GOP hopefuls flock to Iowa to plead with evangelical Christians

The social wars were on display at Iowas Faith and Freedom Summit
this past weekend as nine likely Republican candidates courted the
nations die hard Christians. Among them, Ted Cruz, Mike Huckabee,
Marc Rubio and Scott Walker all gave fiery testimonials to the 1,000
activists in attendance to prove that they were the one gifted person to
revert time back to the 1950s.
The speakers wooed the crowd with stories about the role of faith in
their personal lives and pledges to support issues important to social
conservatives, including same-sex marriage, abortion and a newly
rising interest in security threats in the Middle East. The glimpses of
personal biographies are not the usual staple of speeches, but
appeared in Rick Perry, Carly Fiorina and Bobby Jindals talks,
discussing the moment they all found Jesus in their lives. I was going
to spend the rest of my life doing Gods work, said Perry, pleading to
the evangelical voters.
Although the percentage of Iowans who are evangelical Christians is no
greater than the national average, they represent nearly 60 percent of
the Republican caucus turnout. Their influence in Iowa and other
primary states has pulled the Republican field to the right in the past,
especially on issues like abortion and immigration. As we discussed in
class, the people in attendance are attentive publics, people who are
politically interested, and selectively expose themselves at these
caucuses.
The candidates seemed adamant about opposing same-sex marriage
despite the view of some national Republican strategists who say that
the party is losing touch with younger voters on the issue. Mr. Rubio
defended traditional marriage, I remind people that the institution of
marriage as one man and one woman existed long before our laws
existed, he said. Thousands of years of human history teach us a
simple truth: The ideal way to raise children is when a mother and
father are married to each other, living in the same house, and raise
children together. Although, because same-sex marriages have never
been allowed until recently, theres no way to measure its success
against thousands of years of heterosexual marriages, history proves
no point Mr. Rubio.
Senator Ted Cruz also used much of his speech to discuss the
importance of religious liberty, saying that believers in traditional
marriage must fall to our knees and pray before the start of the oral
arguments next week at the Supreme Court on a case that could
legalize same-sex marriage across the country. He assured the crowd

of his opposition to marriage equality, mentioning his new antimarriage equality bills. But he had little trouble attending a foreign
policy dinner last week hosted by two gay business partners. According
to two attendees, during the gathering Mr. Cruz said he would have no
problem if his daughter was gay and said that marriage is an issue that
should be left to the states. I guess the fact that he sent a letter to
thousands of pastors last month urging them to take a stand against
same-sex marriage must have slipped his mind.
Iowa's social conservatives must be suffering terribly ever since the
state legalized same-sex marriage back in 2009. Certainly it's been
unbearable over there in the Hawkeye State. Who would dare outlaw
discrimination? God forbid those crazy gays want to commit
themselves in lifelong partnership to each other. But have no fear here
comes the GOP cavalry.
Works Cited:
http://blogs.cbn.com/thebrodyfile/archive/2015/04/16/exclusive-tedcruzs-marriage-message-to-pastors-stand-with-god.aspx
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/26/us/politics/republican-field-woosiowa-evangelical-christians.html
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20150426-faithfulflock-to-gop-forum-in-iowa.ece