A group of clergy Wednesday called on Iowa For Freedom executive director Bob Vander Plaats to denounce a national group that has provided funding for their effort to vote out three Iowa Supreme Court justices involved in Iowa’s ban on gay marriage. (related story)
The Interfaith Alliance says the Iowa group is merely a state arm of the American Family Association of Mississippi. Vander Plaats told Radio Iowa that’s not true.Vander Plaats says his group is not an Iowa subsidiary of A-F-A, and says A-F-A is merely a supporter of the Iowa group’s effort.
Vander Plaats says Interfaith Alliance’s call for him to denounce the A-F-A “really shows the strength of our campaign.” Vander Plaats says he is sticking with his message.
“The only thing I’m going to denounce is activists judges on the supreme court that’s used to make law, govern law and amend the constitution, and usurp the will of the people, and the will be the message today all the way until November two,” Vander Plaats says.
He says he believes the people of Iowa will have their voice be heard and will vote “No” on the three justices. The Interfaith Alliance says the A-F-A is an “extremist group, with a radical agenda, and a record of hate.” Vander Plaats says the group is one of many supporters of Iowa for Freedom.
He says Newt Gingrich supports the effort, Iowa Congressman Steve King supports the group and Vander Plaats says he’s not going to take credit or responsibility or accountability for any of their comments, nor should they take credit or responsibility or accountability for any of his comments.
Vander Plaats says he just wants to bring people along that are “very supportive of our effort to hold a supreme court in check that is activist by nature, and that is inserting politics into the judicial arena and is usurping the will of the people.” Vander Plaats says the Interfaith Alliance and the chief justice of the court can see the poll numbers and that’s why they are trying to attack his group.
“We’re still a government of the people, by the people and for the people, not of the courts, but the courts and for the courts,” Vander Plaats says, “and I think the people of Iowa are very disturbed at this Supreme Court that’s become activist in nature. They redefined the fundamental institution of marriage without the voice of the people and I think they are going to hold them in check on November two. And I think that’s why Supreme Court Justice Marsha Ternus at least has decided to come out and enter the campaign fray.”
Terns gave a speech in Ames Tuesday in which she was critical of the effort to vote out the judges, saying they made their decision based on the constitution.