Iowans for Christian Leaders in Government Put Presser on Vander Plaats

The Iowa Republican ^ | November 29, 2011 | Iowans for Christian Leaders in Government

[Cincinatus' Wife]

An anonymous group of Christian leaders have distributed an open letter to Bob Vander Plaats telling him that supporting Newt Gingrich would be a deal breaker.

The letter is below.

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Dear Mr. Vander Plaats:

We are aware that you are preparing to endorse a candidate for President of the United States in the coming weeks. This will undoubtedly be an important decision considering you have the ear of many Christians throughout our state of Iowa. Our group believes that we must select leaders who not only espouse our values, but who live them each and every day.

With that being said, we have serious concerns that your endorsement may be guided, not by prayer and conviction, but by personal benefit and prior relationships. Of which, would seem to lead you toward Newt Gingrich and, needless to say, he is not an acceptable choice among Christians.

These concerns of an imminent Newt Gingrich endorsement stem from the following:

1. Your prior connection to Mr. Gingrich via Congressman Jim Nussle.

2. Your ill-advised track record as it pertains to supporting candidates that lack common moral fiber.

3. Your acceptance of $200,000 which Mr. Gingrich secured for your organizations.

YOU AND MR. GINGRICH SHARE A MUTUAL FRIEND IN JIM NUSSLE

In 2006, Mr. Nussle ran for Governor and asked that you serve as his running mate; an offer your willfully accepted.

In the nineties, Mr. Nussle’s current wife was working for Mr. Gingrich; while Mr. Gingrich’s current wife was working for a committee which Mr. Nussle served on in the House of Representatives.

Furthermore, both men were married when they began affairs with each other’s staff members – all while Mr. Gingrich was leading the investigation into Bill Clinton’s extramarital affair with Monica Lewinsky. This is an unfortunate irony.

More importantly, it points to a willful disregard of personal behavior and you are forever linked to both of these candidates in a way that is unacceptable for many of us who demand Christian leadership.

Which brings us to our next concern.

YOU CAMPAIGNED FOR MR. NUSSLE

As previously mentioned, you joined Mr. Nussle’s gubernatorial ticket in 2006.

During that cycle, you travelled to every corner of Iowa trumpeting Mr. Nussle’s character and his ability to represent the values of Iowans. You did this all the while you knew he betrayed the bond he made to God upon proclaiming his vows to his first wife.

We do not blame you for Mr. Nussle’s indiscretion; however, we do worry that if you went as far as to vigorously campaign for and place your name beside his on the ballot that an endorsement of Mr. Gingrich would not be out of the realm of possibility.

With that said, we fully recognize that you do deserve some credit. Iowa voting records have since shown that you did not vote for Mr. Nussle or in the 2006 election – an indication that even you did not truly believe his values were adequate for higher office.

YOU RECEIVED $200,000 FROM MR. GINGRICH’S EFFORTS

In 2010, Mr. Gingrich helped you secure $200,000 in seed money for one of your efforts.

This is a great deal of money, but we trust that this will not have an impact on your decision as an endorsement which will represent our Christian values.

We do believe hope still resides that you may reconsider your endorsement. You lead an organization that encompasses an affiliate group called “Marriage Matters” and not only did Mr. Gingrich fail to sign your Marriage Vow, he failed to live his life in accordance with the values we hold so dear.

It is by now public knowledge that Mr. Gingrich has been unfaithful to two of his previous spouses, even delivering divorce papers to one as she lay in the hospital from a condition surrounding her cancer. We pray that marriage truly does matter as much as you represent, and not as little as it has meant to the candidates you have supported in the past.

Mr. Vander Plaats, all of our concerns derive from a larger one that your endorsement may be for sale, either for money or for status. Please don’t sell Iowa’s values to the highest bidder. These 30 pieces of silver are simply not worth the weight your conscience will bear as you consider misleading thousands of Christian voters in Iowa into believe Mr. Gingrich represents their values.

If you take nothing else from our letter please remember that “whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live” (Proverbs 15:27).

May your decision be guided by the Lord,

Iowans for Christian Leaders in Government

www.iowansforchristianleaders.org

[Keith in Iowa]

>>>An anonymous group

There’s your problem right there. Anonymous. Nobody knows who the hell is behind this. It could be Willard’s minions for all anyone knows.

I give these arserportals absolute ZERO on the credibility meter.

