One Iowa Needs Help Saving Equality Judges

The National Organization for Marriage is being aided and abetted by the Roman Catholic Church and the Mormon Church in the effort to block the retention of three of the justices on the Iowa Supreme Court who joined in that court's historic ruling on same sex marriage. Besides the troubling question that the phenomenon raises as to why tax-exempt status continues to be granted to these two churches which are increasingly becoming directly involved in elections and legislation - two big no-no's under the Internal Revenue Code - it is frightening to see the growing trend where the competency of judges means nothing. Instead, it's all about their willingness to uphold discriminatory laws based upon sheer religious belief. The right to religious freedom in the minds of the bitter old men in the leadership who lead both churches belongs only to them and their sheep like followers. To Hell with everyone else. Personally, I believe that is far past time to revoke the tax exempt status of ALL churches that engage in politics and in fact dole out large amounts of money to elect or defeat candidates. Nothing would hit the Catholic Church harder than to tap into its precious money. Here are highlights from Karen Ocamb's piece at The Bilerico Project:
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While the nation's eyes are on the Republican/Tea Party's campaign to take over Congress, the National Organization of Marriage - flush with money from the Catholic and Mormon churches - have their own under-the radar campaigns supporting antigay, anti-abortion candidates. But perhaps none is more important - precisely because it's gone largely unnoticed - is the $10 million campaign to oust the three Iowa judges who courageously ruled that lesbians and gays have a constitutional right to marry.
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In a recent RED ALERT conference call with bloggers, One Iowa said they need at least $15,000 in the closing days of the campaign for robo-calls and social media, as well as the traditional Get Out The Vote effort to combat a "who's who" of fringe antigay groups out to "hijack" the Iowa Supreme Court.
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As Courage Campaign and the Human Rights Campaign's NOM Exposed website indicates, the National Organization for Marriage is using a bus tour as a publicity ploy to draw attention to the Judicial Retention election. NOM is backed by the Family Research Council and the American Family Association, as well as religious right wing favorites such as former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum. One Iowa notes that as of last week the antigay groups have spent more than $600,000 on the race, "eclipsing all other races in Iowa this cycle."
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On the conference call, Courage Campaign founder Rick Jacobs noted that the real intention of the antigay groups is to "send a message" nationally to all judges who will face the issue of marriage equality in court: vote for gays and we'll come get you.

You can contribute to One Iowa’s campaign through Act Blue.