Terry's Attention not on Retention

Former and future Gov. Terry Branstad's campaign spokesman tells The Register of Des Moines that his boss won't be dabbling in this fall's rousing game of remove the justices:

Former Gov. Terry Branstad intends to stay out of the debate over whether Iowa voters should remove Supreme Court justices for legalizing gay marriage.

“This is a ballot issue, and Gov. Branstad believes this is an issue on which people need to decide for themselves,” spokesman Tim Albrecht said today. “He respects the secret ballot and believes people should vote their conscience.”

Branstad is the Republicans' nominee for governor. He has said Iowans should be allowed to vote on whether to change the state's constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman. But his statement today made clear that he would not join an effort to remove justices who unanimously declared Iowa's ban on gay marriage unconstitutional.

At last, on this issue anyway, Branstad declined a chance to become more Vander Plaatsy. He appointed one of the justices up for retention, so I guess urging ouster would be sort of odd.

But let's not get too charitable. This also was a chance for TB 5.0 to stand up against organized, misguided efforts to bully an independent judiciary. No dice. But hey, thank goodness he respects the secret ballot.

Speaking of bullying, Bob Vander Plaats gave his justice removal campaign a catchy moniker today - "Iowa for Freedom."

Iowa for Creativity had no comment.

Here's the news release:

IOWA FOR FREEDOM LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO UNSEAT 3 IOWA SUPREME COURT JUSTICES, PROTECT IOWANS' FREEDOMS, LIBERTIES

DES MOINES – Iowans' voices have a right to be heard and their freedoms protected, Bob Vander Plaats said Wednesday afternoon on the steps of the Iowa Judicial Building. With Iowa and the nation at a crossroads, Vander Plaats said, he and the newly created Iowa For Freedom are taking a stand against activist judges who jeopardize Iowans freedoms and liberties protected by the Constitution.

Iowa for Freedom's message and focus has been quickly embraced by representatives and leaders from statewide coalitions interested in protecting Iowans' property rights, Second Amendment rights, educational choice, legal immigration laws, business and industry climate, family values, traditional marriage and other like-minded freedom coalitions. Vander Plaats said Iowa For Freedom will focus its efforts on the “unseating” of the three Iowa Supreme Court judges on the November 2 ballot.

“We are starting a grassroots effort to Vote ‘No' on the retention of the Iowa Supreme Court Justices,” said Vander Plaats, who will serve as Iowa for Freedom's state chair. “Iowa law wisely allows for a check and balance of the Supreme Court through a retention vote by you, the citizens.”

Vander Plaats has been outspoken regarding the court's decision that struck down the 1998 Defense of Marriage Act. It is time to take a stance and hold the courts in check, Vander Plaats said, especially with recent court decisions striking down Arizona's law to block illegal immigration and a court ruling in California striking down the results of a public referendum to block same sex marriages

“We believe this issue goes beyond the marriage issue,” Vander Plaats said. “If we allow the courts to make law, execute law and amend the Constitution, all of our freedoms are in danger of being lost on an activist court opinion.”

Iowa for Freedom will begin hiring staff and engaging volunteers to assist in its grassroots effort, and more details about the campaign will follow, Vander Plaats said.

“We will run a very focused, grassroots campaign and the results are going to send a signal across this country that we're not going to let appointed judges usurp the will of the people any longer,” he said.

Yup, it's about way more than marriage. Attached to the release were copies of all the other rulings issued by this court that Vander Plaats disagrees with.

Ha. I totally got you. There are no other rulings.