Competing Atmosphere Makes for Interesting Family Leader Forum

Just pulling into the parking lot of the First Federated Church in Des Moines on a  blustery fall afternoon made it glaringly obvious the ground is conservative.

Anti-abortionists, Occupy Wall Street protesters and advocates for outlawing homosexuality held up signs, chanted their rally cries and shouted their positions to anyone within earshot.

Thus was the circus-like atmosphere outside the Family Leader Forum held in Des Moines Saturday. 

Inside the colossal church, it was a whole different ballgame.

Thousands flocked to hear Republican presidential hopefuls Ron Paul, Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum, Rick Perry, Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich discuss politics and religious values around a table set for Thanksgiving dinner. 

In the crowd, folks dressed for Sunday services, pleasantries were exchanged between strangers and the whole feeling was, well, pleasant, among the people, many of whom paid $40 a ticket to be here.

Amanda and A.J. Aswegan drove all the way from Grundy Center to attend. Amanda, 30, who's expecting the couple's fifth child in a short few months, sat in the balcony of First Federated waiting for the six presidential candidates to get started. She was hoping to come away with some answers to some very important questions. 

"We are very concerned about the national debt," Amanda said. "We have 4.5 kids so that is a huge concern for me that needs to be addressed because it is not my children’s responsibility to clean up these messes."

April Hill drove from Ames to attend with her in-laws. The mother of four said the event was a "night away from the kids" but also a way for her to gather information to choose a favorite. Because today, Hill is among the undecided.

"I just want to hear the candidates without hearing loaded questions, without them going after each other and in a more family-friendly environment," Hill said. "I’m undecided and I really appreciate the atmosphere here. I don’t think it will be adversarial. Here, they can they say what they really think and believe."

Tom Nichols of Klemme was a little more blunt in what he wanted to come away with from the Family Leader Forum.

"I’m completely undecided," Nichols admitted. "I don’t like any of them. I came to see which one I dislike the least."

Nichols said if there was anywhere where he could find clarity, he thought he thought it would be at Family Leader Forum.

"Life and family are very important to me," he said. "That’s the big picture but at the same time, if we don’t get our financial house in order we are going to go broke. Actually I’d say we already are. There are a lot of issues they need to address. What the government is doing now is not working."

"I want the focus to be on life and family," Nichols concluded.