Brownback promotes religion in politics on Iowa trip
TODAY: (Updated: 4:11 p.m.) WEST DES MOINES — Republican presidential candidate Sam Brownback told a roomful of conservative Christian activists today that religious faith should be at the center of the political process.
“I believe we should celebrate faith, not run it out of the public square,” he said.
Brownback, a Kansas senator, spoke at a West Des Moines country club before an audience that included pastors, Christian-school students and conservative activists.
His speech was part of a series of events across the state aimed at religious leaders, including an event Thursday night at the Thunder Bay Grille in Davenport. The local event was off-limits to the media.
Although Brownback thinks faith belongs in government, he said he does not want the church to control the government, or vice versa.
“I'm opposed to a theocracy," he said. “I think it would be bad for religion. I also think it would be bad for government.”
His speech was preceded by a presentation from David Barton, founder and president of Wallbuilders, a Texas-based group that seeks to educate Americans about the Christian underpinnings of the country's founding documents and founding fathers.
Barton said the nation’s Christian heritage is one of the reasons for the country's stability, while other countries get new governments every 20 to 30 years.
“You've got to have God-fearing leaders to have God-honoring leaders,” he said.
Barton used exit poll data to trace the involvement of evangelical Christians in recent congressional elections. He said a rise in Christian voting played a get role in Republican successes in 2002 and 2004, and a fall in Christian voting was one reason for Democrats' victories in 2006.
He said the hard work of Christian voters is one of the main reasons President Bush was able to appoint Supreme Court justices such as John Roberts and Samuel Alito.
As Barton sees it, the nine-person court now has “four good guys, four bad guys and a big squish in the middle.” He didn't name the “big squish,” but he was most likely talking about Anthony Kennedy, a justice appointed by Ronald Reagan who is often the swing vote between the liberal and conservative justices.
The Brownback campaign has a lower profile and a lower budget than other Republicans, such as former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, Arizona Sen. John McCain and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.
Brownback said his strong record on conservative issues should be more important than other considerations.
“This is a party built on principles, not personalities,” he said.
Dan Gearino can be reached at 515-243-0138 and dan.gearino@lee.net.