Column -- Helpful Outsiders

While you were enjoying a sunny Tuesday, Iowa's two major political parties were sweating it out in southern Iowa.

That's where voters were deciding a special election in Iowa House District 90, which includes Jefferson, Van Buren and a portion of Wapello counties. Republicans wanted to show that they're back. Democrats were determined to hold a seat vacated by Rep. John Whitaker, DHillsboro, who took a job with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Both parties spent lots of money and muscle to win some 2010 momentum.

When the dust settled, the Democrat, retired teacher Curt Hanson, won by 107 votes. Republican Jefferson County Supervisor Stephen Burgmeier fell short.

Legislative races are steered by all sorts of factors, many uniquely local and personal. What made this race noteworthy, however, were all the outsiders who tried to grab the wheel.

Leading that list is the National Organization for Marriage, which poured in $86,000 on Burgmeier's behalf, most of it for TV ads opposing same-sex marriage in Iowa. The Iowa Family Policy Center also joined the crusade.

They weighed in heavily for Burgmeier, even though both candidates favor letting Iowans vote on a constitutional amendment banning same-sex unions. It's more proof that when you get past all the feel-good talk about “Iowans' right to vote,” the real motive behind this “movement” is a play for political power. But selling out the civil rights of your fellow Iowans in exchange for some legislative seats is not the stuff of a great TV ad.

And how's that power play going? Not so well, evidently. Again they swooped in and again they lost. And this is the political clout that has so many skittish Democrats scared of their shadows on this issue. Go figure.

You have to wonder whether Burgmeier would be a state representative-elect today if so many “helpful” outsiders hadn't rushed in to dress him up as a culture warrior. The economy, taxes and the state budget were clearly major issues in the race, but how many voters in a razor-close election were turned off by a marriage barrage? Perhaps enough to change the outcome.

Somewhere, Doug Gross, a GOP moderate urging his party to lose its social issues shrillness, is thinking “I told you so.”

Democrats shouldn't get too cocky, however.

They barely won in a district that has been blue for 13 years. Gov. Chet Culver's approval ratings are plunging. There could be big trouble ahead.

But if Republicans keep getting “help,” Democrats may have hope.

¦ Todd Dorman's column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Contact him at (319) 398-8452 or todd.dorman@gazcomm.com