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Pollster Frank Luntz to Moderate The Thanksgiving Family Forum for Republican Presidential Candidates
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, October 3
Pollster Frank Luntz to Moderate The Thanksgiving Family Forum for Republican Presidential Candidates
Discussion to surround issues impacting American families
Pleasant Hill, IOWA. – The FAMiLY LEADER, in conjunction with CitizenLink (the family advocacy arm of Focus on the Family) and the National Organization for Marriage, is pleased to announce that political pollster, Dr. Frank Luntz, will moderate the “Thanksgiving Family Forum – A Family Discussion with the Republican Candidates” on Saturday, Nov. 19. The forum will take place in Des Moines, Iowa at First Federated Church from 4:00-6:00 p.m.
The FAMiLY LEADER has received event confirmations from Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Rick Perry, and Rick Santorum. Invitations were sent to those candidates who finished in the top 5 of The Iowa Straw Poll or who polled 5 percent or above in the RealClearPolitics Poll as of Aug. 28.
The forum’s goal is to allow Iowans an opportunity to further vet the candidates on matters related to the family. “This is not a debate,” said Bob Vander Plaats, President and CEO of The FAMiLY LEADER. “Our purpose is simply to learn about their worldviews and to listen to their hearts on key family issues. The discussion will allow us to see a more personal side of the candidates.”
“We are thrilled that Frank Luntz has agreed to team up with us for the forum,” said Vander Plaats. “We believe his unique style, audience participation, and expertise in communication will drive the discussion in a direction unlike any other forum or debate.”
Luntz, a top political pollster, is one of the most respected communication professionals in America today. He is also the author of The New York Times best seller, Words that Work: It’s Not What You Say, It’s What People Hear.”
Concerning the Nov. 19 Thanksgiving Family Forum, Luntz said, “My responsibility is to deliver a wholly different kind of discussion from the standard debate-by-podium forum. The American people want to know more than which candidate ‘debates best.’ They want to get past the pre-programmed sound bites and zingers to the real person. Voters want to know how the candidates feel. How they view the world. What is in their hearts.”
“I want to go deeper; to engender discussion on the great cultural issues of our time,” continued Luntz. “I promise this won’t be like anything you’ve ever seen. No gotcha questions by the panel. No spin by the politicians. Just an authentic discussion among the people who seek to lead this great nation. It has the potential to be the most important forum of the primary presidential campaign.”
The FAMiLY LEADER expects 2,500-plus attendees who represent a large influential segment of Iowa caucus-goers. They also anticipate all 99 counties in Iowa will be represented by key organizational and faith leaders. Statewide and national media coverage is expected.
For more information about The FAMiLY LEADER or the event, visit its web site at www.TheFamilyLeader.com. For sponsorship details, please call 515-263-3495, ext. 13. To schedule a media interview, contact Julie Summa at 515-263-3495, ext. 14, 515-210-7475, or at jsumma@thefamilyleader.org.
Contact: Julie Summa
jsumma@thefamilyleader.org; 515-263-3495, ext.14 (office), 515-210-7475 (cell)
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About The FAMiLY LEADER
The FAMiLY LEADER champions the principle that God is the ultimate leader of the family. Our goal at The FAMiLY LEADER is to honor and glorify God – not a political party, not a candidate and not a program. The FAMiLY LEADER is a Christ centered organization that will lead with humility and service to strengthen and protect the family. Learn more about the organization at www.thefamilyleader.com/inside-tfl/missionbeliefs. TFL is loosely associated with Focus on the Family, an international family-strengthening ministry based in Colorado Springs, CO.
About CitizenLink
CitizenLink is a family advocacy organization that inspires men and women to live out biblical citizenship that transforms culture. As an affiliate of Focus on the Family, CitizenLink provides resources that equip citizens to make their voices heard on critical social policy issues involving the sanctity of human life, the preservation of religious liberties and the well-being of the family as the building block of society. Visit us online at www.CitizenLink.com.
About the National Organization for Marriage
The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to protect marriage and the faith communities that sustain it. Founded in 2007, NOM serves as a national resource for marriage-related initiatives at the state and local level. NOM is online at www.nationformarriage.org.