Complex Iowa

A reader writes:

I’m writing as a native Iowan (22 yrs, including college), reconciled to a life on the East Coast. The reader you quoted who opined that Iowa "may be the most isolationist state" is, well, how I might I be charitable here, an idiot.

On the isolationist charge alone, next time your intrepid reader is in Iowa, have him climb into the cab of a tractor or combine with a farmer, as he rides his fields while simultaneously checking global commodity prices on his laptop.  The agricultural community isn’t isolationist, but rather extremely sensitive to the "at home" realities of global integration. Regarding the reader’s wholly generic statement that "on wars Iowa is not indicative of the country", the reader is only partially right — the most thoroughly Republican parts of Iowa are indicative of the parts of the country that send more kids off in uniform to fight wars than those that send more kids off to Wall Street.

From a political culture perspective, western and southern Iowa are far more "Deep South" or "Conservationist West" than Upper Midwest or Vermont Granola.   The differences between the eastern and western sides of the state, moreover, indicate a degree of diversity beyond the grasp fo your reader.  While the western part of the state elects Congressmen like Steve King (5th district), the self proclaimed most conservative Republican in Congress, my home district, the Iowa 1st in the Mississippi Valley, elected Jim Leach for most of my lifetime, replacing him with Democrat Bruce Braley.

I’m with you on your read of the poll, Andrew. If Iowa Republicans are abandoning the war, its because they’ve felt the family costs, and they’re turning despite the fact that in recent years the Iowa GOP has become increasingly Christianist, socially conservative, and Rovian in its composition.

Theocons vs Rudy

They’re organizing:

One of the anti-Rudy groups is The Conservative Declaration. Based in Michigan, the group claims backers in over 30 states, many with ties to the hard-right. The group is led by former Buchanan supporters and Christian Coalition activists.

Paul Nagy, the group’s top-gun in New Hampshire, believes nominating Giuliani would be disastrous for the American conservative movement. Along with other activists, Nagy signed a letter seeking additional signatories to the anti-Rudy declaration. The letter states: "Rudy Giuliani is an unacceptable Republican nominee for President of the United States. He is pro-abortion, pro-partial birth abortion, pro-registration of handguns, and pro-homosexual rights. He is the most liberal Republican candidate for President in our nation’s history."

The Candor of Obama

Obamascottmorgangetty

You want to know why I can’t stop myself being impressed? Because the man isn’t pandering – even in primary season, as the clear underdog:

When a questioner at a rally in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, wanted to know whether he would cut the military budget to make room for other priorities, Obama answered, "Actually, you’ll probably see an initial bump in military spending in an Obama Administration" to replace the equipment that has been depleted by the Iraq war and build up the size of the active forces. When a teacher asked him about the No Child Left Behind law that is so unpopular with educators and their unions, Obama agreed that it "left the money behind." But while he endorsed higher pay for teachers, Obama also talked about "the things that were good about No Child Left Behind," including more accountability. By then, his listeners were shifting in their chairs.

Regarding Social Security, the social program enshrined like no other in the theology of the Democratic base, Obama has said he is open to such politically heretical ideas as upping the retirement age and raising payroll taxes to shore up the system. Before black audiences, Obama regularly condemns violent and misogynist rap lyrics and chastises African Americans for disenfranchising themselves by not voting. In March, Obama caused some consternation among Jewish leaders by saying, "No one is suffering more than the Palestinian people." Given the chance to disavow that comment during a debate, Obama merely clarified it, saying the fuller context included an assertion that this suffering was the result of "the failure of the Palestinian leadership."

We need this guy. We’re lucky to have him.

(Photo: Scott Morgan/Getty.)