NOM BLOG

Category Archives: Iowa

Suing to Prove Your Innocence

Turning the tables on the national narrative, Mennonite art gallery owners Betty and Richard Odgaard have filed suit against the Iowa Civil Rights Commission asking the Commission to rule that their refusal to participate in a religious ceremony by allowing their gallery to be used for a same-sex wedding ceremony is not a violation of the Iowa Civil Rights Act.  From the Quad City Times

Religion and LawDES MOINES — A nationally known religious rights group is suing the Iowa Civil Rights Commission on behalf of a Grimes couple who refused to host a same-sex couple’s wedding…

“Just as the Odgaards cannot be forced to display art that violates their religious convictions, they should not be forced to host religious ceremonies that violate their religious convictions,” Hardman wrote. “To our knowledge, no Iowa or Federal court has ever forced anyone to participate in a religious activity against their will. Doing so now would abandon Iowa’s history of being the vanguard of protecting individual freedom, and out of line with state and federal law.” (Read More)

It is a sad day in America when people of faith have to sue to prove their innocence.

Iowa Ethics and Campaign Finance Board Confirms No Facts Point to a Violation of Law

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 22, 2013
Contact: Elizabeth Ray or Jen Campbell (703-683-5004)


National Organization for Marriage

Washington, D.C. — The following should be attributed to Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM).

"The National Organization for Marriage made known to the Board its serious concerns about the possible prejudice against NOM by the Executive Director and Legal Counsel. The Board made a decision which dismissed NOM's concerns, but at the same time, the Board reaffirmed to NOM that it has not made a determination in any manner whatsoever that NOM has violated Iowa law, contrary to previous press reports. The Board has confirmed that it has no facts to support such a finding and that it is incumbent upon the Board to now gather the facts that will inform the Board whether a violation has occurred. NOM will continue to fully cooperate with the Board to furnish the evidence which will clearly demonstrate that no violation of the law occurred. NOM takes very seriously its legal compliance obligations and NOM is confident that once the Board reviews the facts and the evidence, this frivolous complaint will be dismissed."

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To schedule an interview with Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage, please contact Elizabeth Ray (x130), [email protected], or Jen Campbell (x145), [email protected], at 703-683-5004.

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).

Don't Let Iowa be the Next California

National Organization for Marriage

Dear Marriage Supporter,

Last Friday I told you about the witch hunt in Iowa initiated by a homosexual activist whose sole goal is to silence NOM and people like yourself from standing up in public for the truth of God's design for marriage. If you have not been able to give an emergency donation to help us fight this frivolous complaint, please do so today because the story is even more outrageous than even we realized.

Get this: Megan Tooker, Chief Executive and General Counsel for the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board — the very person charged with conducting a fair and impartial investigation into the complaint — worked for Supreme Court Justice Michael Streit, one of the judges we helped remove from office during the 2010 judicial retention campaign! Talk about an apparent conflict of interest. It's no wonder that Ms. Tooker has in effect already publicly "convicted" NOM in absentia through the press. Instead of giving the good people of Iowa ethical and impartial service, Ms. Tooker has revealed her deep bias and animosity by declaring, without seeing any evidence in the case, that NOM is "absolutely false" and "absolutely wrong" in its position. Worse, she has blatantly lied to the public and media by misrepresenting our views on what must be disclosed under Iowa campaign finance laws. Her impertinent behavior is an attempt to poison the well of public opinion against NOM before anyone reviews the actual evidence.

We are not going to accept such outrageous and unprofessional behavior. Yesterday we demanded that Ms. Tooker be removed from any involvement with NOM's case. The people of Iowa are entitled to the highest standards of ethical conduct and independence from the state's top ethics officer, not conflicts of interest and misleading comments.

Sadly, we've seen this type of thing before. Ms. Tooker's behavior is frighteningly reminiscent to Judge Vaughn Walker in San Francisco, who outrageously declared Proposition 8 to be unconstitutional, thus invalidating the votes of over 7 million Californians. Walker refused to disclose that he is homosexual and engaged in a long-term gay relationship despite rules that require federal judges to make such disclosure if a reasonable person would believe him to have a conflict of interest. Just as Walker could never be expected to rule fairly on homosexual marriage, how can Megan Tooker be counted on to fairly handle a complaint that involves a campaign that helped remove her former boss from office?

