# A warning to SE Iowa Dopers: David Pautsch for Congress **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 1, 2024, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-warning-to-se-iowa-dopers-david-pautsch-for-congress/1002365 "2024-06-01T01:41:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-warning-to-se-iowa-dopers-david-pautsch-for-congress/1002365/1 "2024-06-01T01:41:43Z")
He’s running for Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ seat. She’s a retired ophthalmologist who is quite conservative, but this guy CANNOT be elected. His only real credentials, to me anyway, is that he’s a Gold Star Parent (lost a child in either Iraq or Afghanistan) and not only does he want to abolish legal gay marriage and abortion, but HE WANTS TO CRIMINALIZE INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE. Yes, I was shouting that. > **[Republican David Pautsch and his 'uphill' challenge to Iowa 1st District...](https://www.iowapublicradio.org/ipr-news/2024-05-29/republican-david-pautsch-and-his-uphill-challenge-to-iowa-1st-district-congresswoman-mariannette-miller-meeks)** > > For the first time since winning her seat, U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks has a challenger from the right. Davenport’s David Pautsch is making a longshot bid in the 1st District Republican primary. > **[Prayer breakfast organizer challenging incumbent in Iowa’s 1st District](https://www.thegazette.com/campaigns-elections/prayer-breakfast-organizer-challenging-incumbent-in-iowas-1st-district/)** > > Mariannette Miller-Meeks faces David Pautsch in Tuesday’s GOP primary Freedom for who? > **[David Pautsch For US Congress - It's Time For A Strong Voice - US Congress...](https://www.davidpautsch.com/)** > > David Pautsch is a strong Republican running for US Congress Iowa District 1. Iowa needs a common-sense voice in the US Congress. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-warning-to-se-iowa-dopers-david-pautsch-for-congress/1002365/2 "2024-06-01T01:46:07Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > not only does he want to abolish legal gay marriage and abortion, but HE WANTS TO CRIMINALIZE INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE. It’s a good thing he can’t. But it’s awful that he wants to. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-warning-to-se-iowa-dopers-david-pautsch-for-congress/1002365/3 "2024-06-01T01:47:04Z")
And it’s worse that there are far too many people supporting that stance. (Yeah, one person is far too many.) ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-warning-to-se-iowa-dopers-david-pautsch-for-congress/1002365/4 "2024-06-01T01:47:25Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > It’s a good thing he can’t. Yet. Clarence Thomas of all people thinks the states can do what they want on this issue. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-warning-to-se-iowa-dopers-david-pautsch-for-congress/1002365/5 "2024-06-01T01:50:13Z")
I took one for the team and looked at his website in more detail. His endorsers are referring to the incumbent, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, as a liberal. If she’s liberal, then I’m Taylor Swift. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-warning-to-se-iowa-dopers-david-pautsch-for-congress/1002365/6 "2024-06-01T01:50:39Z")
Where does it say that he wants to criminalize interracial marriage? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-warning-to-se-iowa-dopers-david-pautsch-for-congress/1002365/7 "2024-06-02T12:49:50Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > the incumbent, Mariannette Miller-Meeks Gotta wonder who is pulling her strings. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-warning-to-se-iowa-dopers-david-pautsch-for-congress/1002365/8 "2024-06-02T16:58:10Z")
Sounds like a real dummy. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-warning-to-se-iowa-dopers-david-pautsch-for-congress/1002365/9 "2024-06-02T17:07:34Z")
The challenger, David Pautsch, has only raised a few thousand dollars in his bid to unseat an incumbent candidate, and the primary is in a few days. I don’t think he’s going anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-warning-to-se-iowa-dopers-david-pautsch-for-congress/1002365/10 "2024-06-02T17:32:36Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > It’s a good thing he can’t. Why can’t he? The Supreme Court said interracial marriage is a constitutional right in 1967. The Supreme Court said choosing to have an abortion is a constitutional right in 1973. If the current majority on the Supreme Court can abolish the Roe decision, they can also abolish the Loving decision. They’ve already demonstrated that they will ignore legal precedent in order to advance their right wing ideological views. David Pautsch isn’t going to do this all by himself. But he’s not by himself; he’s part of a movement. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-warning-to-se-iowa-dopers-david-pautsch-for-congress/1002365/11 "2024-06-02T17:39:17Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > Where does it say that he wants to criminalize interracial marriage? He hasn’t explicitly said he wants to criminalize interracial marriages. But he has said that he wants states to be allowed to criminalize interracial marriages. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-warning-to-se-iowa-dopers-david-pautsch-for-congress/1002365/12 "2024-06-02T17:41:20Z")
