First Lady Mari Culver was in Cedar Rapids Wednesday helping to hang siding on one of many Habitat for Humanity homes being built. (Photo by Lynda Waddington/Iowa Independent)

CEDAR RAPIDS — There was very little pomp and circumstance surrounding First Lady Mari Culver’s volunteer work Wednesday on one of 20 homes under construction by Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity. The legions of twenty-something volunteers maneuvered amid the the houses on Cedar Rapids’ far west side, measuring vinyl siding, hauling bundles of shingles to bare rooftops while barking occasional orders to one other.

Had it not been for the steady stream of television and print news crews showing a great deal of interest in the tan siding slowly climbing the side of one home, it’s likely Culver, clad in jeans and a souvenir hat from a previous Cedar Falls Habitat effort, would have been just another volunteer.

“I love to support the work of Habitat,” Culver said while indulging in a short break from hanging siding. “I’ve met several of the home owners today, and several of them were displaced by the floods a year ago.

“This is just a great way to serve the community and try to help rebuild an even stronger Cedar Rapids — nail by nail, piece of siding by piece of siding.”

Culver took obvious pride in the work she had accomplished that morning, noting that she had experience “previously helping with siding” on a different Habitat building project. She also acknowledged that the Cedar Rapids project, which combines the forces of local and national Habitat for Humanity groups in a $3.2 million undertaking, is different.

The massive 20-home undertaking by Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity has become an opportunity for individuals and groups at the local, state and national level to be more directly involved with recovery in Cedar Rapids. In the photo above, volunteers at the construction site are provided a free hot meal by the Linn County Democratic Central Committee. (Photo by Lynda Waddington/Iowa Independent)

“There are between 500 and 600 AmeriCorps and Vista volunteers from all over the country working here in Cedar Rapids,” she said. “I’ve not only had the opportunity to meet the local home owners and learn their stories, but I’ve been able to meet these wonderful young people who have heed President Barack Obama’s call to national service. It’s just really neat and such a great movement. I wish I were twenty-some years younger because I’d be an AmeriCorps volunteer for a year or two.”

The volunteers were welcomed to Cedar Rapids Sunday evening at a rally featuring Arizona Cardinals quarterback and native son Kurt Warner. Warner and his wife Brenda raised more than half a million dollars for the project through their First Things First Foundation. The couple remained in Cedar Rapids after the initial rally to physically help with the building of walls and raising of roof trusses.

While the Warners are definitely the most celebrated of the dignitaries lined up behind the project, Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity President Karen Hufnagle reports they aren’t the only ones who have weathered Midwestern rain storms to help and celebrate the week-long building efforts.

Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity President Karen Hufnagle reports more an estimated 550 young adults from across the nation have volunteered in Cedar Rapids to help build more than 20 homes, many of which will go to residents displaced by the 2008 floods. (Photo by Lynda Waddington/Iowa Independent)

“We partnered with Habitat International and the AmeriCorps Build-a-Thon, and that has allowed us to bring in some very high profile people like Kurt Warner. But we’ve also gotten a lot of help from all levels — local, state and national,” Hufnagle said. U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-Mt. Vernon) and numerous state and local officials have visited the building sites either during or in the lead-up to the current mass raising.

“We just have had tremendous support,” she continued. “So many individuals and organizations have turned out to help in any way they can. Also, city government here in Cedar Rapids has been fantastic.”

Members of the local affiliate went to the city last fall, according to Hufnagle, and requested assistance. The group wanted to build  20 houses this year, but also wanted to build an additional 20 houses during each of the next two years. The project was born not only of the realization that much of the city’s affordable housing had been washed away during the 2008 flood, but with a belief that the Cedar Valley affiliate needed to ramp up and sustain greater productivity. The city agreed to provide the organization enough land to accommodate the lofty project for the three-year span.

In order to qualify for a Habitat home, future owners must provide a down payment and maintain a monthly mortgage. In addition, the home owners provide “sweat equity” by physically contributing to the construction of their home and those built for others. Applications are available on the organization’s Web site.

The massive influx of volunteers are expected to finish raising and finishing the homes’ exteriors this week. Local contractors will provide electrical, plumbing and other interior specialties. That being said, Hufnagle and the Cedar Valley crew anticipate they will be needing more volunteers in the weeks to come. Anyone interested in helping out can visit their Web site or phone the Hiawatha-based office at (319) 366-4485.