Whether or not our demand of the Ethics Board that Ms. Tooker be removed from being involved in the complaint against NOM is granted or denied, we still have to defend ourselves from the blatantly false accusations that have been leveled by the homosexual activist who filed the complaint. This defense will cost money, time, and manpower, and distracts us from the critical job of fighting to preserve marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

We prayerfully ask you to stand with us against these forces of animosity and prejudice by making a sacrificial donation today. NOM will not be cowed or intimidated by bullies in the gay marriage movement, and we know the good people of Iowa will stand with us for the truth. Please join us today through an emergency gift so the truth can prevail and NOM can continue to work in Iowa and many other states to restore the true and blessed definition of marriage there.

Public officials and judges with conflicts of interest, frivolous complaints, and misrepresentations and lies to the public and media are all tools of our opponents to silence NOM and people like you who stand for God's truth and design for marriage. Don't let them win! Stand with us today with your generous donation.

Faithfully,

Brian S. Brown

"I Hope You Rot in Hell": Vicious Attacks from Human Rights Commissioner Exposed

Even after 49-year old Scott Raasch was found to have sent a series of explosive, threatening emails to Rev. Cary Gordon over Gordon's support of natural marriage, he still thinks he should keep his role on the Human Rights Commission, claiming he can act impartially.

Does this sound 'impartial' to you?

Iowa Human Rights Commissioner Scott Raasch EmailIn angry emails, Raasch wrote, “You will get what’s coming to you sooner or later. I hope you rot in hell," adding, “I think there are many people that deserve to burn in hell … including you and your entire family.”

Raasch also wrote, “Now be a good little bigot and go break some more laws.”

Raasch has since apologized to Gordon and insists he would hold no bias against people of faith in his role at the Human Rights Commission.

Gordon, of Cornerstone World Outreach Church, has accepted the apology but still thinks Raasch should step down from his role on the Commission.

“As a commissioner, you are expected to defend me against anti-religious discrimination,” Gordon said. “Why not do the honorable thing,” he added, “and tender your resignation to the council so that no one in our community has to worry about whether or not you are out to get them with power?” -Charisma News

Witch Hunt in Iowa, We Will Not Be Bowed

National Organization for Marriage

Dear Marriage Supporter,

Our opponents are at it again, this time in Iowa. Those who seek to redefine God's design for marriage and eliminate our freedoms of speech and religion have filed another frivolous campaign finance complaint against NOM in an effort to distract us from the defense of marriage and to cost us precious resources in time and money as we are forced to defend these baseless charges.

The reason that our opponents file these baseless charges is that they want access to our internal list of financial supporters so they can then harass people who support true marriage. They've been demanding this confidential information for years, but nonprofit groups don't have to provide donor information to the public. The ACLU doesn't, nor does the Human Rights Campaign, yet many gay marriage activists want to subject NOM to a different set of rules.

We will not give in, and we need you to stand with us as strongly as you ever have. Please make an emergency contribution to NOM today so that we can continue to stand with you in the public square protecting marriage and our religious liberties.

You may remember, in Iowa 2010 NOM and several of our allies campaigned tirelessly against three renegade State Supreme Court Justices who had voted to redefine marriage for the entire state. With your help, our campaign to see these justices removed was a huge success — all three judges were voted out by the people, by double-digit margins.

Now a delusional gay activist who fancies himself becoming president of the United States (really!), has filed a spurious complaint against NOM in Iowa. This same activist has filed complaints in two other states — but no state has ever found that NOM was engaged in wrong-doing.

This is eerily similar to the IRS scandal in Washington, DC where the IRS illegally gave NOM's tax return with confidential donor information to homosexual marriage activists in an attempt to harass our donors and hamper our work.

