2014 Iowa Senate Debates: on Civil Rights

Joni Ernst: Government shouldn't redefine marriage

Ernst: Strongly Agree

Doug Butzier: Affirmative action is government interference in marketplace

A: I'm opposed to government interference in the marketplace, and mandating some fraction of the workforce be women & minorities would be interference. The very idea that a group of Senators, myself included, would know what is the best hiring practice for some business is preposterous.

Doug Butzier: Declaration's "All men are created equal" applies to gays

A: Absolutely. The second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence states it pretty clearly; "All men are created equal." If you favor discrimination against one group for behaviors that you don't approve of, what's to stop another group from discriminating against you for a behavior they don't approve of?

Sam Clovis: Government shouldn't redefine marriage

Clovis: Strongly Agree

Joni Ernst: Federal ban ok, but leave same-sex marriage to states

During Thursday's Republican debate, the candidates vying for the GOP nomination were asked for their take on same-sex marriage. "I do believe that marriage is between one man and one woman, and I also believe that this is a state's right. And I have a record of this here in the state of Iowa," she said. "It is up to the people to make that decision, so allow the states to make that decision."

Ernst noted her work on a bill in the Iowa state Senate authorizing a vote on a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in the state. Ernst was one of the bill's co-sponsors. But despite her support for the right of the people "to make that decision," she said she would back a federal constitutional amendment barring gays and lesbians from getting married. "If it would come up at the federal level, I would support it," she said.

Joni Ernst: Endorsed by RightNOW Women PAC to escape "war on women"

Republicans of all stripes have been working to attract more women to their ranks and escape the "war on women" narrative that Democrats successfully used against them in 2012.

Matthew Whitaker: My faith requires me to support traditional marriage

Whitaker also said he was for traditional marriage. He took a shot at Schaben saying that he disagreed with him, and that his faith does not allow him to hold that position. "If we start saying there are more important things than life and marriage we might as well elect a Democrat," Whitaker stated.