The Family Leader

Whither the White Evangelicals' Candidate

Robert P. Jones, Ph.D. | Posted 02.26.2012

Read More: Elections 2012, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, The Family Leader, Evangelicals, Evangelical Voters Romney, Evangelical Voters 2012, Evangelical Voters, Evangelical Voters Gingrich, Politics News
Robert P. Jones, Ph.D.

In a campaign that has featured any number of surprising twists and turns, there has been one constant feature of the race so far -- white evangelical voters have been consistently underwhelmed by their options.

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Divorce, Porn, Gay Marriage Shape Iowa Race

Urbandale Patch | Anne Carothers-Kay | Posted 12.22.2011

Read More: Iowa Caucuses 2012, Iowa Politics, Newt Gingrich 2012, Newt Gingrich Divorce, Republicans Pledge to America, 2012 Election, The Family Leader, Republican Presidential Candidates, Iowa Caucuses, Rick Santorum, Bob Vander Plaats, Rick Santorum 2012, Republican Presidential Primary, Newt Gingrich, Election 2012, Gay Marriage, The-Family-Leader-Pledge, Politics News

Increasingly, special interest groups nationally and in Iowa are asking presidential candidates to put their positions in writing by signing specifica...

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Amanda Terkel

WATCH: Rick Santorum Gets Big Endorsement

HuffingtonPost.com | Amanda Terkel | Posted 12.20.2011

Read More: Social Conservatives, Video, The Family Leader, Rick Santorum, Bob Vander Plaats, Elections 2012, Iowa Caucuses, Rick Santorum 2012, Rick Santorum for President, Politics News

WASHINGTON -- Former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum received a boost to his presidential campaign Tuesday, picking up the endorsement of a leading...

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Jason Linkins

Newt Gingrich Pledges Fidelity To Fidelity Pledge In Lengthy Letter

HuffingtonPost.com | Jason Linkins | Posted 12.13.2011

Read More: 2012 Speculatron, Video, Newt Gingrich 2012, 2012 Election, The Family Leader, The Marriage Vow, Elections 2012, Bob Vander Plaats, The Marriage Vow Pledge, Newt Gingrich, 2012, Politics News

When influential Iowa social conservative Bob Vander Plaats rolled out the Family Leader's "Marriage Vow" pledge, it was enough for most of the 2012 G...

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Howard Fineman

He Has Repented, But Is He Forgiven In Iowa?

HuffingtonPost.com | Howard Fineman | Posted 11.22.2011

Read More: Iowa Caucuses 2012, Caucus, Video, Republican Primary, Rick Tyler, Newt Gingrich 2012, The Response, 2012 Election, The Family Leader, Iowa Caucuses, Elections 2012, Iowa-Elections-2012, Newt Gingrich, Iowa Caucus 2012, Evangelicals, Politics News

WASHINGTON -- Six months ago, Rick Tyler quit Newt Gingrich cold turkey. He left the former speaker's entourage after 12 years of serving as his spoke...

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Michele Bachmann's Iowa Campaign Co-Chair Warns Gay Marriage Could Lead To Women 'Marrying The Eiffel Tower'

Posted 11.22.2011

Read More: Tamara Scott Eiffel Tower, Video, Michele Bachmann, Concerned Women for America, The Family Leader, Tamara Scott, Eiffel Tower, Bob Vander Plaats, Tamara Scott Same-Sex Marriage, Tamara Scott Gay Marriage, Gay Marriage, Same-Sex Marriage, Gay Voices News

One of the oldest tricks in the book when it comes to scaring people into not supporting gay marriage is using the "slippery slope" method. You tel...

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Mitt Romney Avoids Social Conservative Forum

AP | By STEVE PEOPLES | Posted 01.19.2012

Read More: Iowa, Video, Social Conservatives, 2012 Elections, The Family Leader, Mitt Romney 2012, Mitt Romney, Elections 2012, Bob Vander Plaats, Politics News

PETERBOROUGH, N.H. -- For as long as he's been the Republican front-runner, Mitt Romney has avoided taking firm positions on high-stakes Washington sp...

