FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 3, 2012
Contact: Anath Hartmann or Elizabeth Ray (703-683-5004)

National Organization for Marriage and Family Leader Work Hand-in-Hand to Restore Traditional Marriage in Iowa

Waterloo, IA – The president of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) will observe the outcome of the important Waterloo presidential caucus this evening as the culmination of NOM's extensive work in Iowa leading up to this first-in-the-nation presidential vote. Brian Brown, NOM's president, will join Bob Vander Plaats, president of The Family Leader at the Waterloo caucus.

"NOM has played an integral role in this year's presidential campaign," said Brown. "We developed a marriage pledge signed by every major candidate except for Ron Paul that commits candidates to very specific actions if they are elected. We supported the Family Leader's Presidential Lecture series, which afforded the leading candidates an opportunity to address Iowans across the state. And we co-hosted the Thanksgiving Family Forum in November, where I had the opportunity to question candidates about critical issues facing American families. "

NOM and the Family Leader have been close allies since the two joined forces in 2010 to defeat three Iowa Supreme Court justices who were facing judicial retention elections following their imposition of same-sex marriage in 2009. All three justices, including the sitting Chief Justice, were removed from office as a result of the NOM/Family Leader campaign. The two organizations are working closely to elect a pro-marriage majority in the legislature so that a Marriage Protection Amendment can be brought before voters, giving the electorate the opportunity to repeal gay marriage in Iowa.

"While NOM has not endorsed a candidate in Iowa, we have been highly critical in the media and in ads of Ron Paul for his cavalier ‘anything goes' attitude toward marriage including his willingness to end civil marriage in the country altogether," Brown said. "Paul is simply unacceptable and we will continue to work to ensure he is not the Republican nominee. At the same time, we applaud Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney, Rick Perry, Newt Gingrich and Michele Bachmann for their strong, principled stance in support of traditional marriage and we wish each of them luck in the caucuses."

To schedule an interview with Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage, please contact Elizabeth Ray (x130), [email protected], or Anath Hartmann, [email protected], at 703-683-5004.

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Paid for by The National Organization for Marriage, Brian Brown, president. 2029 K Street NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006, not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. New § 68A.405(1)(f) & (h).