To be clear, the meeting is not a fundraiser nor a political rally. It is NOT an endorsement of Donald Trump, nor do I plan to leave the meeting with an endorsement announcement, we'll talk with Mr. Trump about the people he intends to surround himself with, his criteria for Supreme Court nominations, his convictions on life, marriage, religious liberty, and more.

Vander Plaats

Categorized in : Politics

Now you have three of them -- is it 'for Trump' and a divided 'against Trump'? In that case, he's going to hurt us, it's just not worth your time. It's not worth your focus.

You know that's not true, i gave you an introduction and opportunity and you charged the guy $100K. May work in NY not IA.

What bothers him is I'm not willing to give him my endorsement, i want somebody who's solidly pro-life, someone who's going to stand up for marriage.

It's showing how desperate Trump is right now, because he sees that he's probably going to lose Iowa.

We will be going all-in for Sen. Ted Cruz, we have found him as a man of deep character. A man that we can fully trust, who has a consistency of convictions, who loves his god, loves his spouse, and who loves his family.

We will be going all in for Sen. Ted Cruz, we have found him as a man of deep character. A man that we can fully trust, who has a consistency of convictions, who loves his god, loves his spouse, and who loves his family. We also see him to be very, very competent. Not always popular, but very competent. He has challenged both sides of the aisle. He understands what it's going to take to get the country out of the mess that we're currently in. We believe that he is exceptionally competent and that adds to his extraordinary leadership.

We have believed for a long time if we're united, we will win, if we're divided, we're going to repeat 2008 and 2012, we will be uniting, and we will be going all in for Sen. Ted Cruz.

That's why you see so many candidates putting their bets, so to speak, on Iowa. It's all in, cruz wants Iowa. Rubio wants Iowa. Obviously Carson and Trump -- all these guys want Iowa.

The Cruz people know better than that, they probably feel they have a real shot at our endorsement, but I think Sen. Cruz would be the first one to tell you that he knows its nowhere close to being in the bag.

We don't need to be with he nominee, per se. by Vander Plaats

We don't need to be with he nominee, per se.

Marco Rubio is like Roy Hobbs in baseball: The Natural, he is ver... by Vander Plaats

Marco Rubio is like Roy Hobbs in baseball: The Natural, he is very skilled at being a politician.

I think he is trying to thread an awkward needle, rubio might be able to be the establishment candidate. But he would also like to be the tea party, outside candidate.

They understand that this base has been very influential in past... by Vander Plaats

They understand that this base has been very influential in past caucuses.

The goal would be in this summit, and any subsequent venue or event, that we would start recognizing a leader we could unite around and champion and try to get the person across the goal line.

There’s a lot to like about Marco Rubio. by Vander Plaats

There’s a lot to like about Marco Rubio.

This isn’t about being anti-gay, this is about a destructive conf... by Vander Plaats

This isn’t about being anti-gay, this is about a destructive conference for children.

If Iowans heard this – Republican or Democrat, liberal or conserv... by Vander Plaats

If Iowans heard this – Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative – they would be outraged.

I can’t believe Iowans of any stripe would endorse this keynote s... by Vander Plaats

I can’t believe Iowans of any stripe would endorse this keynote speaker.

I think it's always important how you message things without abandoning or violating your principles. All of us understand that.

He was very well received, and enthusiastically well received, it is like a breath of fresh air when he talks about not being politically correct and how he won't be controlled by the 'PC police' and he will say what needs to be said.