On this day in both 2014, in 2015, 2016, and in 2017, “Crazy/Stupid Republican of the Day” posted profiles of Steve Scheffler, a member of the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition and the 2016 Republican National Committee who is one of the key driving forces behind the GOP’s endless campaign against LGBTQ rights and same sex marriage. In effect, when Republican presidential campaigns go through Iowa every four years, their road to the nomination goes through him, no detours. Any perceived “moderate” stance on gay rights is a death sentence in a candidate, and Scheffler is the judge and executioner who carries it out.
Scheffler, who once worked on the 1988 presidential campaign of Pat Robertson, publicly admonished John McCain for having the nerve to have an appearance on the Ellen Degeneres Show, warned the legalization of gay marriage in Iowa would make Des Moines “the homosexual capital of the Mid-West”. Scheffler also made it a point to block gay Republican candidate Fred Karger from participating in GOP debates, and with the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition, claims there are scientific studies that gay men only live to an average age of 47, that gay conversion therapy works, and that if social conservatives win the culture wars, it will result in an endgame where Jesus returns to Earth. Steve Scheffler served again on the GOP’s Platform Committee in 2016. You may have heard something about that platform, the one that was the most extreme party platform on social issues the GOP has ever put forth, including opposition to abortion even in cases of rape and incest, requiring the Bible to be taught in public high schools.
Since we last checked in on Steve Scheffler, he has outright said that he conflates his religion and his politics completely, saying that progressive Christians “Don’t preach the gospel. They preach a social doctrine of whatever fits their personal agenda.” He has spent most of the past several years also trying to cement Donald Trump as the GOP’s 2020 nominee for president, with no other options, which could be a real disaster as public impeachment hearings are under way that might, y’know, hurt his chances at re-election if not get him impeached.
We already are wondering what bigotry this homophobic fossil insists be included in the 2020 Republican National Party Platform. Especially if the candidate at the top of the ticket ends up being Mike Pence by default.
One Year Ago, November 23rd, 2018: Leslie Gibson (ME)… Original Profile
Two Years Ago, November 23rd, 2017: Steve Scheffler (IA)… 2017 Update
Three Years Ago, November 23rd, 2016: Steve Scheffler (IA)… 2016 Update
Four Years Ago, November 23rd, 2015: Steve Scheffler (IA)… 2015 Update
Five Years Ago, November 23rd, 2014: Steve Scheffler (IA)…Original Profile