PRESS RELEASE from Rick
Santorum for President
December 20, 2011
For Immediate Release
Contact: Matt Beynon
IOWA FAMiLY LEADER
PRESIDENT AND CEO BOB VANDER PLAATS AND PRESIDENT OF IOWA
FAMILY POLICY CENTER CHUCK HURLEY ENDORSE SANTORUM FOR
PRESIDENT
Influential
Iowa
Conservatives
Join
The
Fight
Urbandale, IA -
Today, two major endorsements were awarded to the Santorum
for President campaign. Bob Vander Plaats is the President and CEO of
the Iowa FAMiLY Leader and Chuck Hurley is the President of the Iowa
Family Policy Center - and both are influential pro-traditional values
leaders in Iowa.
Rick Santorum
said: "I am truly honored to receive the Bob and Chuck's endorsement
today. I've had the great pleasure of getting to know them over
the
past several years. In fact, we campaigned together throughout 2010 as
they successfully worked to throw out activist judges who redefined
marriage in the Hawkeye State. Their reach and influence covers
all
corners of Iowa, and I know they did not take this endorsement lightly.
This means so much more to our campaign. If their work on behalf
of
Governor Huckabee four years ago is any indication, I have no doubt
they will be a terrific catalyst for our campaign as we continue
building momentum in Iowa. Now is the time for conservatives to unite
so we can defeat Barack Obama."
Hogan
Gidley, National Communications Director said, "Conservatives are
starting to recognize that Rick is the viable consistent conservative
alternative to moderates like Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich. Rick
offers a clear contrast to Barack Obama on important issues like
healthcare, individual mandates and TARP. This endorsement
like
previous endorsements are clear indicators that Rick's record of
conservative victories are attracting those who want to beat this
President and his radical liberal agenda.
The FAMiLY Leader
has emerged as one of the nation's most influential pro-family
organizations. In 2010, Rick Santorum
was the only Republican Presidential contender to join the FAMilY
Leader in their statewide campaign to oust Iowa Supreme Court justices
who redefined marriage in Iowa. The FAMiLY Leader has also been
active
in the 2012 presidential campaign, hosting a presidential forum in
November 2011 where six of the leading Republican presidential
candidates attended.
Rick Santorum has
been a stalwart defender of the traditional family for two
decades. Santorum
is the author of the law that banned partial birth abortions, the
Unborn Victims of Violence Act, and the Born Alive Infant Protection
Act to defend the unborn. Santorum was the principal proponent of
the Federal Marriage Amendment, forcing the only vote ever cast on the
Amendment. Rick Santorum
was also the author of the Combating Autism Act to assist special-needs
children afflicted with autism, the National Fatherhood Initiative, and
the landmark 1996 Welfare Reform legislation that has helped millions
of American families rise out of poverty. In 2005, Santorum
authored the New York Times Best-Selling book, "It Takes A
Family." Rick and his wife Karen are the proud homeschool parents
of 7 children.
To
learn
more
about
former
Senator Rick Santorum,
please visit www.RickSantorum.com.
###
PRESS RELEASES from The FAMiLY LEADER
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, December 20
The FAMiLY LEADER Board of Directors Makes
a Decision
Pleasant Hill, IOWA. –
The FAMiLY LEADER
is honored to have had the privilege of showing leadership this past
year in the Iowa caucus process and is excited to have played a role in
this presidential nomination cycle.
The FAMiLY LEADER
championed this role beginning with our 99-county tour to build
grassroots momentum, followed by our monthly Presidential Lecture
Series designed to help Iowans learn the pro-family vision of national
leaders. The FAMiLY LEADER was able to get the candidates on
record via our marriage pledge and culminate the process with the
Thanksgiving Family Forum, enabling Americans to learn about the
biblical and constitutional worldview of the candidates. The
FAMiLY LEADER has truly held up the standard and let Iowans see how
each candidate aligned with that standard.
The FAMiLY LEADER Board of Directors views its role in the 2012 caucus
process as a standard bearer versus a kingmaker. However, The
FAMiLY LEADER Board of Directors recognizes that there are thousands of
undecided pro-family Iowa caucus goers looking for leadership in this
selection process. Therefore, though The FAMiLY LEADER will
remain neutral in this presidential campaign cycle, the board has made
a unanimous decision to allow Bob Vander Plaats and Chuck Hurley to
make personal endorsements which reflect the board’s unanimity.
Bob Vander Plaats, President & CEO of The FAMiLY LEADER
commented, “I am thrilled about the board’s unanimous decision to
remain true as a standard bearer while providing a voice of leadership
through Chuck and me.”
Contact: Julie Summa
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday,
December 22
The
FAMiLY LEADER Offers Clarifying Statement
Pleasant Hill, IOWA. –
The FAMiLY LEADER
offers the following statement in order to clarify misrepresentations
that have been circulating since the announcement of Bob Vander Plaats’
and Chuck Hurley’s personal endorsement of Senator Rick Santorum for
the Republican presidential nomination on Tuesday, December 20th.
The
perception that the FAMiLY LEADER Board of Directors was unable to
reach agreement or did not achieve consensus on a candidate is
completely false.
The board had unanimous consensus 1) that The FAMiLY LEADER’s role is
as a standard bearer, not a kingmaker, 2) to allow Bob Vander Plaats
and Chuck Hurley to personally endorse a candidate, and 3) that as of
Monday, December 19th, each board member personally indicated support
for Rick Santorum.
The
FAMiLY LEADER board was unanimous in their personal support for Rick
Santorum but opted not to endorse as an organization out of respect for
many constituents that support candidates other than Rick
Santorum.
The board wanted to avoid offending any constituents who may be
bothered by the possibility that their support to The FAMiLY LEADER
may be used to promote a candidate the
constituents themselves were not backing. However, the board
is thankful they can allow a voice of leadership by permitting Bob
Vander Plaats and Chuck Hurley to personally endorse Senator
Santorum.
The
allegation by an unnamed source that Bob Vander Plaats asked any
campaigns for money in exchange for his endorsement is absolutely
false.
The
allegation that Bob Vander Plaats asked Congresswoman Michele Bachman
to drop out of the race to join with Rick Santorum is completely
false. The truth is that after
much prayer and discernment, The FAMiLY LEADER board members directed
Bob to contact Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann, and Rick Santorum to
present the concept of merging in order to provide a solution to the
fractured vote of caucus-going conservatives. The board’s request
is
reflective of the broader caucus community. At no time did Mr.
Vander
Plaats make any specific demands in regard to who should merge with
whom. The action to contact the campaigns was at the request of
the
board, not an action Vander Plaats initiated on his own.
Bob
Vander Plaats, President & CEO, said, “It is disheartening to learn
about the misrepresentations and half-truths being circulated among the
media and among fellow conservatives. I encourage all
conservatives to
show the utmost respect for each other as the voters of Iowa help
determine the next presidential nominee.”
Contact: Julie Summa