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GOP Hopefuls Vie For Social Conservative Support At Iowa Forum

AP | THOMAS BEAUMONT | Posted 01.19.2012

Read More: Video, Michele Bachmann, 2012 Elections, The Family Leader, Ron Paul, Herman Cain, Elections 2012, Rick Santorum, Bob Vander Plaats, Iowa Thanksgiving Family Forum, Newt Gingrich, Politics News

DES MOINES, Iowa — Six Republican presidential candidates dove deep into how their religious faith influences their public life, during a free-f...

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Jason Linkins

National Organization For Marriage Asks 2012ers To Sign A Second Pledge Against Marriage Equality

HuffingtonPost.com | Jason Linkins | Posted 10.05.2011

Read More: 2012 Speculatron, 2012 Speculation, National Organization for Marriage Pledge, The Family Leader, National Organization for Marriage, Elections 2012, Mitt Romney, Marriage Equality, 2012, Pledges, 2012 Election, Mitt Romney 2012, Tim Pawlenty 2012, Tim Pawlenty, The Family Leader Pledge, Iowa Straw Poll, Politics News

Seems like only yesterday that many of the 2012 GOP candidates were falling all over each other to sign the Family Leader's "Marriage Vow" pledge, whi...

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A Republican Morality Play

Gary Johnson | Posted 09.18.2011

Read More: Marriage, Morality, The Family Leader, The-Family-Leader-Pledge, Politics News
Gary Johnson

A funny thing happened this week when I had the audacity to call a so-called "Marriage Vow" pledge for candidates issued by the Iowa-based Family Leader group for what it is: Offensive and UnRepublican.

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Pledge Madness Sweeps GOP Presidential Field

AP | NANCY BENAC | Posted 09.17.2011

Read More: Michele Bachmann 2012, Jon Huntsman, The Family Leader, Cut Cap and Balance Pledge, Elections 2012, The Marriage Vow Pledge, Marriage Vow, Michele Bachmann, Jon Huntsman 2012, Cut Cap and Balance, 2012 Election, Mitt Romney, Mitt Romney 2012, The Marriage Vow, Marriage Vow Pledge, Tim Pawlenty, Tim Pawlenty 2012, Politics News

WASHINGTON — Republican presidential contenders may be feeling nostalgic for the days when a candidate could focus on just one pledge: the oath ...

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Michele Bachmann Marriage Pledge Loses Her a Young Conservative

Michael Smerconish | Posted 09.16.2011

Read More: Family Leader Pledge, Lgbt, Conservatives, Marcus Bachmann, Michele Bachmann Gay Rights, The Family Leader, Philadelphia, Michele Bachmann, Politics News
Michael Smerconish

Michele Bachmann's beliefs may win her the votes for the Republican nomination, but they all but guarantee that she will not win the moderate voters who decide presidential elections. To them and most of the nation, her positions are out of touch, insulting, and downright flaky.

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'The Marriage Vow' Fractures GOP Field

Posted 09.14.2011

Read More: Herman Cain 2012, Video, Ames Straw Poll, Michele Bachmann, Michele Bachmann 2012, 2012 Election, The Marriage Vow, Mitt Romney 2012, The Family Leader, Herman Cain, Rick Santorum, Elections 2012, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum 2012, The Marriage Vow Pledge, Iowa Caucus 2012, The Family Leader Pledge, Politics News

A controversial pledge put forth by The Family Leader, an Iowa-based conservative group, has created a rift in the field of contenders vying for the R...

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Tim Pawlenty Weighs In On Controversial 'Marriage Vow'

AP/The Huffington Post | Posted 09.12.2011

Read More: Pawlenty Marraige Now, Video, Tim Pawlenty the Marriage Vow, 2012 Election, The Family Leader, Marriage Vow Pledge, Pawlenty the Marriage Vow, Elections 2012, The Marriage Vow Pledge, Tim Pawlenty, Tim Pawlenty Marriage Vow, Tim Pawlenty 2012, Pawlenty 2012, Bob Vander Plaats, Politics News

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Republican Tim Pawlenty says he won't sign a pledge written by a conservative Iowa group that asks presidential candidates to denou...

