Retentionageddon Update

Walked down to the Linn County Courthouse this morning to watch a news conference called by the Interfaith Allinace of Iowa. The group called the  gathering to level criticism at the American Family Association, a Mississippi-based group bankrolling Bob Vander Plaats' judge-hunting Iowa for Freedom.

Iowa for Freedom is a "project" of the AFA, which I wrote about a couple of weeks ago. The group makes its living trying to intimidate public officials and private businesses that support civil rights for gays and lesbians. Its public policy director, Bryan Fischer, says homosexuals should be barred from serving in public office, among other gems.

The AFA sees the judicial retention vote in Iowas as a chance to send a message to judges across the country that they'll pay politically if they cross its agenda. Three Iowa Supreme Court Justices who joined a unanimous decision striking down Iowa's ban on same-sex marriages are up for retention Nov. 2.  AFA wants to toss them out.

The Interfaith Alliance called on Vander Plaats to renounced the AFA.

"We should never base our decisions on the rhetoric of hate," said Rabbi Todd Thalblum from Temple Judah in Cedar Rapids.

Hate, schmate. It's way too tough to give up that sweet, sweet Magnolia State money.

Iowa Independent reported this morning that AFA has pumped another $24,000 into Iowa for Freedom:

The group, which previously reported spending $60,000 to fund former GOP gubernatorial hopeful Bob Vander Plaats‘ judicial retention campaign, has promised to spend $200,000 on the effort. The campaign also got a boost when New Jersey-based National Organization for Marriage spent nearly $235,000 on a TV ad campaign targeting the three judges...The largest single Iowa expense was a check for $5,000 to Chuck Laudner, the effort's campaign manager, although several payments totaling around $6,500 were sent to Texas-based consulting firm Murphy Turner & Associates LLC. The group's disclosures also show a $500 payment to Schubert Flint Public Affairs for media consulting. In 2008 Frank Schubert, the president of the firm, was the chief strategist for Protect Marriage, a group that supported the Proposition 8 ballot initiative which amended the California constitution to ban gay marriage.

The largest single Iowa expense was a check for $5,000 to Chuck Laudner, the effort's campaign manager, although several payments totaling around $6,500 were sent to Texas-based consulting firm Murphy Turner & Associates LLC. The group's disclosures also show a $500 payment to Schubert Flint Public Affairs for media consulting. In 2008 Frank Schubert, the president of the firm, was the chief strategist for Protect Marriage, a group that supported the Proposition 8 ballot initiative which amended the California constitution to ban gay marriage.

Yep, it's just a little ol' grassroots Iowa effort.

Chief Justice Marsha Ternus, who is on the ballot, is starting to take the gloves off. She spoke Tuesday night in Ames:

Ternus said Iowa For Freedom “wants our judges to be servants of this group's ideology, rather than servants of the law.” She disputed claims that the justices twisted the law to fit their political views.“Although this may hold some popular appeal, in reality it is just not true,” Ternus told a crowd of 50 at Iowa State University's Memorial Union. “These critics are blinded by their own ideology. They simply refuse to accept that an impartial, legally sound and fair reading of the law can lead to an unpopular decision."The 45-minute speech featured some of Ternus' strongest statements to date in the buildup to the Nov. 2 retention vote.

“Although this may hold some popular appeal, in reality it is just not true,” Ternus told a crowd of 50 at Iowa State University's Memorial Union. “These critics are blinded by their own ideology. They simply refuse to accept that an impartial, legally sound and fair reading of the law can lead to an unpopular decision."

The 45-minute speech featured some of Ternus' strongest statements to date in the buildup to the Nov. 2 retention vote.

Later, Ternus throws the flag and calls hypocrisy:

Ternus also mentioned recent criticism by a conservative Sioux City associate pastor, Cary Gordon, who has said he will urge his congregation to vote against the justices, in violation of federal law.“The pastor claims this law is unconstitutional, and has vowed to challenge the law - where? In the courts,” Ternus said. “It seems the pastor is quite comfortable arguing the will of the people, as expressed in this federal law, can be declared void in the courts.”

Sure. They only hate the courts when they lose.

“The pastor claims this law is unconstitutional, and has vowed to challenge the law - where? In the courts,” Ternus said. “It seems the pastor is quite comfortable arguing the will of the people, as expressed in this federal law, can be declared void in the courts.”