Common Sense

While Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats has said this year’s election will be a “referendum” on gay marriage. Iowa governor Chet Culver says he doesn’t expect same-sex marriage will be a significant issue in the 2010 election.

“I am focused on doing everything I can to move this state forward and I’m not worried about November,” Culver said over the weekend on Iowa Public Television. “I’m worried about January of 2010 and working as hard as I can as governor to get things done.”

He even talked about the opponents of same-sex marriage who chanted: “Let us vote” as he left the Iowa State House after delivering his Condition of the State speech. He says he stopped and spoke to many of those people, and found them respectful.

“This is the people’s house so we welcome groups to the capitol from every part of our state with divergent political views,” Governor Culver said. “I think it’s healthy to have that kind — to provide that kind of opportunity to any group or any individual that wants to come to our capitol, to their house, as long as we are civil and respectful of the different views.”

But Culver dismisses the idea gay marriage will be a “front and center” issue in November.

“I think that Iowans are focused on jobs, economic recovery, flood recovery, doing what we can to support our kids, expanding health care for children, continuing to invest in things like early childhood education and being a leader in renewable energy....I really think if most Iowans prioritize what is front and center and their number one concern you’ll hear, probably eight times out of ten, (is) jobs and economic recovery.”

Sounds like common sense from a state known for its common sense. And most people in Iowa, according to recent polls, agree with the governor. Their priorities for Iowa lie in other areas besides marriage equality. And most feel that, since marriage equality was granted, nothing has changed in Iowa.