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Christians should remain skeptical of Gov. Terry Branstad because of his association with veteran political strategist Doug Gross, former radio personality Steve Deace said on his daily video blog Tuesday.
Doug Gross
Gross, who served as Branstad’s chief of staff in the 1990s and was the Republican candidate for governor in 2002, has became a polarizing figure in Iowa GOP politics in recent years. Following the 2008 election, which saw Republicans continue to lose power in statehouse politics, Gross embarked on a media tour to give his prescription to fix the party. Gross called on the GOP to be more inclusive and focus less on social issues that are turning off a younger generation of voters.
Some worried if the close association with Gross could hurt Branstad during the 2010 GOP primary, when he was facing off with the darling of evangelical conservatives, Bob Vander Plaats. Despite having no formal role in the campaign or in Branstad’s current administration, Gross is widely believed to still hold considerable influence in Terrace Hill.
Gross has also repeatedly warned that the dominance of social and evangelical conservatives in the Iowa Caucuses could cause some Republican presidential hopefuls to skip the state. In an interview with The New York Times, Gross sharpened his argument.
From the Times:
“We look like Camp Christian out here,” said Doug Gross, a Republican activist and former nominee for governor. “If Iowa becomes some extraneous right-wing outpost, you have to question whether it is going to be a good place to vet your presidential candidates.”
It was this interview that caused Deace to once again speak out against Gross, saying that if liberals had said this, Christians would be outraged. But when it comes from a Republican insider, Deace noted, no one says a word.
“I really don’t care what Chris Mathews or Rachel Maddow or Bill Maher think of what I believe,” Deace said. “But I certainly care what those who claim to be with me on the issues and try to rally me to vote for their candidates, what they think about what I believe.”
And because of Gross’ influence on Branstad, the five-term Republican governor must be held accountable.
“Anybody who puts a guy like Doug Gross on his team or in his inner circle shouldn’t be trusted. Period,” Deace said. “Do you perpetuate the ambitions, careers and beliefs of people you don’t agree with? Well you would if you were bipolar. Normal people, however, don’t.
“As the great Will Rogers said, ‘You can tell a lot about a man by the friends he has and the company he keeps.’ And when someone keeps the company of Doug Gross in their inner circle, and they yearn to have him be supportive and influential, then those of you who take the Bible very seriously probably shouldn’t take that candidate very seriously any longer.”
Deace, who hosted the drive-time show on Iowa’s largest radio station until stepping down from the position in February, has long been a critic of both Gross and Branstad, endorsing and publicly advocating for Vander Plaats in the run up to the 2010 gubernatorial primary.
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