Where? I’m not trying to be a smart ass, I’m genuinely looking for a cite. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-warning-to-se-iowa-dopers-david-pautsch-for-congress/1002365/13 "2024-06-02T17:42:58Z")
On a separate note, Pautsch has explicitly said he wants to overturn the 2020 election and declare that Joe Biden was never President. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-warning-to-se-iowa-dopers-david-pautsch-for-congress/1002365/14 "2024-06-02T17:44:31Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > If the current majority on the Supreme Court can abolish the Roe decision, they can also abolish the Loving decision. That’s not something he’s going to have the power to do anything about himself though. This position he’s running for isn’t King. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-warning-to-se-iowa-dopers-david-pautsch-for-congress/1002365/15 "2024-06-02T17:51:05Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > Where? I’m not trying to be a smart ass, I’m genuinely looking for a cite. The Respect for Marriage Act was enacted in 2022, which says that states cannot criminalize same-sex marriages or interracial marriages. Miller-Meeks was one of the people who voted in favor of the law. Pautsch has said he opposes the law. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-warning-to-se-iowa-dopers-david-pautsch-for-congress/1002365/16 "2024-06-02T17:53:02Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > That’s not something he’s going to have the power to do anything about himself though. This position he’s running for isn’t King. I addressed that. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > David Pautsch isn’t going to do this all by himself. But he’s not by himself; he’s part of a movement. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-warning-to-se-iowa-dopers-david-pautsch-for-congress/1002365/17 "2024-06-02T18:05:38Z")
I don’t buy that at all. There’s a Pro Life movement in the US. Abortion restrictions have been a key part of the Republican platform for decades. It was all in a long effort to get Roe overturned and it eventually happened through a lot of effort from many people over the years. This is a lone nut. Yes, his ideas are dangerous but if you think there’s even the slightest chance of this happening that’s just not reality. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-warning-to-se-iowa-dopers-david-pautsch-for-congress/1002365/18 "2024-06-02T18:08:53Z")
I disagree. I feel there is an active white supremacy movement in this country that is pushing for a return to the pre-civil rights era. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-warning-to-se-iowa-dopers-david-pautsch-for-congress/1002365/19 "2024-06-02T18:39:55Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > There’s a Pro Life movement in the US. Abortion restrictions have been a key part of the Republican platform for decades. It was all in a long effort to get Roe overturned and it eventually happened through a lot of effort from many people over the years. True, but their ultimate tool–the current Supreme Court—is still in place. And their abortion decision laid the groundwork to be able to overturn any precedent. I wish I could be sure that these Federalist Society judges have no plans to overturn other “liberal” court decisions, but I do not. That said, I agree it’s not a reason to be worried about this one guy. He does not seem to have the backing he would need. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-warning-to-se-iowa-dopers-david-pautsch-for-congress/1002365/20 "2024-06-02T18:45:31Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > True, but their ultimate tool–the current Supreme Court—is still in place. And their abortion decision laid the groundwork to be able to overturn any precedent. I mean, sure, completely destroy the Republican Party, I’m okay with that. You realize that only the fringiest of the fringe would support this on the right and I’m not exaggerating when I say this would destroy the Republican Party forever if they decided to do this just for the lulz. A lot went into overturning Roe. And even that came at a huge cost. This would be political suicide, it would be like a rage quit. They’re not that far yet. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-warning-to-se-iowa-dopers-david-pautsch-for-congress/1002365.md?page=2)