So far it has been the “elephant in the room” that no major candidate seeking the GOP nomination for President has been willing to touch. Republican Ryan Binkley has made it a fundamental issue in his campaign, but unfortunately for Iowa landowners, he hasn’t been given much attention.
It appears a “major” candidate is finally going to make a statement on the hottest issue in the state. It’s an issue rooted in the Constitution — eminent domain and private property rights.
Hundreds of Iowans showed up at the Capitol during the legislative in hopes the Republican-led legislature would protect their private property rights. The legislature failed, however.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds hasn’t offered any help either.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis hasn’t said anything, and it’s hard to imagine he’ll take the side of landowners now that he received Reynolds’ endorsement.
President Donald J. Trump is “undecided” on the issue so far, according to his campaign.
This leaves property owners with Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy as “major” candidates who may be willing to lend an ear to their constitutional concerns.
It is an issue that could sway a significant percentage of voters from across the state. Anyone who owns land in Iowa should be extremely concerned at the use — no, the abuse — of eminent domain in this situation. And just because the person who benefits the most is a prominent Republican donor shouldn’t make Iowans’ constitutional rights easier to ignore.
Forget the other aspects of the project — the idea of “man-made” climate change, the idea of transporting CO2 underground, the disruption the project will cause to the land, the safety risks, the benefit to Iowa ethanol. Forget about all of that. None of that trumps constitutional rights.
Our constitutional rights aren’t at risk just because of someone’s made-up theory on climate change or economic benefit to the state of Iowa.
This abuse of private property rights, if allowed to go through, would make communists blush.
Iowa landowners have longed for someone, anyone in a real position of influence to shine a light on this issue. And it appears Vivek Ramaswamy is prepared to do it.
Vivek has built his campaign on “truth” and speaking “uncomfortable truths.” Now, he is billing this event as “speaking the unspeakable.”
The event is scheduled for Friday at the Des Moines Airport Holiday Inn. Doors will open at noon.
So far Iowans’ voices have been ignored on this issue throughout the caucus cycle. Depending on what kind of crowd shows up and how Ramaswamy’s message is delivered and received, this could push the issue front and center. It could force other candidates to pick a side.
This is event has the ability to alter the landscape of the caucus race. Property owners from all over Iowa have been waiting for someone to step up, stand with them and fight.
If Ramaswamy is the only major candidate willing to touch the issue, he will be worth another look from likely caucusgoers. If Ramaswamy proves he can be their champion, he’ll be rewarded in the caucus.
Vivek teased the event with the following post:
The climate change agenda is a hoax. It’s time to speak some TRUTH. pic.twitter.com/5ll5GkLSLP
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) November 28, 2023
Vivek also tweeted this on Monday:
Here’s the TRUTH: the climate disaster death rate has *declined* by 98% over the last century, even as carbon emissions have risen. The average person is 50X less likely to die of a climate-related cause than in 1920. Why? Fossil fuels.
And 8x as many people die from cold…— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) November 27, 2023
