Here on the Values Bus, we’re buckling up for one last stop before calling it a night. Yesterday’s crowd was the best to date–especially in Sioux City, where the Faith Family Freedom Fund was met by an impressive turnout of supporters and protestors.

Congressman Thad McCotter (R-Mich.) and our friend Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) took turns rallying the crowd with common sense messages about the importance of the family and the future of the economy. Earlier in the day, two local leaders also hopped on board, state Representative Dwayne Alons and state Senator Randy Feenstra. Both men vented their frustrations about Iowa Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, a Democrat who has intentionally blocked Iowa’s marriage protection amendment–despite the state’s overwhelming support for it. After the Iowa courts imposed same-sex “marriage” on one of the most socially conservative states in the union, angry voters demanded a say. Like the 31 states before them, Iowa believes the issue should be decided by the people–not judicial activists. Apparently, Gronstal is so intent on pushing an anti-family agenda that locals created a special verb in his honor: “Gron-stalling.” According to Iowans, it’s the act of sabotaging pro-family legislation.

By the time our team finished up in Council Bluffs and Atlantic, it was time to head for the GOP debate. The Values Bus had traveled 339 miles that day–but in the end, it was the candidates who were in for the bumpiest ride. Last night’s forum was by far the most biting of any debate. Spurred on by some very direct questioning, the hopefuls sniped back and forth on everything from Iran to immigration. On social issues, Sen. Rick Santorum did well, asserting himself as a powerful advocate for life and marriage. “We have Ron Paul saying, oh, whatever the states want to do under the 10th Amendment’s fine,” said Santorum. “So if the states want to pass polygamy, that’s fine. If the states want to impose sterilization, that’s fine. No, our country is based on moral laws, ladies and gentlemen. There are things the states can’t do. Abraham Lincoln said the states do not have the right to do wrong. I respect the 10th Amendment, but we are a nation that has values. We are a nation that was built on a moral enterprise, and states don’t have the right to tramp over those because of the 10th Amendment.”

Unfortunately for at least two other candidates, the debate moved beyond policy differences to personal differences. In a setting like this, obviously the candidates need to distinguish themselves, but in this instance, it seemed to overshadow the ideological substance voters were hoping for. The political rancor only distracts from the real issues at hand–like an administration whose policies are running America into the ground. There could also have been some greater connectivity between the economic crisis and family breakdown. The media and the political prognosticators refuse to acknowledge the need to strengthen the family if we are to shrink the size of government. Fortunately, there are others who do–like Reps. Gohmert and Steve King (R-Iowa), who are both back on board for our final stretch this afternoon.

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