DES MOINES - Bob Vander Plaats came under fire Thursday from his former campaign treasurer who said his former boss is hurting Iowa by politicizing the judicial process.

Vander Plaats runs the conservative Christian group the Family Leader, which is credited with leading the campaign to oust three Iowa Supreme Court justices in November because of the Varnum vs. Brien decision that legalized same-sex marriage in Iowa.

At a news conference in downtown Des Moines, Dan Moore said Vander Plaats' continuing campaign is trying to “make the courts accountable to special interests, not the Constitution.”

But Vander Plaats is trying to use the criticism to his advantage.

Appearing a few hours later at an Altoona Pizza Ranch restaurant as part of his 99-county tour to organize conservatives, Vander Plaats told a crowd of about 50 that “the liberals are working around the clock, just today they held a press conference at the Des Moines Public Library attacking us.”

Several of those gathered nodded their heads at his comment, and one man said “Amen.”

Moore, a Sioux City lawyer who worked for Vander Plaats when the latter ran for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 2010, said he became disillusioned with Vander Plaats after the candidate's primary loss to current Gov. Terry Branstad.

As a self-described “party loyalist,” Moore said he was shocked that Vander Plaats continued his campaign operation not to support the party nominee but to remove the three judges from the bench.

Moore said the campaign puts pressure on judges to follow public opinion instead of laws, precedent and the constitution.

“This isn't personal between Dan Moore and Bob Vander Plaats,” Moore said. “Bob Vander Plaats is a leader in the party, at some point he has to realize the effect of what he is doing and saying has on the independence of the judiciary.”

Moore declined to say if he supported same-sex marriage, saying that wasn't the issue. He appeared at the news conference with former Republican Lt. Gov. Joy Corning who said she belonged to a church that allowed same-sex marriage ceremonies. She said Vander Plaats “and his allies have manipulated this issue for their political gain.”

Vander Plaats said he can't be faulted for participating in a political process that has been set out by law. “It used to be a good-old-boys network,” he said, speaking of the judicial appointments. “Tell me that's not political. I think some people would like to keep it that way.”

The visit to the Pizza Ranch was one of two in Polk County that Vander Plaats had scheduled Thursday. Then it was off to Ames in Story County and then Boone County.

At each location, the Family Leader tries to sign up at least one county organizer and one church organizer and as many volunteers as possible for a grassroots network that will be used to lobby for Family Leader issues.

“Some people call this extreme,” Vander Plaats said. “When is the last time you heard that marriage between one man and one woman and belief in the Constitution is extreme?”

He makes it clear that he would like to see the four judges who voted on the Varnum decision removed from the bench. He supports a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage but wouldn't go as far as saying that he would support the impeachment of the judges as some have suggested.

“I haven't seen any articles of impeachment written up, so I couldn't say,” he said. As for Moore, Vander Plaats said he still considers his former campaign treasurer a friend.

Then he slams him.

“Never once has he called me on the telephone to talk about these issues,” Vander Plaats said. “He knows my phone number, he knows where I live. He hasn't come over. Dan Moore would rather stand in front of a television camera.”

- By Mike Wiser, Gazette Des Moines Bureau

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DES MOINES - Bob Vander Plaats came under fire Thursday from his former campaign treasurer who said his former boss is hurting Iowa by politicizing the judicial process.Vander Plaats runs the conservative Christian group the Family Leader, which is credited with leading the campaign to oust three Iowa Supreme Court justices in November because of the Varnum vs. Brien decision that legalized same-sex marriage in Iowa.At a news conference in downtown Des Moines, Dan Moore said Vander Plaats' continuing campaign is trying to “make the courts accountable to special interests, not the Constitution.”But Vander Plaats is trying to use the criticism to his advantage.Appearing a few hours later at an Altoona Pizza Ranch restaurant as part of his 99-county tour to organize conservatives, Vander Plaats told a crowd of about 50 that “the liberals are working around the clock, just today they held a press conference at the Des Moines Public Library attacking us.”Several of those gathered nodded their heads at his comment, and one man said “Amen.”Moore, a Sioux City lawyer who worked for Vander Plaats when the latter ran for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 2010, said he became disillusioned with Vander Plaats after the candidate's primary loss to current Gov. Terry Branstad.As a self-described “party loyalist,” Moore said he was shocked that Vander Plaats continued his campaign operation not to support the party nominee but to remove the three judges from the bench.Moore said the campaign puts pressure on judges to follow public opinion instead of laws, precedent and the constitution.“This isn't personal between Dan Moore and Bob Vander Plaats,” Moore said. “Bob Vander Plaats is a leader in the party, at some point he has to realize the effect of what he is doing and saying has on the independence of the judiciary.”Moore declined to say if he supported same-sex marriage, saying that wasn't the issue. He appeared at the news conference with former Republican Lt. Gov. Joy Corning who said she belonged to a church that allowed same-sex marriage ceremonies. She said Vander Plaats “and his allies have manipulated this issue for their political gain.”Vander Plaats said he can't be faulted for participating in a political process that has been set out by law. “It used to be a good-old-boys network,” he said, speaking of the judicial appointments. “Tell me that's not political. I think some people would like to keep it that way.”The visit to the Pizza Ranch was one of two in Polk County that Vander Plaats had scheduled Thursday. Then it was off to Ames in Story County and then Boone County.At each location, the Family Leader tries to sign up at least one county organizer and one church organizer and as many volunteers as possible for a grassroots network that will be used to lobby for Family Leader issues.“Some people call this extreme,” Vander Plaats said. “When is the last time you heard that marriage between one man and one woman and belief in the Constitution is extreme?”He makes it clear that he would like to see the four judges who voted on the Varnum decision removed from the bench. He supports a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage but wouldn't go as far as saying that he would support the impeachment of the judges as some have suggested.“I haven't seen any articles of impeachment written up, so I couldn't say,” he said. As for Moore, Vander Plaats said he still considers his former campaign treasurer a friend.Then he slams him.“Never once has he called me on the telephone to talk about these issues,” Vander Plaats said. “He knows my phone number, he knows where I live. He hasn't come over. Dan Moore would rather stand in front of a television camera.”