Posted on 11/22/2011 2:35:22 PM PST by smoothsailing
Cameron Joseph
November 22, 2011
A top organization of Iowa social conservatives slammed Herman Cain as it narrowed its list for a possible presidential endorsement list.
Cain and Ron Paul were dropped from The Family Leader's consideration, leaving Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann as the possible winners. Mitt Romney did not seek the group's endorsement.
Headed by the influential activist Bob Vander Plaats, the group criticized Cain, saying he lacked "clarity on the key issues of life, marriage, foreign policy, and presidential readiness" — a major diss to a candidate who has sought to garner support from social conservatives in the state.
Cain might have angered some in the group when he refused to sign an early version of their pledge because it said that African-American children were more likely to be born into two-parent households under slavery than they were today.
The group said they had concerns Paul's view of states' rights meant he did not oppose adequately enough abortion rights or gay marriage.
Romney has long drawn the ire of Vander Plaats, who ran former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's (R) successful Iowa campaign in the 2008 presidential election, in which Romney was a top rival.
Whomever the group backs could get a major boost in Iowa — the organization's board is made up of most of the state's top social conservatives.
Evangelical Christians make up approximately 60 percent of GOP caucus-goers in the state, giving them an outsize influence on the process. All of the candidates looking to recreate the successful coalition that vaulted Huckabee to a win over Romney in 2008 would get a major boost from this group.
I understand keeping Santorum, Perry, and Bachmann. But drop Cain and keep Newt? What is that all about?
Keep Newt and Cain out of consideration.
Bachmann, Santorum and Perry have the best pro-life records of all the candidates.
I guess cheating on your wife every time you’re married and being married 3 times is fine with these phonies. Or giving your wife divorce papers while she’s in the hospital recovering from cancer. Very family friendly. /smh
Bob, Alaska Air is ready when you are.
Yeah right, Cain is married to same woman for 40+ years with no history of adultery, breaking law, etc.
This group needs clearer thinking.
Cain might have angered some in the group when he refused to sign an early version of their pledge because it said that African-American children were more likely to be born into two-parent households under slavery than they were today.Really, IMHO, a completely unnecessary statement in a pledge to uphold the life of the unborn. I often wondered why Cain had not signed that particular pledge because he is extremely pro-life...now I know.
Cain is very pro-life, making no exception even in rape or incest, only if the absolute physical life of the mother is in danger. It is also rediculous to say that he is weak on marriage.
We shall see what happens, but my support is still for Cain.
HERMAN CAN FOR AMERICA VS BARACK OBAMA, THE MAN WHO DESPISES AMERICA
In other words, how you live your life by example is not important. Just words is all that is necessary. My mother told me just the opposite, that words are empty, deeds are genuine. Ron Paul is also living a moral life, no law breaking or adultery in his life. But his words are not satisfactory.
This is hilarious.
Newt Gingrich stays? He is not even conservative. He is a serial adulterer and for years now has sided with radical left wing ideas.
This group is really a conservative group? If so, I must have lost my way and become something other than a conservative.
Who gives a crap what Vander Schlong thinks? Cain has plenty of time to regain the lead, if he deserves it. The people of Iowa will decide who wins on Jan 3rd, not this Huckawacko, or the idiot talk show has been who said Cain insulted his secretary by asking her to sweeten his tea (another Huckafreak, if I am not mistaken.)
They are saying the other candidates are better at:
"clarity on the key issues of life, marriage, foreign policy, and presidential readiness"
I have to agree.
Another sad example of how the political right sabotages real conservatives. Cain is an assistant minister at his Baptist church and married to the same woman for over four decades, yet this self-important and unfortunately, somewhat influential Iowa group rejects him. I guess they value all that ‘government experience’ that other candidates posses. The kind of ‘experience’ that keeps Washington in power while we see our liberties and our incomes shrink. Well, that’s their prerogative, of course, but it’s another example of how the political right sometimes acts like a circular firing squad and ends up helping the Democrat get (re)elected. I just pray that Herman Cain can surmount this stuff and win, anyway, showing these kinds organizations that, even as conservatives, they cannot dictate the people’s choice for a Republican presidential candidate.
-—”Bachmann, Santorum and Perry have the best pro-life records of all the candidates”-—
It is fundamentally dishonest to suggest that Newt’s record is not as good as each of these candidates on Life issues.
Your nuts.
Newt has a better record on marriage? You have GOT TO BE KIDDING!?
Yes and Newt is such a wonderful conservative example of upholding the sacred sanctity of marriage.
Wow, that is really unnecessary.
They also refused to endorse Romney, and not simply because he didn’t seek their endorsement. Because Romney’s track record is hostile to the traditional family.
On foreign policy and presidential readiness maybe a case can be made, but not on life and marriage, that's BS.
I can say I’ve never heard of this organization before. And someone remind me again as to why Iowa is considered the be all to end all in election years......
Back in 2001 Newt supported federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. That is not a pro-life position. And Newt has never been considered a social conservative either.
What’s changed?
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