IowaPolitics.com BlogWatch

Last week, during a stop in Cedar Rapids, former Gov. Terry Branstad
was asked about the likelihood that he could choose former rival
Christian Fong as his lieutenant governor. Branstad, who has been
traveling around the state holding events but has not yet officially
joined the race, said it was too early to be talking about picking a
running mate. ... To many, it seems strange that this early in the
process, with the Republican gubernatorial primary more than six
months away, to be discussing running mates. But rumors have been
swirling around a potential Branstad pick for months. In September,
one of his chief rivals, Bob Vander Plaats, took a shot at Branstad
when he said he was "not looking to balance the ticket with somebody
who is moderate or liberal," alluding to the choice of abortion-rights
supporter Joy Corning by Branstad in 1990. Branstad seemed to respond
during an October meeting with a group of social conservative leaders.
He said he planned to choose a younger conservative to run with him,
which led many to look at the 32-year-old Fong.

Labels: Christian_Fong, Terry_Branstad

Gubernatorial candidate Christian Fong suspended his campaign this
morning. You can read the press release on his campaign web page
here. Fong is a highly accomplished individual. Personally,
professionally and now politically. How is that you say? He just
"suspended" his campaign. I think there's a strong chance that years
from now, many will look back on this day and acknowledge it was the
right tactical move to make. Even those who don't currently support
Christian Fong have openly admitted "Fong is the future of our party
in Iowa." I heard this statement again only hours ago from a key
Branstad supporter here in the state. I've intentionally held back on
posting this to observe some reaction. My phone has been ringing and
I've heard nothing but complimentary feedback.

Labels: Christian_Fong

I went to Ringgold County to see how small-town Iowa can thrive.
Iowa's small towns are pillars in my economic development plan and my
2020 Vision plan for Iowa. As Governor, I'd fight relentlessly for
their future. Redding, Iowa is barely four miles from Missouri, and
might as well be a million miles from the power lunches and elite
circles of the big city. Common sense and homegrown Iowa values are
the core of people's character. Last Wednesday, Tracee and Steve Knapp
were gracious hosts for the evening house party, after being my tour
guides through Mount Ayr in the afternoon. ... Mount Ayr, the county
seat of Ringgold County, the second smallest population county in
Iowa, will make it. If state leadership in Des Moines will stop
getting in the way, that is.

Labels: Christian_Fong

By Gubernatorial Candidate Christian Fong ... Iowa is facing serious challenges. We no longer have a government that reflects the core values that most Iowans share. We are a state where hard work and education no longer pay off the way they should. Now, the state is routinely waking up to headlines of mass layoffs in our cities and towns. The numbers are staggering. One hundred and fourteen thousand unemployed Iowans. Poverty rates that have risen, under Democratic leadership, fourth fastest in the nation this decade. Chronic underpay, with most Iowans making 10-15% less for equivalent jobs than around the region. And the higher the education rate, the bigger the pay gap! This impacts people's ability to turn hard work and education into the Iowa Dream.

Labels: Christian_Fong, taxes

Are you going to be the GOP's hopeful, inclusive-talking guy, or are you going to do stuff like this? "Chinese communists swept to power in the last century without mentioning plans to nationalize businesses or institute forced abortions, Republican gubernatorial candidate Christian Fong told supporters of the Iowa Minuteman Civil Defense Corps on Saturday." ... The Minutemen are hardly a significant movement in Iowa, but that doesn't make it ok for mainstream Republicans to fuel paranoid fantasies about the Obama administration. Fong did tell the Minutemen that "tighter borders and the need to learn English must be tempered with open arms for those (immigrants) who use proper channels, he said."

Labels: Christian_Fong

Christian Fong, who I believe is the youngest of the Republican
hopefuls set for a 2010 gubernatorial primary, issued a press release
about an upcoming 17-city tour. While that in and of itself is typical
campaign fare, a note at the bottom of the announcement was unusual.
Fong will be making himself available to members of the press prior to
each event, but will not be allowing press to attend the actual
events. ... If there is one thing residents of Iowa (and New
Hampshire) are well versed in doing it is attending campaign events,
cutting through the noise and developing an opinion based on the
policy expressed. For the record, we are also not so dense as to
believe that with cameras and tape recorders whirling in the
background that what we say is private.

