We all know that Senator Joni Ernst and Congresswomen Ashley Hinson and Mariannette Miller-Meeks voted in support of the (Dis)Respect for Marriage Act. We also know that Congressman-elect Zach Nunn said he would’ve voted for the bill.
Miller-Meeks has been censured by a couple of counties. Ernst has been censured by at least a half dozen counties. We’ll see what happens with Hinson.
Meanwhile, Sen. Chuck Grassley and Congressman Randy Feenstra have dodged criticism because they voted the right way. But reasoning matters.
And Grassley has said he supports federal recognition of same-sex marriage and that no serious person believes there is a threat to overturn Obergefell. Grassley said he only voted against the (Dis)Respect for Marriage Act because of the threat it poses to religious liberty.
Feenstra hasn’t issued a statement at all. Not at all. He’s been radio silent on the issue, despite representing Iowa’s most conservative congressional district.
Grassley and Feenstra deserve credit for doing the right thing, but they’d get a little more credit for doing the right thing for the right reason.
Grassley, even though he voted against the bill, is still violating the Republican Party of Iowa’s platform. The platform states any law repealing marriages not between one man and one woman should be supported. But Grassley said there is “no effort in Congress” to overturn Obergefell.
“I don’t believe the Supreme Court would reverse these cases even if they were challenged, and I don’t believe it is prudent for politicians to imply otherwise in order to fabricate unnecessary discontent in our nation,” he said. “My vote against this bill is not about opposing the recognition of same-sex…marriages; it’s about defending the religious liberty enshrined in our founding documents…No one seriously thinks Obergefell is going to be overturned so we don’t need legislation.”
Grassley said he doesn’t support reversing federal recognition of same-sex marriages.
Here is what the platform states:
We believe that traditional, two-parent (one male (XY) and one female (XX)), marriage-based families are the foundation to a stable, enduring, and healthy civilization. We encourage the repeal of any laws allowing any marriage that is not between one natural man and one natural woman.
Grassley, despite his vote, also failed to represent the platform.
Feenstra’s silence is deafening. I can guarantee if an actual conservative were still in Congress representing Iowa’s Fourth District — like Congressman Steve King — they would be speaking out.
But not Feenstra.
In a state with all six congressional seats filled by Republicans, there is zero voice for the grassroots conservatives.
Forget Iowa’s “red wave” at the congressional level. It’s a “red tinkle,” at most.
