This story was updated at 3:36pm
A group that has become a major player in the debate over gay marriage in Iowa will not support Republican gubernatorial candidate Terry Branstad unless Branstad has a “fundamental transformation.” The Iowa Family Political Action Committee is an off-shoot of the Iowa Family Policy Center, a group which has lobbied hard for a statewide vote on a constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage.
The chairman of the Iowa Family PAC’s board of directors says his group has a “commitment to Biblical principles” and any candidate who seeks the support of the Iowa Family PAC must offer a plan “for promoting public policy that honors both God and the constitution.”
In a written statement, the group’s chairman said they are not looking for candidates who “aren’t quite as bad as their opponent” and he criticized the leader of the Iowa Christian Alliance for suggesting many conservative Republicans would support Republican Terry Branstad over the current governor, Chet Culver, a Democrat.
The Iowa Family Political Action Committee is an off-shoot of the Iowa Family Policy Center, a group which has lobbied hard for a statewide vote on a constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage.
“Christian conservatives are looking for a champion who will take a strong stand for life, marriage and the constitutional separation of powers,” group chairman Danny Carroll told Radio Iowa. “We believe the State Supreme Court in April of last year overstepped its constitutional bounds in establishing a new policy on marriage.”
Carroll’s issued a written statement that criticized the leader of the Iowa Christian Alliance for suggesting many conservative Republicans would support Republican Terry Branstad over the current governor, Chet Culver, a Democrat. Carroll says his group will still be active in the months leading up to the November election.
“We continue to hope that one of the two candidates will come forth and address our concerns, but there are a lot of opportunities to advance what we stand for in various legislative races,” Carroll said. “With limited time and resources, we’ll probably focus our attention in those areas where we can have a maximum impact.” The Iowa Family PAC supported Bob Vander Plaats in the GOP Primary.