Chuck Norris Opens His Home to Vander Plaats for Fundraiser
- Friday, November 20, 2009, 4:01
- Iowa, News Center
- 1,172 views
- 37 comments
It is rare for a Hollywood celebrity to get involved in a political contest in Iowa, but Chuck Norris did just that when he endorsed Vander Plaats’ campaign this past June.
In his June column entitled, “3 Amigos Who Fight for America,” Norris wrote, “I encourage you to spread the word about these gentlemen and patriots, learn about their platforms, support their campaigns, and see to it that they are elected in their gubernatorial races. Theirs is leadership we can trust. I’m convinced that if we are to win back America, it’s going to start in the heartland and spread out from there because of the influence of leaders like them.
Don’t like what you see in government? Tired of incumbent lethargy and inactiveness? Does a political issue grind on you like fingernails on a chalkboard? It comes down to this: Either you will change our country or your opponents will, and if you let them change it, you might not like the outcome.
Elect John Kasich, Bob Vander Plaats and Judge Roy Moore!”
Now, Chuck and Gena Norris are hosting a fundraiser for Vander Plaats’ campaign on their ranch near Navasota, Texas, which is 21 miles southeast of College Station. The event is a small, quaint $5,000-a-couple get-together. Around 40 Iowans are attending the event plus at least one couple from Texas, TheIowaRepublican.com has learned. Apparently a number of private planes will be flying from Iowa to Texas later today. The event takes place tonight from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Should Vander Plaats be able to raise $200,000 for his campaign the event will be a huge success. With gubernatorial candidates under the gun to raise money before the end of the year filing deadline, Norris’ event couldn’t come at a better time for Vander Plaats.
In 2005, Vander Plaats raised $658,714.93 for his gubernatorial campaign. It will be interesting to see how that compares to Vander Plaats’ fundraising for his 2010 campaign.
About the Author
Craig Robinson has written 453 stories on this site.
Craig Robinson serves as the founder and Editor-in-Chief of TheIowaRepublican.com. Prior to founding Iowa's largest conservative news site, Robinson served as the Political Director of the Republican Party of Iowa during the 2008 Iowa Caucuses. In that capacity, Robinson planned and organized the largest political event in 2007, the Iowa Straw Poll, in Ames, Iowa. Robinson also organized the 2008 Republican caucuses in Iowa, and was later dispatched to Nevada to help with the caucuses there. Robinson cut his teeth in Iowa politics during the 2000 caucus campaign of businessman Steve Forbes and has been involved with most major campaigns in the state since then. His extensive political background and rolodex give him a unique perspective from which to monitor the political pulse of Iowa.
37 Comments on “Chuck Norris Opens His Home to Vander Plaats for Fundraiser”
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I read in another article that Church is paying $5,000 for every person, not the person themselves.
Think how much overhead they could save if they just brought Norris to Iowa for an event in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids or even Sioux City. Maybe they will unveil three major announcements in one poorly done press realease like the $100 per head EXCUSE ME, the FREE event they did up in Clear Lake or wherever it was. Who in the hell is his finance director? Is this his or her first time? If she’s good looking I’ll give her a donation! Giggidy giggidy goo!
Some months back on TIR I got the impression that we didn’t like the idea of out-of-State interests investing interests in our politics?
Well CD…
This is very likely something that could come back to haunt BVP…especially if he tries to take on Culver for being funded by “Hollywood, out of state interests”.
Besides…word on the street has it that BVP isn’t doing that great in the fundraising dept, hence why clearing as much $$ as possible right now is critical for him.
Mr. Quagmire, I’m pretty sure that the couples would more likely come to an event at Chuck Norris’s Ranch vs. one in Iowa. It’s Chuck Norris’s ranch! Anyway, as for outside interests, Mr. Branstad will have numerous large donations from around the county, probably even the RNC. Chuck Norris can do whatever he wants–he’s Chuck Norris.