NOM has violated no campaign finance rules in Iowa. Our 2010 campaign to oust the renegade justices was done within the law. So was our work in 2012 in the campaign seeking to remove an additional justice. This witch hunt is nothing more than an attempt to shut down opposition to activist judges and politicians who wish to redefine marriage, and to intimidate you and our many other supporters. In other words, this harassment is a blatant attempt to restrict the freedom of speech and religion of those who believe marriage is one man and one woman in Iowa.

Like the IRS scandal, the frivolous filing in Iowa will cost a great deal of money, time, and manpower, resources that should be dedicated to upholding God's design for marriage and family.

We cannot give in, but it will take your financial sacrifice today. The battle for marriage is on a knife's edge. NOM is working with its allies across the country in a variety of states where marriage is under attack, and we can't be distracted from these fights. We continue to work hard in Iowa so that the people have the opportunity to vote on the definition of marriage. We have no doubt that if voters are given a say, they will repeal gay 'marriage' and restore marriage to its proper formation. Please make a generous donation today so that our work can continue.

These witch hunts and scandals are weapons of our opponents. NOM has done nothing wrong in Iowa, and has been the victim of a felony crime in the IRS scandal. But we will not be bowed.

And we trust that you will not be bowed either. Please stand with NOM today in the defense of marriage by making a sacrificial gift so that we can carry on the fight despite the despicable efforts of our opponents.

Faithfully,

Brian S. Brown

National Organization for Marriage Decries Gay Activist Witch Hunt in Iowa

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 8, 2013
Contact: Elizabeth Ray or Jen Campbell (703-683-5004)


"This is another attempt to shut down criticism of activist judges and politicians who wish to redefine marriage." — Brian Brown, NOM president —

National Organization for Marriage

Washington, D.C. — The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) today decried the decision of the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board to open a campaign finance inquiry concerning NOM's participation in the 2010 and 2012 campaigns to oust several state Supreme Court justices, calling the inquiry a witch hunt spawned by a gay activist who has filed serial frivolous complaints elsewhere. The group said the complaint was an attempt to shut down opposition to activist judges and politicians who wish to redefine marriage, and equated it with the Internal Revenue Service's illegal release of NOM's confidential tax return to homosexual marriage activists.

"The National Organization for Marriage has violated no campaign finance rules in Iowa, and we decry the decision by the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board to open an investigation," said Brian Brown, NOM's president. "This inquiry is a witch hunt spawned by a delusional homosexual activist who fancies himself becoming the president of the United States and who is a serial filer of frivolous allegations against us whenever we stand up for traditional marriage. The complaint is another attempt to shut down criticism of activist judges and politicians who wish to redefine marriage."

NOM was a major contributor to the 2010 campaign in which voters successfully removed three sitting justices of the Iowa Supreme Court, including the Chief Justice, after the Court voted to redefine marriage in the state. The campaign finance complaint was filed by Fred Karger, a homosexual activist who ran for president of the United States in 2012. Karger has filed complaints against NOM in Maine and California, but no state has ever ruled that NOM violated state campaign rules.

"All that the decision today means is that Karger has alleged actions that, if proven true, would possibly constitute violations of campaign finance rules. But the allegations are dead wrong and the Board action today in no way means that the Board agrees with Karger's frivolous allegations," Brown said. "We are concerned about the continual use of the legal system by Karger and other homosexual marriage advocates who are intent on denying us and the people of Iowa their civil rights to defend marriage as God created it."

For several years, homosexual activists have demanded that NOM publicly disclose donors to the nonprofit group which are not required by law. They desire this information in order to harass NOM's supporters. (For example, the Human Rights Campaign operates the website www.NomExposed.org .) After the HRC's president was named a co-chair of President Obama's reelection committee, the Internal Revenue Service illegally leaked this information to the HRC, which subsequently published it, exposing NOM's donors to the threat of harassment.

"We are concerned about media reports quoting officials with the Ethics Board speculating about the allegations against us," said Brown. "This is reminiscent of the IRS scandal where the government illegally leaked confidential information to our political opponents. We will vigorously contest any suggestion that NOM has violated the law, and we will aggressively demand that our civil rights, including a presumption of innocence, be honored by Iowa government officials."