Culver was spotted by the Register smoking in a Chevrolet Tahoe that the state provides to the governor’s family.

From The Register:

The black sport-utility vehicle was stopped at a stoplight in downtown Des Moines about 8:45 a.m. Culver was sitting in the passenger seat with the window rolled down and a cigarette in her hand. A state trooper was driving. Numerous pedestrians and motorists passed by the scene.

The law went into effect July 1. It bans smoking in most workplaces, including bars and restaurants. Opponents said it was an infringement on individual rights. Proponents said it would protect workers from secondhand smoke, which they said can cause cancer and other diseases.

Culver released the following statement:

Like many Iowans, I have struggled to quit smoking. I successfully quit last year, but unfortunately started again a few months ago. I did smoke in a state vehicle, which I regret, and I promise that it will not happen again.

The statewide smoking ban, which was signed into law by Gov. Chet Culver in April, specifically mentions government-owned cars as an example of where smoking is not permitted.

Mari Culver, wife of Democratic Iowa Gov. Chet Culver, held a campaign event for presidential candidate Barack Obama in Carroll Tuesday. (Photo: Jeff Storjohann of the Carroll Daily Times Herald)

Iowa’s first lady Mari Culver says flatly that GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is woefully unprepared to lead the nation.

What’s more, Culver said, the selection of the first-term Alaska governor, who has been largely cocooned from serious questioning, reveals Republican presidential candidate John McCain to be a risk-taker at a time when the nation needs reason.

“To me, it’s further evidence of the gambling nature of McCain’s decision-making and his judgment. You’ve got to exercise the type of leadership and good decision-making and sound judgment in the selection of your vice presidential running mate which gives American voters an idea of the decision-making and the judgment you would exercise as president,” Mari Culver said. “I think frankly Sen. McCain failed miserably in that regard. I don’t think she’s ready to be vice president. I don’t think she’s ready to be president. That goes without saying.”

Culver, the wife of Democratic Gov. Chet Culver, spoke with Iowa Independent on Tuesday before a campaign event at Crossroads Bistro/Coffee World in Carroll. Culver held a similar event earlier in Fort Dodge.

While she thinks Palin is short on credentials, the long record McCain has of embracing trickle-down economics will be determinative in the election, Culver said.

“Well, it obviously hasn’t worked and we need change,” Culver said.

Culver said the last two weeks of market turmoil in the nation have shown that McCain lacks an understanding of the economy. He’s veered wildly with pronouncements on it, and in Mari Culver’s view, created a sideshow with a false claim last week that he was going to suspend his campaign and work solely on the crisis.

“It shows a lack of seasoned, reasoned, calm leadership that we need,” Culver said.

Culver said she thinks the McCain “gimmick” of a campaign suspension wasn’t that, at all, as the GOP standard-bearer had his staff people out all over the TV and the news.

The splintering of the GOP with President Bush calling for a $700 billion rescue plan for a raft of troubled financial organizations and rank-and-file House Republicans voting against the plan, didn’t help McCain either, Culver said.

“He couldn’t lead his own party frankly toward a rescue package,” Culver said. “If he can’t lead the members of his own party, I don’t know how he can lead the country.”

Culver said President Bush’s speech to the nation last week about the economy — in which he used words like “recession” and “panic” — had an alarming rather than calming effect.

“Good God, thank God we didn’t have a run on the banks after that address,” Culver said. “In order to bring stability we have to demonstrate some stability.”

Gov. Culver, while working on flooding issues in eastern Iowa, has said the state’s economy is generally in better shape than the nation’s.

This doesn’t mean there aren’t anxious moments for Iowans, though, Mari Culver said.

“Certainly everyone is extremely concerned about what has happened economically in this country,” Culver said.

She said the nation needs to change thinking in Washington and correct a flawed process in which significant legislation is written by big oil and pharmaceuticals.

“Frankly, I think this election is more important than any in my adult life,” Culver said. “This country cannot continue in the manner in which it has put Wall Street ahead of Maple Street.”

“Nothing that I have done in my life is more important than what I’m doing here tonight,” said Roxanne Conlin, the nation’s first female U.S. Attorney, the first woman president of the National Association of Trail Lawyers and Iowa co-chair of the Edwards campaign.