[HereInTheHeartland]

This doesn't appear to be people from here in Iowa.
Looks like a political operatives from out of state.

[Keith in Iowa]

>>>This doesn’t appear to be people from here in Iowa.

It could be the Republicans in the Iowa anti-BVP crowd.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Whole lot of infidelity and baggage in that letter.

[shield]

Perry Ping....

IF you'd rather NOT be pinged FReepmail me.

IF you'd like to be added FReepmail me. Thanks.

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[Hugin]

Anonymous emails? Really?

[Keith in Iowa]

>>>Anonymous emails? Really?

Should be no surprise the lengths some will go to prop up their candidate by destroying another with anonymously sourced used oats.

[Hugin]

Don’t get me wrong. I like CW, and Perry too. I don’t think this helps their cause.

[pgkdan]

I give these arserportals absolute ZERO on the credibility meter.

Every word in the letter is true.

[Keith in Iowa]

>>>Every word in the letter is true.

The arseportals peddling it have ZERO credibility for being ANONYMOUS about it.

[pgkdan]

yeah, ok. Whatever.

[Keith in Iowa]

>>>yeah, ok. Whatever.

Right back at ya. I have ZERO respect for anonymous activity such as this.

[Brent Calvert 03969-030]

Keith in Iowa (your legal name I must presume),

What amount of respect do you have for “The Federalist Papers”, “Common Sense” or “Poor Richard”? All were originally anonymous writings.

Anonymous writings have a deep tradition in American politics.

Ideas can be much more powerful and meaningful than the name of the person who put pen to paper.

Your fellow Iowan,

Brent Edward Calvert

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Power and soul struggle: Vander Plaats Says He's Still Searching for Clarity (Iowa FAMiLY leader endorsement angst) …………..”Sources familiar with the meetings at Walnut Creek Church have indicated that the goal of the meeting is to come to a conclusion as to which candidate social conservatives should rally behind. In the first meeting there was no consensus, but when they met for a second time, a new candidate rating system was unveiled. What TheIowaRepublican.com was told is that Bachmann received the highest ranking with 36 points, followed by Santorum with 35.5, Perry with 34, and Gingrich with 31.5.

It’s unknown who created the criteria and what it all entails, but the meeting has a large contingent of Bachmann supporters. The reason why this is important is because TheIowaRepublican.com was told that this group has been charged with making a recommendation to the FAMiLY Leader’s board before they decide on who they will endorse. When asked why his board of directors cannot make a decision on their own, Vander Plaats admitted that the board will seek the input of others, and added that, “Wisdom comes in a multitude of counsel.”

Since showering praise on Gingrich in an interview with the Des Moines Register following the forum, social conservatives leaders around the state have been grumbling about what they think is a likelihood that Vander Plaats may endorse Gingrich.

Yesterday, an anonymous letter from a group called Iowans for Christian Leaders in Government distributed an open letter that they had sent Vander Plaats warning him about the negative ramifications that endorsing Gingrich would bring. The letter stated that Vander Plaats’ endorsement “may be guided, not by prayer and conviction, but by personal benefit and prior relationships.”

Vander Plaats traveled the state in 2008 to advocate on behalf Gingrich’s American Solutions. Gingrich also provided financial support to Vander Plaats’ effort to defeat three Iowa Supreme Court justices last fall. Vander Plaats also received financial support from the American Family Association and worked with Wayne Hamilton, a key Perry aide. …………

While Vander Plaats and the FAMiLY Leader are still searching for clarity, there is one thing he was very clear about. The process is more difficult because their goal is not to just find a candidate who can beat President Obama next fall, but this candidate also needs to be able to beat Mitt Romney.

The only question for Vander Plaats and the FAMiLY Leader is, what kind of candidate will best accomplish that goal? A surefire conservative whose core convictions match theirs, or a candidate who already has momentum or has the connections that may pay dividends down the road?”

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Are Conservatives Ready to Forgive Newt Gingrich His Sins? ………..”If Newt can withstand the rehashing of Tom Coburn’s book — a book that portrays Gingrich as talking the talk, but betraying the talk once in office — we may have our anti-Romney. If not, I think Rick Perry may yet have a second coming if he is ready. I say that having asked many callers to my radio show who are Cain supporters where they would go. Most say Newt. The others Perry. And if Newt implodes? They almost always say they’d go to Perry — Romney is rarely their choice.”…….