Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee
Iowa's evangelical pastors sure get some
nuclear-grade sucking up from Republican presidential candidates:
Cary Gordon isn't a political operative, a top dollar donor or an elected official. But that hasn't stopped Jeb Bush's team from already reaching out as the 2016 Republican presidential campaign revs up in Iowa. [...]
Brad Sherman, pastor at Solid Rock Christian Church in Coralville, was among a group of Iowa pastors invited on a complimentary trip to Poland and London in late 2014 with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who is considering a 2016 race.
"Just being in Iowa and being involved opens certain doors," said Sherman, who went on a trip to Israel with Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul.
Why is this, you may wonder? Why, it's because they turn out their congregations to vote for their chosen candidates, doubtless while 100 percent respecting the letter and the spirit of laws regarding separation of church and state:
"In our church, the last four cycles we've probably had almost 100 percent of our people vote," said Bill Tvedt, pastor at Jubilee Family Church in Oskaloosa, who has not endorsed a candidate. "In our local county, we control the Republican party pretty much - our church and another church."
Well, then. I guess Iowa's evangelical leaders should be proud of their recent record of choosing the eventual Republican nominee. You know, Mike Huckabee in 2008 and Rick Santorum in 2012.