Its 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 Leaders 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 Gingrichs 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?
Now we know where Mitt spends his campaign money - no one wants to listen to him so, better than campaigning, he puts his staff to work and here’s their work.
Jesus forgave him 2000 years ago. The American people are being called upon not so much to forgive him, as to assess if he's shown the "fruits of repentance": a chastened and changed mind and heart. I'm not convinced.
How can the way be cleared for one leading Presidential candidate with confirmed baggage, knocking another leading Presidential candidate out of the way on the basis (or competitive benefits gained therein) of mere hearsay and "unconfirmed" baggage?
To me, this is no justice.
I would say, in a moral sense, there is a definite line of priority here.
Just going on the headline question posed for the article. People have to get the order right on these things.
NO
Why not? I had to forgive clinton his sins and forgive zero not even being a natural-born citizen. Newt is better than both of those, smarter than and just as conservative as Bush I and II. That makes hom better thazn every President soince Reagan.
Some people have praised the current roster of Republican candidates and said that they were very strong. In general, I do not find them to be strong or appealing. Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich are the only two who stand out for me. Both seem to have some problems — but I would vote for either of them.
There’s a WHOLE BUNCH of issues out there that are KILLER ISSUES.
“Killer issue” means if you get it wrong—you’re DEAD.
Get ONE killer issue wrong, all the other ones right—YOU’RE STILL DEAD.
The “not perfect” candidate will KILL YOU iffen he’s wrong on JUST ONE issue—if it’s important enough.
No. We just don’t want to vote for Romney.
I am beginning to believe ‘conservatives’ are a lot like Charlie Brown and Lucy.
Com’n Charlie kick the football!
No. He is disgusting and so is his blonde.
Every single one of our crappy candidates is 1,000 times better than anti American Obama....
We are at such critical mass in this country, does anyone really understand the situation we are in? Personally, I don’t think there is going to be an election, something will be manufactured to suspend. But in the meantime, let’s pretend, we better stop worrying about, blondes, pictures with Pelosi, RINOS, and start to find the positives in EACH Republican candidate or we are done.
No RINOs not now not ever!
It ain't over til it's votered.
It doesn’t matter who the nominee is for the Republicans, if they Nominate Elmer Fudd, he’d win against the “present” president that is a statistically-proven total failure and now is clocked at a “popularity” rating BELOW Jimmy Carter. No matter who “our guy” is ... and s/he won’t be perfect ... s/he’ll be 100% better than the jerk we have pretending to run things now.
As a Christian I must forgive (after all, I have been forgiven) and I hope. I hope that Speaker Gingrich has indeed begun to learn new lessons of humility and faithfulness. If he becomes the nominee, I will pray for him like crazy.(I will pray for whomever is the nominee against Obama.)
As a Christian, I also pray that we will be granted the blessing of the right leader for this nation at such a crucial time. I will trust God more than I trust man for this.
What we all see these days more clearly than before is an intense battle between good and evil. We would do well to pay a lot more attention to that in each of our own individual lives ... as well as the battle between good and evil for this nation.
Been totally swamped at work for a couple of weeks. What in the world happened with your Perry love affair?