Social Issues, Security Dominate GOP Convention

Social issues and national security ruled the day at the Republican Party of Iowa’s convention, avoiding issues where possible disagreement exists between the party’s base and its presidential nominee, Sen. John McCain.McCain did not campaign vigorously in Iowa during the caucuses and declined to participate in the Ames Straw Poll. He has also been at odds with some of the party’s base in the past because of some his positions, such as his opposition to ethanol subsidies.

But with Iowa considered a battleground state in November’s presidential contest, those differences were put on the backburner as the party attempted to energize and unify its base behind McCain.

Speakers focused on social issues, like abortion and same-sex marriage, and McCain’s military experience, which included a stint as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, to convince delegates of the importance of supporting McCain over Democratic nominee, Sen. Barack Obama.

With a slideshow of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg playing behind him, U.S. Rep. Steve King discussed what he called his greatest nightmare: a Supreme Court made up of Ginsburgs.

"My nightmare is 357 Ruth Bader Ginsburgs on the federal courts, and 3 or 4 of them on the Supreme Court," he said. "Obama will appoint Ruth Bader Ginsburgs, and John McCain will nominate strict constructionists. We are one vote away from overturning Roe vs. Wade. We can chose between 357 Ruth Bader Ginsburgs and 357 John Roberts."

Speaking on behalf of McCain was former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. He won the caucuses in January and has long been considered in the running for the vice presidential slot due to his appeal to Christian voters, a bloc McCain has had difficulty winning over.

Huckabee, whose speech was interrupted several times by applause from, said Republicans must unify this fall in order to achieve their shared goals.

“I’ve met a lot of people who say the candidate they supported in the primaries didn’t win,” he said. “It is now time for us to put that behind us and focus on our country and our future.”

Huckabee pointed to stark differences between McCain and Obama on issues like energy independence and national security. But his biggest applause lines came when he talked about abortion and same-sex marriage.

“We can stand with John McCain, because as Republicans we can all agree that life begins at conception,” he said, adding: “Marriage still means one man and one woman and nothing else.”

State Auditor David Vaudt said McCain’s fiscal responsibility, especially his opposition to earmarks, were important reasons to support him, bu ultimately returned to the social issues that seemed to be the focus of the day.

“McCain will appoint judges who will interpret the law not make it up as they go along,” he said.

However, during votes for national committeeman and committeewoman, support for McCain was lukewarm at best from candidates representing the party’s conservative wing.

The most obvious example of this was Kim Lehman, the president of the Iowa Right to Life Committee who ranwon a three way contest for national committeewoman. She openly endorsed McCain for president, but focused more on fear of an Obama presidency than on support of the McCain as the Republican nominee.

“We can't afford Obama to take the presidency while we don't have the House and Senate,” she said. “This country can't afford more socialism."

In fact, the conservatives won the day, with Lehman and Steve Scheffler, president of the Iowa Christian Alliance, easily defeating their opponents for national committeeman and committeewoman. The two ran against "establishment" candidates who represented a more moderate wing of the state Republican Party.