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To schedule an interview with Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage, please contact Elizabeth Ray (x130), [email protected], or Jen Campbell (x145), [email protected], at 703-683-5004.

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).

Iowa Gay Marriage Fraud Prevents At Least One Man From Taking a Bride

The Associated Press:

Marriage LicenseA former rural Iowa court official pleaded guilty Monday to forgery for filing false documents to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple from central Florida, in the first case of its kind in Iowa.

... The resolution drew criticism from Joab Penney of Williston, Fla., who says Van Nice's actions duped him out of $150 and gave him an unending legal headache. Penney said he was outraged when court officials advised him Monday he should hire an attorney to petition to void his marriage license - which he said should have never been issued in the first place.

...The Florida men discovered the fraud months later, when Penney contacted an attorney to seek a divorce. The attorney was suspicious because the men had never been to Iowa and Van Nice mailed the application materials from her home, not the courthouse. The attorney contacted authorities asking for an investigation.Penney said he now wants to marry a woman in Florida, but officials there say that he's legally married to Parker and needs to obtain a divorce first.

...Penney said he has been frustrated by the lack of answers from officials in Iowa and the legal limbo he's in.

"I want to get married here to a woman, and I can't," he said. "It's a major headache. I've changed my lifestyle because of all of this. It has offended me that much."

Iowa GOP Chairman Stands Strong for Marriage

The head of the Iowa GOP is 32-year-old A. J. Spiker, here's what he said about the GOP and marriage:

"While inclusion is important, elected Republicans (we all know the most recent example) and National/State Party leaders who embrace so-called same sex marriage are doing grave harm to our Party and the whole of society. Lets not forget, so-called same sex marriage is an irreconcilable difference with the Republican Party's largest constituency... Committed Christians." (Slate)

Democracy Now: Help Allow Iowans to Vote on Marriage!

National Organization for Marriage

Dear Marriage Supporter,

I have exciting news — Eighteen Republicans in the Iowa Senate have introduced a measure to allow the people of Iowa to vote on Marriage!

Please send a quick email to Republicans thanking them for respecting the right of Iowans to have a say about the definition of marriage — an institution so fundamental to our society and which protects children by giving them the mother and father they deserve!

And please also email Democrats and ask them to stand with us for principle and values and NOT with the party bosses who have refused for years to allow this resolution to come to the floor for an up or down vote.

It's critical that your voice is heard in Des Moines. Gay marriage was imposed on Iowa in 2009 by judicial fiat by the Iowa Supreme Court. In 2010, Iowans won a historic victory when they unseated three of the responsible judges in a statewide retention vote.

But for the past four years Democrats have refused to even consider a measure allowing a free and fair vote of the people on marriage to reach the floor for an up-or-down vote!

That's why I'm so excited to see Republicans in Des Moines not giving up. Please honor their commitment to marriage by sending a positive message of support and encouragement to them — and encouraging more Republicans to support this resolution.

And don't forget — Democrats need to hear from you as well. The media is always trying to claim that Republicans are split on the issue of marriage (not true) but the media also hides the fact that many, many Democrats stand with us on the critical issue of marriage — these politicians need to hear from you today!

Thank you for taking time out of your day to do this important action.

Iowa GOP Chairman: We're the Pro-Marriage Party

Pat Brady, chair of the Illinois GOP, should learn a lesson from A.J. Spiker, the chair of the Iowa GOP:

The head of the Iowa Republican Party said he will continue to uphold the GOP's opposition to same-sex marriage.

During a taping of the public television program “Iowa Press” on Thursday, A.J. Spiker said the Iowa GOP believes marriage should be allowed only between one man and one woman.

Some Iowa Republicans have called for the party to embrace same-sex marriage.

Spiker said: “There is one gay marriage party in the state of Iowa, and that's the Iowa Democratic Party.” (Omaha.com)

Please continue to let the Illinois GOP know that Chairman Brady needs to go.

Iowans for Freedom: 4 Reasons to Fire Wiggins

Iowans For Freedom:

1) Wiggins made and executed law from the bench. Judges can’t do that. Article 12.Section 1 of the Iowa Constitutions says, “The general assembly shall pass ALL laws…”

2) Wiggins is the worst rated Supreme Court Judge in 50-year retention history. He received only a 63% retention recommendation from his own peers.

