***The Iowa Standard is an independent media voice. We rely on the financial support of our readers to exist. Please consider a one-time sign of support or becoming a monthly supporter at $5, $10/month - whatever you think we're worth! If you’ve ever used the phrase “Fake News” — now YOU can actually DO something about it! You can also support us on PayPal at [email protected] or Venmo at Iowa-Standard-2018 or through the mail at: PO Box 112 Sioux Center, IA 51250

Centerline Action released the names of the more than 400 “prominent Republicans” who have signed a letter in support of the radical “Respect for Marriage Act.”

The bill will codify homosexual marriage, repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, force every state to recognize whatever one state defines as marriage and threatens the tax-exempt status of ministries across the country.

In July, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill. Republican Representatives Ashley Hinson and Mariannette Miller-Meeks voted in favor of the bill. Zach Nunn, who is running for Iowa’s Third Congressional District, has said he would have joined them in voting for the bill.

However, news broke on Thursday the bill will not get a vote in the U.S. Senate until after the midterm elections.

The letter states, in part:

“Civil marriage is a fundamental freedom central to individual liberty and the pursuit of happiness…Together we call on the U.S. Senate to pass the Respect for Marriage Act and reaffirm that marriage for gay and lesbian couples is settled law.”

As we combed through the names on the letter supporting the radical legislation, we only noticed two from Iowa:

Neil Brown
Tom Synorst

But then we noticed this one from Colorado…

David Kochel

Except Kochel was listed as a Colorado name, and not an Iowa name, even though he is routinely highlighted as an Iowa political operative.

If that name sounds familiar, it is because The Iowa Standard has highlighted Kochel throughout the last few years as a central figure in the Iowa GOP Establishment.

Kochel was Mitt Romney’s top Iowa guy. He was Jeb! Bush’s chief strategist. Kochel called for the defeat of conservative Congressman Steve King. Kochel was a big cheerleader for Hinson, Miller-Meeks and Randy Feenstra. He was a a strategist for Joni Ernst in 2014.

He proudly lobbied for the legalization of homosexual marriage long before even Barack Obama and Joe Biden were on board.

And earlier this year, he reportedly worked with Gov. Kim Reynolds on her response to President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address. He calls himself an “unpaid consultant to the Reynolds campaign.”

He is deeply, deeply, deeply entrenched in the Republican Party of Iowa and its elected representatives.

Kochel proclaimed himself a Never Trumper, stating the coordination between President Donald J. Trump and Vladimir Putin was “treacherous” and maybe even “treasonous.”

Kochel joined the liberal calls for Trump to release his taxes back in 2016, suggesting “every penny” of Trump’s net worth is from taxpayer subsidies.

Kochel called for Trump to “step aside” on Oct. 8, 2016, saying the Republican Party could still beat Hillary Clinton but Trump couldn’t.

Even after Trump won Kochel was relentless.

“John McCain probably revealed less to the KGB in 5+ years of torture at the Hanoi Hilton than Trump did in five minutes in the Oval,” Kochel wrote.

Perhaps Kochel being intertwined with Ernst explains why Ernst has been so non-committal about where she stands on the Respect for Marriage Act. Perhaps it explains why Hinson and Miller-Meeks voted for the legislation. Perhaps it explains why Gov. Reynolds referred to homosexual marriage as “settled” in 2018 as well.

 

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here