GOP candidates say they back tax cuts, 'family values' during forum

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By Todd Dorman | Saturday, June 30, 2007 11:01 PM CDT | () comments

DES MOINES — Six Republican presidential hopefuls pledged allegiance to tax cuts and traditional marriage Saturday as they courted Iowa conservatives who play a big role on caucus night.

The candidates gathered for a forum sponsored jointly by Iowans for Tax Relief and the Iowa Christian Alliance. Roughly 800 activists picked politics over summer sunshine and heard a series of speeches in a cavernous downtown convention hall.

Both sponsors are major players in Republican politics in Iowa.

Iowans for Tax Relief boasts 51,000 members and has used its clout and resources to influence politics in the state for nearly 30 years. The Christian Alliance distributed more than 350,000 voter guides in 2006, including guides for more than 1,000 churches statewide.

“I will start every day as president on my knees asking God to bless America,” U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas told the crowd. “We shouldn’t be driving faith out of the public square; we should be inviting it in.”

Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney warned that the country would take a “sharp left turn” if Democrats prevail in next year’s election.

“I don’t have to tell you what they’ll do with family values,” he said. “It is essential that we have a Republican president who is pro-life and pro-family, pro-military and pro-strong economy.”

Romney has been criticized by rivals who charge that he’s flipped his stands on abortion and other hot-button social issues as he seeks conservative votes. That back story fed laughter Saturday when Romney suffered from a slip of the tongue as he ticked off his political resume.

“Then I became a Democrat,” Romney said before stopping to swiftly correct himself. “I became governor of the most Democratic state in the nation.”

The candidates pledged to embrace tax cuts and tax reforms. Some said they would replace the current federal tax structure with a national sales tax or “Fair Tax, ” although Romney did not endorse the idea.

Nearly all pointed to their long records as tax-cutters.

“I will veto any tax increase,” said former Wisconsin governor Tommy Thompson, who favors the Fair Tax. “I am a true Republican, the true fiscal conservative.”

Brownback said he would eliminate government programs using a system similar to the board appointed by the Pentagon to close military bases.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee would require the federal government to post all of its financial transactions on the Internet, arguing that greater transparency would help curtail runaway spending.

Each vowed to oppose gay marriage and keep in place the current ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.

Huckabee said he would seek a constitutional ban on gay marriage.

“It’s easier to change the Constitution than it is to change the word of almighty God,” Huckabee said.

The contenders also promised to do more to secure the nation’s borders. Thompson pledged to erect a “barrier” on the U.S. border with Mexico during the first 100 days of his presidency.

U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado, a staunch opponent of illegal immigration, brought the crowd to its feet when he called on conservatives to fight for their issues.

“This is our flag, pick it up. This is your country, take it back,” Tancredo said.

The Candidates

Who attended

Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee

U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney

U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado

U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter of California

Who didn’t show

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani

U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona

Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore

Who wasn’t invited

U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas

Todd Dorman can be contacted at

(515) 243-0138 or at todd.dorman@lee.net. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.