It must be nice to fly in private planes down to Texas for a 5K dinner. BVP, I need a JOB. I don’t care about gay marriage. I need to feed my family and keep my kids in the state, not fly them to Texas for dinner. I thought BVP was a man of the people not a jetsetter. I didnt think he was this kind of candidate. Wish I could go but I don’t have 5k or my own plane. What’s the carbon footprint of 40 people taking private planes to texas?
HAWKCR1, And I’m pretty sure you know the financial reports of Bob’s campaign. As I recall, you don’t come accross as an insider of the BVP Camp.
I have trouble believing that even a wealthy person like Chuck Norris would pay a bounty of $5,000 per couple (plus expenses) to come visit him. Is he that lonely?
This is likely to end up being a PR nightmare. Who is responsible for this idea?
Who is making the trip?
Bruce, I’m pretty sure those planes are paid for by Chuck. Also, I didn’t see anyone bat an eye when the Iowa GOP had Tim Pawlenty keynote a fundraiser for them a couple of weeks ago. Oh No, outside interest alert!!!! Also, Mitt Romney helped finance county campaigns in the 2006 election cycle— MARY RAE BRAGG
September 24, 2006; Page a19
Section: Tristate
Article ID: 114AF23EEE42B660 —
Iowa’s Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Nussle and Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney announced Monday they would be joining together to finance Republican campaign efforts in five Iowa counties, including Dubuque County.
So it’s OK for a politician to do a fundraiser and not a citizen?
Also, it is not like Iowans don’t know about Chuch or where he stands on the issues. Chuck was basically with Huck and Bob the whole time they campaigned in Iowa. Chuck doesn’t just throw money at campaigns, he works for the candidates who he supports. As for a PR nightmare, it might be if it wasn’t Chuck Norris. Everyone in iowa knows that Chuck and Bob have a good relationship and they are familar with Chuck thanks to the 2008 caucus. Chuck campaigning with Huck didn’t hurt Huck at all and Chuck supporting Bob will not hurt him as well. And we all know the difference between Culver’s Hollywood ties and Bob’s. Chuck is not stealing the money of Iowa taxpayers.
Wow, the green one rears its ugly head over here. Jealousy. What’s a matter folks………..worried that BVP has grassroots support AND money?????????????? This is awesome. Hey Bruce, get off the blogs and instead fill out some resumes to try and get a job. Not before you’re done updating your facebook profile, however.
There may be nothing wrong with this. It may turn into a PR nightmare depending on who is on the guest list but I still have trouble believing Norris would foot the bill for this whole thing. He could save himself a whole lot of trouble simply by making the donation directly.
Oh Glen, you’re so silly!
Nice Freudian slip, Stacia! I thank Norris for this bounty we are about to receive…
So a few rich people are going to fly private planes and spend how much to fly to Texas, for a fundraiser for an Iowa pol, to spend 3 hours with num-Chuck. Iowa is screaming for a third party candidate for Governor this election, assuming the fanatics are able to comandeer the primary. While seniors have a raging debate with themselves- Branstad vs. conservative ideology.
rob: If Norris is footing the whole bill, maybe he’s bringing plane loads of unemployed, poor people. How do you know?
Chuck Norris has no need to hold fundraisers, he just round house kicks a tree and the money appears on it’s branches.
Sorry, I couldn’t resist.
> Some months back on TIR I got the impression that we didn’t like the idea of out-of-State interests investing interests in our politics?
You are dead on with this one!
Bob couldn’t turn down Chuck’s wish to hold a fundraiser. No one could. Otherwise, we wouldn’t live to see another day. Chuck Norris doesn’t endorse—He tells Iowa how it’s going to be. I don’t care if you are a fan of Chuck or Bob. Like VastVariety said, you can’t resist making Chuck Norris Fact jokes.
Stacia: Are you making the trip? Are you paying your own way? If you are, I have no problem with it but I can’t believe Norris would foot the bill to bring down plane loads of rich Iowans.
