GOP presidential contenders make case to Iowa faithful
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich talks with Karen and Tom Quiner at the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition, Monday, March 7, 2011, at the Point of Grace Church in Waukee, Iowa.
/ APNewt Gingrich, Tim Pawlenty and a trio of lesser-known potential GOP presidential candidates spoke to about 2,000 Iowa social conservatives Monday night in what organizers cast as the kickoff to the nominating contest in the key first-in-the-nation voting state.
The event, held at a church in the town of Waukee outside of Des Moines, was organized by the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition. It offered the candidates considering a run for the GOP nomination a chance to make a positive impression on some of the most politically-engaged social conservatives in Iowa, which will hold its caucuses early next year.
While plenty of big-name possible Republican candidates turned down the group's invitation - among them Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin and 2008 Iowa caucus winner Mike Huckabee - the event did attract five likely candidates: Gingrich, Pawlenty, former Sen. Rick Santorum, former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain, and former Louisiana governor Buddy Roemer. (Openly gay Republican strategist Fred Karger, who has embarked on a longshot presidential run, was shut out of the event.)
Cain and Roemer, who are not considered top tier candidates, have already announced exploratory committees, making them the only members of the emerging GOP field to have done so. Gingrich, Pawlenty and Santorum are widely expected to run but have yet to make an official announcement.
Gingrich, the highest-profile potential candidate to speak at the forum, offered a speech centered on the importance of recognizing American exceptionalism. In a speech peppered with historical references, the former GOP House speaker said that the "secular socialist people around Obama" don't understand the nature of their country.
In a note struck by many of the night's speakers, Gingrich said the power of America comes from God, not Washington.
"You are personally sovereign," he said. "You loan power to the government, the government does not loan power to you." 
Newt Gingrich on the campaign trail
Gingrich complained that judges are "fundamentally out of touch with America" and argued that Republicans have failed to keep the judiciary from becoming "more alienated from the American system."
Though he has made it clear he is likely to enter the presidential race, Gingrich maintained that he is still exploring a run and said no matter what happens, "we're all going to have to be on the same team after this is over."
Pawlenty, the former Minnesota governor, said America needs "to be a country that turns toward God, not a country that turns away from God." He railed against the "immoral debt" and efforts to define marriage as between anything other than one man and one woman.
"We need to remember, as others try to push out or marginalize people of faith...the Constitution was designed to protect people of faith from government, not to protect government from people of faith," said Pawlenty, who complained that the media, judges and "elites" need to remember the Constitution grants power to the people.
Pawlenty, who has battled perceptions that he is not edgy enough to win the GOP nomination, also compared his time as governor to the current situation in Wisconsin. He pointed to his refusal to compromise with transit workers, which prompted a strike and protests, in order to maintain fiscal responsibility.
"We the people of the United States will rise up again, we will take back our country," he added, his voice going horse.
Santorum, who is known for his strong social conservatism, complained to the crowd that he had been defined as nothing more than a social conservative simple because he fought for their values.
"Once you stick your head out on the social issues, once you fight for the social fabric of this country, you're labeled," said Santorum, who pointed to his efforts to end partial birth abortion but also his work on health care and welfare reform. He joked that his children had come to think his first name was "ultra," a reference to how he had been portrayed as extreme in the media.
Roemer, whose speech was grounded in strong opposition to the influence of money and special interests in Washington, complained that while "the nation is hurting...Washington is a boom town." He vowed not to take more than $100 from any individual because America needs a president "who's free to do the right thing. Who's free to lead."
"The system is institutionally corrupt, and people of faith need to come against the corruption," said Roemer, who, with little to lose, attacked ethanol subsidies before his Iowa audience. He cast himself as a "seasoned warrior against special interest money."
Cain, a radio talk show host and the only African-American in the GOP field, told the audience that the "bad news" is that "the American dream is under attack" under President Obama.
"The good news is we are fighting back," he said. Cain went on to argue that "The United States of America is not going to become the United States of Europe - not on our watch."