“The reason I am here tonight, and that I’ve been lots of places in the state of Iowa recently, is to tell you what I think is most important about John Edwards — from the advantage point of a friend of 20 years,” she said. “What you see is what you get. The man is good to his soul. He’s genuine. He’s authentic. He truly, truly cares about what happens to people. I promise you that. You have my word on that.”

After offering the crowd of roughly 200 at Coe College some holiday gift buying tips (books authored by Edwards), Conlin introduced Elizabeth Edwards, who, in turn and after many accolades, introduced Iowa First Lady Mari Culver.

“You are blessed and the entire country is blessed that Mari Culver stands in the position that she does as first lady of this state and one of the most esteemed first ladies in the entire country,” said Elizabeth.

Entering the stage to a jazzed up version of “Proud Mary (Rollin’ On the River),” Culver, who also gave her support to Edwards in the days just before the 2004 Iowa caucuses, gave props to her hometown of Marion before getting down to the business of her visit.

“As you may have heard, I’ve got a little bit of an announcement to share with you,” she said with a smile. “Iowans have a very important decision to make on January 3rd. And I, like all of you, have carefully reviewed the candidates, their positions, have read as much as I could and informed myself. You know, we, as Democrats, are very lucky. We have the best field of Democratic candidates that I believe has ever run. … But, like you, I can select only one candidate to support on January 3rd and that is why today I’m so pleased to announce my support for John Edwards for president.”

Culver said there are many reasons why she supports the Edwards candidacy and proceeded to list the fact that he was born of humble beginnings and that he has “never forgotten the important lesson of the dignity of hard work.”

“Third, and most importantly, I know John Edwards can win,” she said. “Not just our caucuses, but the general election too. He is ready. He is battle tested. He’s been through this process before — he has been on our national ticket. I think these experiences give him a real advantage.”

After discussing a recent CNN poll which listed John Edwards as the only Democrat to beat Republican rivals, Culver said the reason Edwards wins is because he “inspires people.”

“His message has always been rooted in opportunity and optimism and lifting up people,” she said. “I think he inspires people to their highest calling. He and his campaign are staying above all of this name-calling and mud-throwing that we are seeing now — those who treat politics as blood sport. I believe Americans appreciate this and will rally behind him as a candidate and as our president.”

Saying that she was ready to roll up her sleeves and do everything she can between now and caucus night, Culver welcomed Edwards to the stage to audience chants of “Go, John, Go.” Edwards, for his part, thanked the women who preceded him at the rally and then spoke highly of Culver and her focus as first lady on women’s and children’s services.

“[Mari Culver] has, from her heart, advocated on causes that are enormously important to Iowa, to America and to me,” he said. “I still remember the first place we went to this morning. Literally, the people in this shelter knew Mari when she walked in the door. That’s how much time she has spent there. She doesn’t do this for politics. She doesn’t do this to make sure she has a good photo opportunity. She does it because it is in her heart and soul, and it says something about what kind of human being she is and what kind of character she has. I am so proud to have Mari Culver’s support in the caucuses here in Iowa.”

The vast majority of Edwards’ remarks at the event were words that supporters have heard often in Iowa. He promised to take on corporations for the benefit of average Americans, and told those in attendance that playing nice with special interests would not produce the desired results. Toward the end of his speech, however, Edwards gave a populist rallying cry of “rising up” that this reporter had not heard since 2003.

“Every time that we speak up for all of those who are struggling to give their children the life that you want to give your children — the working middle class, the working poor, the struggling families in this country — every time we speak up for them, America rises,” he said. “When we speak up for 200,000 veterans who don’t have a place to live, America rises. When we speak up for 47 million people who have no health care coverage, America rises. When we speak up for 35 million who went hungry — in America — last year, America rises. When we speak up for James Lowe and millions like him who live in the shadows, who Washington doesn’t even know exists, America rises. And, I’ll tell you something, brothers and sisters, come January the third, right here in Iowa, America is going to begin to rise…

“When we start this rising up on January the third, right here in Iowa, this rising up is going to spread like a wave across America, with a power and force like you have never seen. And these media people, they’re gonna all say, ‘What happened? Where did that come from?’ You’re gonna know where it started. It started with you, right here in Iowa on January the third.”