Labels: Christian_Fong

I'm from the small town of Underwood, Iowa. Cradled into the Loess
Hills, it is a typical small Iowa town, with regular, hard-working
families. It's the Iowa I know. But the Iowa that the state government
knows apparently looks more like Hollywood than Underwood. Tax credits
for new luxury cars? Last second deals funneling hundreds of millions
of dollars to film producers? Par for the course in Des Moines these
days. ... Truth be told, we all like to see Iowa portrayed in a
positive light on the big screen. We like seeing our local artists
have opportunities. It is why the Iowa Film Office exists. But there's
a time and a place, and 2009 was not it. We're a state recovering from
the second largest natural disaster in US history, and in a year with
yawning structural deficits and plunging revenues plugged by $830
million of ill-advised, long-term bonds. Hollywood tax credits are a
very low priority.

Labels: Christian_Fong

I know many of you think I hate Christian Fong. Let me be very clear,
I don't hate the kid, I just don't think he is ready to be Governor of
the State of Iowa. Yesterday, Fong's campaign issued a press release
regarding the mess that IPERS is in. After reading it I wondered why
he's running for Governor and not State Treasurer. ... Look, I'm not
kidding. Iowa Republicans have a tremendous opportunity to take out an
entrenched incumbent in Michael Fitzgerald. His stewardship of the
IPERS fund is beyond embarrassing. I would like to see nothing more
than Republicans find a young, smart, articulate, candidate to run
against him, and nobody fits that bill better than Christian Fong.
Hey, I'd rather be the Governor too, but at age 32 Christian Fong has
an entire lifetime to pursue higher office. I can't think of a better
situation for Fong to start his political career. In fact if he would
happen to abandon his gubernatorial campaign and run for State
Treasurer, I would wholeheartedly endorse his campaign.

Labels: Christian_Fong

Republican gubernatorial candidate Christian Fong responded to a
weekend of renewed speculation surrounding Terry Branstad by
announcing that his campaign has recruited campus coordinators at all
of Iowa's leading universities and several colleges. ... The message to
Republican bigwigs is clear. Fong is serious about this campaign and
is building a strong organization in the GOP's weakest area: the youth
vote. Since colleges will be on summer break by the time next June's
primary rolls around, Fong's campaign will have to implement an
aggressive absentee ballot strategy. Early voting happens to be
another area where Iowa Republicans have been getting mauled in recent
years.

Labels: Christian_Fong

Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Christian Fong announced today that
Marlys Popma, a twenty-one year veteran of Iowa politics has signed on
as his campaign manager. "I'm honored to have Marlys Popma join our
campaign. Her leadership, political savvy, and experience in Iowa
politics are invaluable as we move this campaign forward. As a
businessman, I know my job is to identify and then recruit the most
talented people to serve. Whether it's my campaign, or as the CEO of
state government, that's the philosophy guiding my decision making,"
said Fong. Popma's experience dates back to 1988 when she headed up
Iowa Right to Life.

Labels: Christian_Fong

"... Iowans deserve the right to vote on a constitutional amendment
that defines marriage as one man and one woman ..." In my previous
post I wanted to be certain that readers of this blog understand that
I am a supporter of Christian Fong. I am not an official spokesman for
Fong campaign but I am a committed supporter. Therefore, when you read
this blog you should keep that in mind. I read the post on the Iowa
Republican about Christian's interview with KCRG's Beth Malicki. ... Of
course the implication is that Christain supports gay marriage, the
post also noted that I resigned from the SCC to support Christian. Let
me be clear on this, Christian Fong is not a supporter of Gay marriage
(nor am I). If you listen to the discussion you will find that he
supports a constitutional amendment defiing marriage as between one
man and one woman and believes that Iowans deserve the right to vote
on the issue. These beliefs are precisely in line with my own.

Labels: Christian_Fong, marriage

What an honor it is to have my good friend and contributor Christian
Fong writing regularly at Hawkeyereview.com. Now that Christian has
announced his candidacy to run for Governor of the great state of
Iowa, I wanted to make all of Christian's work available for you to
read. Instead of requiring you to troll through the last several
months of archives, I've categorized the articles by subject and
grouped them here for your review and study. Christian Fong is a name
every Iowan should become familiar with very soon. For those who
might attempt to diminish him for his relatively young age (32), don't
let the prognosticators divert you from the most important facts about
our newest GOP candidate.

Labels: Christian_Fong

The chatter surrounding Christian Fong running for governor continues.
What disturbs me regarding this matter isn't Fong as a potential
candidate for some office, but the complete lack of a foundation for
him to mount a gubernatorial campaign. I know a lot of people seem
impressed that Fong is the chair of the Generation Iowa Commission, a
program of the Iowa Department of Economic Development that tries to
keep young Iowans from leaving the state after college to look for
career opportunities. I'm glad that people like Fong and Waukee's
Isaiah McGee serve on this commission. But does service on this
committee really prepare a 32 year old man to serve as this state's
governor?

Labels: Christian_Fong, RPI