Gopal Krishna, vice president of the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition, set the tone for the event in his opening remarks, which included a statement that his organization is concerned that America has become a "multicultural haven for every weird and kinky lifestyle." Other speakers included Republican Rep. Steve King, who railed against the Obama administration's decision not to defend the Defense of Marriage Act in court, and Ralph Reed, who warned Republicans not to ignore social conservatives even as they focus on fiscal issues.
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Obama is sadly proving more and more that he is no leader.
He simply reacts, and very slowly too, to whatever is happening.
Take his mantra, "All options are on the table" and give it to the brave Libyans who are fighting and dying for democracy, or tell it to the Iranians who think he's a joke!
There is an ongoing thread and new posts and vids about the possible GOP candidates that might run well against Obama in 2012 at *******/OCG
And even a dog should run well against him!
The evil Republicans said they were concerned with the debt AND THEN RAISED IT BY KEEPING BUSHOCCIOS TAX CUTS FOR THE RICH. They said they were going to create jobs and then have no plan to show us. THEY NEVER HAD ANY INTENTION OF CREATING JOBS. Only to help themselves and their evil corporate masters.
He knows that he has too much baggage and dirty laundry to be running for President...which goes much deeper than his affairs and divorces.
He has no moral compass whatsoever. He refers to President Obama as a "con artist" Kenyan (Kenyan is his code word for "black person"). If anyone can speak with authority on a political con, it's Newt Gingrich...a serial adulterer who dares to moralize about the meaning of truthfulness, Christianity and family values.
Many think Newt is certifiably insane. You give Newt too much credit to call him "insane" though. That would excuse him from responsibility for his venomous lies and cynical slanders. Newt is a shameless publicity hound who will say or do anything for attention...just like Palin, and who knows what it takes to fire up the crowd into a foaming-at-the-mouth frenzy...and its usually outright lies, half-truths, and crazy theories.
Collin Powell could rescue the Republican Party from itself, but it is clear to Mr. Powell that the Party has torn itself apart with agendas and biases far removed from the operation of a legitimate government with leadership and more akin to Patrician fratricide in the old Roman Empire.
House Speaker Boerner truly does cry for America and he is moved at the prospects and the challenges facing our country. It would be a great ticket of Powell and Boerner....and let the party hacks fight for everything else.
I suspect Powell and Boerner would assume the same type of leadership that is currently in the White House in the Obama Administration...so there would be little change in the government...Despite even this more moderate choice for Republicans....I would vote Democrat because of the ruling of the Republican Supreme Court to allow UNLIMITED Corporate political/purchase of elections.
Mornin' river.
I don't recall any recent election where the opposition still has no announced candidate 18 months from the election.....
____________
Your memory is lacking......Less than 6 months prior to the 2008 Presidential election, democrats still had no candidate nominated.....Hillary and Obama were still fighting.....(until June 2008)
by June 2008, They hadn't announced who was going to be the nominee/candidate/frontrunner/pickwhatverwordyouwant.....I can see that you are a sick liberal who loves to play semantic word games.
Really.....that's it ? The history professor is going to school Obama on what the Constitution means.
I'd like to see dimwit Gingrich educate a Harvard educated lawyer on the meaning of the Constitution. that would be a hoot. Hope it's televised.
By the way Empire....Gingrich's affairs and divorces are the least of his problems. He has a lot heavier baggage than that.
God love everybody and thou shall not judge, the new republicans are inclusive?????? BS
Typical christian republican hypocrites.
Hey Fred, did you learn you lesson dumb-ass- ??? Christian Republicans hate Gays, not to mention blacks, mexicans and anyone that does not fit into their exclusive little god loving club!!!!
http://www.nationalcenter.org/MayflowerCompact.html
Family Values only apply to OTHER people. not the high and mighty GOP. I want to see these conservatives call for an end to divorce in this Country. Only one marriage in your lifetime and jail time for adultery.
That will never happen, because conservatives only care about OTHER poeples family values. For them, no rules apply.
Sick twisted bunch of worthless hypocrits.