Extreme Right Watch: Sorenson plays to anti-gay extremists in SD37; GOP clings to failed strategy

The Republican Party of Iowa is still reeling from defeat in the HD90 special election earlier this month. Even with polls showing 92% of Iowans say same-sex marriage has not affected their lives, many GOP candidates are clinging to a strategy of hatemongering. Even stalwart GOP leaders like party Chair Doug Gross warn that the extreme focus on divisive social issues by some Republican candidates is alienating moderate pro-equality voters.

Still, with poll numbers against them, a strong undercurrent of anti-gay right-wing activists have made clear they expect to make marriage equality an issue in 2010. Earlier this week, State Representative Kent Sorenson announced plans to challenge State Senator Staci Appel for her seat. Sorenson, an outspoken opponent of marriage equality, will try to score political points by pointing out that Appel's husband is a Justice on the Iowa Supreme Court that ruled unanimously for the freedom to marry earlier this year.

A clear rift has developed in the Republican Party of Iowa between those who argue for a focus on pocketbook issues and those who want to focus on divisive social issues. Recently Iowa Family Policy Center spokesman Bryan English posted an inflammatory blog post calling Gross "the frat boy who has never been as popular or successful as his drinking buddies thought he was back in college."

Republican Gubernatorial frontrunner Bob Vander Plaats has also been pandering to the right-wing base by insisting he would sign an executive order to halt same-sex marriages on his would-be first day in office. The fact that this act is not within the power of the Governor has not detracted him. Neither has it stopped the right wing base from supporting him. Vander Plaats recieved 63% of the vote at the IFPC gubernatorial forum.

Going forward, the Republican Party of Iowa has a clear choice to make. Do they want to be known as the party that stood in the way of equality or will Republicans of conscience speak out and make their support for equality clear?

Meanwhile, Sorenson's motivations seem clear - he's following the Karl Rove playbook, using the politics of fear and division. Perhaps a sign of things to come, the race has already received significant media attention.

Call it HD90 redux or deja vu, it makes you wonder if they'll ever learn...

Bleeding Heartland: High-profile showdown coming in Senate district 37
Des Moines Register: Sorenson Running for Appel's Senate Seat
Iowa Independent: GOP Rep. Sorenson launches Iowa Senate bid