3) Wiggins broke the Iowa Judicial Code of Conduct. He violated Iowa Code when he did his own research. Iowa Code Chapter 51:2.9 says “A judge shall not investigate facts in a matter independently” but on pg. 54 of the Varnum opinion, they noted the evidence was “confirmed by our own independent research.”

4) It’s “We the People”, not we the courts.

NRO: "Social Conservatives Turning Out to Remove [Pro-SSM] Judge May Deliver the State to Romney"

Betsy Woodruff writes at National Review:

It’s certainly not a sure thing, but the fate of one David Wiggins could play a key role in determining, on November 6, who becomes the leader of the free world.

David Wiggins is a justice on the Iowa Supreme Court, and this fall he’s up for a retention vote. A controversial decision about gay marriage has given rise to a sizeable grassroots movement among Hawkeye social conservatives who want to push him out. Their get-out-the-vote efforts could mobilize otherwise unmotivated conservative voters and tip the balance in Iowa. It’s a state where Mitt Romney was not expected to win, but he now trails by just two points in the Real Clear Politicsaverage.

This is happening because of the Iowa Supreme Court’s controversial 2009 decision on the state’s restricting its marriage licenses to straight coouples. The seven justices on the court ruled unanimously that the statute denied same-sex couples equal protection and didn’t serve a compelling state interest. But the kicker for conservatives, according to former Iowa GOP political director Craig Robinson, came when the court also stipulated that same-sex couples had now won the right to marry. The unconstitutionality of one statute doesn’t imply that its inverse is law, Robinson notes, but that was the result of the court’s ruling. Opponents of the ruling argue that in legislating from the bench, the justices overstepped their constitutional bounds and deserve to be thrown out.

Iowans for Freedom: Iowa Voters Will See Through Justice Not Politics’ Hypocrisy

A press release from Iowans for Freedom:

Iowans for Freedom has been accused of inserting politics into Iowa’s judiciary by accepting out-of-state money to educate Iowans on voting “no” on Supreme Court Judge David Wiggins’ retention. Now in the closing days of the election, IFF’s biggest critic on this matter has accepted $100,000 from a Washington, D.C. based PAC whose tagline is “working for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equal rights”.

“I am in disbelief at how Justice Not Politics has constantly criticized us for taking out-of-state money and claim we are putting politics in the judiciary for merely wanting to hold an activist judge in check,” Executive Director of Iowans for Freedom Greg Baker said. “Yet, they in the final days of the campaign, have taken $100,000 from a Washington, D.C. organization whose sole mission is to further the gay agenda. I’m sure they were hoping Iowans wouldn’t notice the hypocrisy.”

 

NOM, Others, Investing Resources to Oust Wiggins in Iowa

Omaha.com:

Out-of-state money is flowing into Iowa in an attempt to oust Iowa Supreme Court Justice David Wiggins for his 2009 vote in a ruling that legalized same-sex marriage.

Among the big spenders are the National Organization for Marriage, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that has worked to defeat same-sex marriage proposals, and a political action committee founded by former Pennsylvania GOP Sen. Rick Santorum.

“I think there (are) a lot of organizations ... who see the threat of judicial activism as really having a negative impact on the family,” said Bob Vander Plaats, president and CEO of The Family Leader, one of the organizations opposing Wiggins' retention.

... The National Organization for Marriage, for instance, spent more than $635,000 two years ago. This year, reports indicate the group has spent about $140,000, most of it on television ads advocating Wiggins' ouster."

PPP: Vote NO on Judge Wiggins Ahead 43%-37% in Iowa

Encouraging news from PPP that the effort to unseat another pro-SSM Iowa Supreme Court Justice is going well:

"Iowa's Supreme Court retention election looks like it could be pretty close. Right now 37% of voters say they plan to keep David Wiggins in office, while 43% say they're inclined to remove him. With 20% of voters still undecided it could go either way, but Republicans (65%) are more committed to removing him right now than Democrats (59%) are to keeping him."