Opponents emphasize that anti-gay marriage, anti-abortion groups aren't from Iowa
from IowaPolitics.com.
The Values Voter Bus Tour is organized by the three nationally prominent, social conservative groups: the National Organization for Marriage, a nonprofit that advocates against gay marriage; Susan B. Anthony List, a nonprofit that advocates against abortion; and the Family Research Council Action's Faith Family Freedom Fund, a political action committee that works to elect "pro-family" candidates.
The bus tour was similar to one held last year in support of ousting three Iowa Supreme Court justices who were part of the unanimous 2009 decision in Varnum v. Brien, which legalized same-sex marriage in Iowa. The campaign was successful, and the three justices left the bench at the end of last year.
Groups that support same-sex marriage did not stage any kind of counter-rally. However, Troy Price, executive director of One Iowa, the state’s largest gay-rights advocacy group, attended Tuesday’s kickoff.
“I think we saw today just how far out-of-state organizations are willing to go to try to influence politics here in the state,” Price said. “The fact is, this debate about marriage is not about rhetoric, and it’s not about politics. This is about loving, committed couples who want to marry the person that they love. That’s what we’re fighting for.”
Former state Sen. Jeff Angelo, R-Ames, chairman of Iowa Republicans for Freedom, which supports marriage equality, also emphasized how sponsors of the bus tour aren’t from Iowa.
"This tour simply displays just how much money out-of-state groups are willing to pump into our state to interfere in our political process,” Angelo said. “There's nothing to be gained for the candidates involved — they are all competing for a slice of a small group of voters whose vote is based on which candidate is most determined to deny Iowans the ability to be treated equally under the law as stated by our Constitution."
