Iowa GOP tent should stretch, expand

Broad and vibrant debate is a stalwart pillar of the American political process. As such, we strongly support the ongoing work of Iowa Republicans for Freedom and the newly established mission of Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry to expand the Republican voice within the marriage debate.

Founded in 2011 by former Iowa Sen. Jeff Angelo, Iowa Republicans for Freedom has worked to link conversations regarding civil marriage to the conservative principle of limited government.

Members of Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry recently toured Iowa and sat down with us to outline their plan to remove 'anti-gay language” in the Republican Party's platforms.

For too long the Iowa GOP message on marriage has been mostly one-sided and monopolized by out-of-state funded religious conservatives. The situation has proved unhealthy for the Republican Party of Iowa, our local public squares and the first-in-the-nation caucuses.

We applaud both the Iowa and national organization for having the foresight to act ahead of a tide of young conservatives, who view marriage equality as a discrimination issue or, more likely, no issue at all.

We find the groups' support of marriage as a foundation of society and encouragement of the strength and stability of families is a reasonable and welcoming stance, which should appeal to younger and Libertarian facets of the party currently isolated from such discussions.

While we doubt the organizations' assertion that removing certain 'hurtful” planks from the state and national GOP platforms will reverse years of opposing sentiment, we recognize and acknowledge the conversation must start somewhere, and that any step forward would face roadblocks. The 'from the ground up approach” has its merits, but we also hope state and national leaders with tolerant viewpoints will find breathing room within this issue sooner rather than later.

Changes to the platforms are sorely needed, even if those documents hold no sway for elected officials and party leadership. Suggested rewrites have been presented in a way as to spark more thoughtful conversations among and between all Republicans.

Our hope is that ongoing outreach will ultimately require expansion of the Iowa GOP's big tent - and perhaps extend the national value of the Iowa Caucuses.

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