The National Organization for Marriage
(NOM) has joined the campaign to oust Iowa Justice David Wiggins, one
of the seven judges whose unanimous 2009 ruling brought gay marriage
to the Midwest.
Wiggins faces a nonpartisan retention
vote in the fall. In 2010, social conservatives, angry over the gay
marriage decision, axed three judges from the bench. The remaining
three justices are up for retention votes in 2016.
Last month, state Republican party
chairman A.J. Spiker, speaking on behalf of the party, criticized the
ruling as being based on “the whims of unelected activist judges
attempting to impose their personal views on the public” and called
for Wiggins' removal.
At Saturday's Family Leader Summit
2012, social conservative Bob Vander Plaats announced Iowans for
Freedom 2012 to defeat Wiggins in November.
“This is about freedom, not just
about marriage,” Vander Plaats is quoted as saying by the Quad
City Times. “We see this as a freedom and constitutional
issue important to all Iowans. If courts are allowed to redefine the
institution of marriage, every one of the liberties we hold dear is
in jeopardy.”
NOM President Brian Brown pledged to
match contributions made during the next two weeks up to $100,000.
Former GOP presidential candidate Rick
Santorum also endorsed the effort.
“You decide this Election Day to vote
out Justice Wiggins and send another strong message,” he told a
crowd of roughly 1,000 at Saturday's summit.