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Bachmann Addresses Signing Controversial Pledge, Slavery

Posted 09.12.2011

Read More: Bachmann 2012, Video, Michele Bachmann the Marriage Vow, Michele Bachmann, Michele Bachmann 2012, 2012 Election, The Marriage Vow, The Family Leader, Michele Bachmann Pledge, Michele Bachmann for President, Elections 2012, The Marriage Vow Pledge, Bachmann for President, Politics News

During an appearance on Fox News' "Hannity" on Tuesday night, Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann discussed her decision to sign a cont...

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Mitt Romney Rejects The Family Leader's 'Marriage Vow' Pledge

AP | THOMAS BEAUMONT | Posted 09.11.2011

Read More: Ames Straw Poll, The Marriage Vow, The Family Leader, Mitt Romney 2012, Mitt Romney, Elections 2012, Gop, Iowa Caucus 2012, Gay Marriage, Republicans, Politics News

DES MOINES, Iowa — Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's campaign said Tuesday that he will not sign a conservative Iowa Christian group's far...

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Iowa Marriage Pledge Drops Reference To Slavery

Posted 09.10.2011

Read More: Iowa Marriage Slavery, Marriage, The Family Leader, Slavery, Iowa Marriage Vow, Iowa Marriage, Bob Vander Plaats, Racism, Iowa Gay Marriage, Religion News

By Adelle M. Banks Religion News Service WASHINGTON (RNS) An Iowa-based conservative Christian organization has removed controversial language abo...

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Jason Linkins

Late Returns: Naturally, Newt Gingrich Wants To Edit The 'Marriage Vow'

HuffingtonPost.com | Jason Linkins | Posted 09.10.2011

Read More: 2012 Speculation, 2012 Speculatron, The Family Leader, Thaddeus McCotter, Elections 2012, Lady GaGa, Conan O'Brien, 2012, Herman Cain 2012, Pledges, Newt Gingrich 2012, 2012 Election, The Marriage Vow, Herman Cain, Thaddeus Mccotter 2012, Tim Pawlenty, Tim Pawlenty 2012, Newt Gingrich, Politics News

If you were wondering how Newt Gingrich was going to handle The Family Leader's "Marriage Vow" pledge -- with its fun references to "quickie divorces"...

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Jason Linkins

Gary Johnson Outraged By 'Marriage Vow' Pledge

HuffingtonPost.com | Jason Linkins | Posted 09.10.2011

Read More: 2012 Speculatron, Marriage Vows, Republican Candidates, Pledges, Family Values, 2012 Election, The Family Leader, Elections 2012, Election 2012, Gary Johnson, Tea Party, Gary Johnson 2012, 2012, Video, Politics News

That "Family Leader" pledge may have won the enthusiastic endorsement of Michele Bachmann and Rick Santorum, but former New Mexico Governor and long-s...

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Jason Linkins

The Family Leader Drops Controversial Section Concerning Slavery From 'Marriage Vow' Pledge

HuffingtonPost.com | Jason Linkins | Posted 09.08.2011

Read More: 2012 Speculation, 2012 Speculatron, Video, Pledges, 2012 Election, The Family Leader, Bob Vander Plaats, Elections 2012, Iowa Caucus 2012, 2012, Politics News

The Family Leader's "Marriage Vow" pledge asks a lot of the presidential candidates who sign it. You better not like gay people, for instance! Porn is...

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Jason Linkins

Bob Vander Plaats, Iowa Social Conservative Kingmaker, Unveils A New Pledge For 2012ers

HuffingtonPost.com | Jason Linkins | Posted 09.06.2011

Read More: 2012 Speculation, 2012 Speculatron, Pledges, 2012 Election, The Family Leader, Elections 2012, Bob Vander Plaats, Iowa Caucus 2012, 2012, Politics News

A few weeks ago, we delved into the world of pledges that the members of the GOP field were being pressured into signing. Turns out we should have hel...

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