tiller’s life, but said ultimately he was happy that “babies in Kansas are safer today than they were yesterday while George Tiller was still taking in oxygen.”
“I don’t feel grief for [George Tiller's] family, unless it’s grief that they’re in the same family as him,” Deace said. “How many of their bills were paid over the years by the blood on daddy’s hands. I don’t have a lot of sympathy for that. Maybe I should.”
Follow Jason Hancock on Twitter
Do you know where to vote on Election Day? Do you know what to bring with you? Get comprehensive voter information for your state here.
Sign up for our email newsletter