I don’t know anything. I saw two articles with one saying Chuck is paying 5K per couple and another that said that the couples are paying the 5K. I guess we’ll have to wait and see. If I was one of the couples, I would rather give 5K to a campaign AND see Chuck Norris and his ranch than just pay 5K.
Chuck Norris doesn’t fundraise for governors; candidates give him money to stay out of range of his roundhouse kick.
True, but then there is the additional expense of transportation and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with this. If people are paying their own way, it’s their money and they can do anything they want with their money. Hey, I don’t blame people for wanting to go see Norris’ ranch.
Hey Iowans Rock, why don’t you stick to bashing Chuck Grassley and praying to your false idol Mike Hucabee on the blogs. Its what you are best at. I’ll give you a free plug since nobody knows what the hell your weak ass claim to fame is. “The Iowa Defense Alliance”. What does it pay to be the editor of a blog that nobody goes to I wonder? I bet with that title you get a free bowl of soup! Giggidy giggidy goo!
Iowans Rock, are you taking your plane to texas tonight? I’m a pilot in my spare time and in order to fly 40 people privately to texas, you would need 4-5 jets and 8-10 pilots. The fuel cost alone would be $30,000. That does not include charter fees, pilots or anything. If Chuck is a Netjets member then it would cost him 100,000 in air hours to fly 40 people to Texas. That kind of jetsetting is the problem with corporate America and why the bailouts are happening and why we’re all paying the bill. BVP – Bailout Vander Plaats
Hey Mr. Quagmire, why don’t you stick to bashing BVP, and praying to your false idol Branstad on the blogs. Its what you are best at. I’ll give you a free plug since nobody knows what the heck your weak a$$ claim to fame is. “MR. Quagmire”. What does it say to have the username Quagmire I wonder? Quagmire is a pervert character on a TV show. Like anyone could take that seriously. I bet with that title you get a free bowl of soup! Giggidy giggidy goo!
Just sayin.
Who said I like Branstad? LOL. I think he has the best chance of winning though which is supported by all the polls released thus far. He’s not a proven loser so I’ll give him that much credit. And for the record I am a pervert. Just ask the girls over Al’s Whispers Saloon. Giggidy giggidy goo!
Stacia…
If BVP has all this “grassroots” support…then why isnt he walking away with this primary race? You would think after running for Governor for nearly 10 years that Republican voters would be chomping at the bit to vote for him. Hell, BVP can’t even pull more than 35% in straw polls in western Iowa for cryin out loud!
BVP has never been known as a prolific fundraiser…and its been pretty well known that the big money Iowa GOP donors have been keeping their money close to the vest waiting to see if Branstad was going to jump in the race.
Now that TEB is in..those donors are opening up their checkbooks for him and not BVP.
Thanks for the free plug Mr. Q but I really don’t need it. If you click on my name it will take you directly to Iowa Defense Alliance. Isn’t that so cool? And thanks for knowing so much about a blog that “nobody goes to.”
Brandstad is old news. A rehash of Brandstand older is NOT going to help Iowa; Brandstad is Culver light. When did Iowa’s Republican party become the mafia party with outside funding and marching orders?
Branstad is “Culver light”… Wow..what color is the sky in your world lundp…
I did click on your name, that is the only way I found the blog and for the first time I might add. Must get a lot of traffic if you spend your time over here. Might I suggest Whispers Saloon? I’ll even you let have one of my best girls. Well they aren’t mine per se, but I’ll let you have my regularly scheduled time slot with one of Al’s. Giggidy gigidy goo!
lundp- “When did Iowa’s Republican party become the mafia party with outside funding and marching orders?”
It started in 94 with Newt’s revolution, reached a pinnacle around 2004, took a precipitous dive to the bottom by 2006, established a new low by 2008, and now only clings to some threads of relevancy, morphing into townhall criers and teabaggers in a last ditch hope for attention. Thy name be conservatism. Goldwater would be quite disappointed.
First Huck and now BVP, kinda makes you wonder if Chuck has taken one too many kicks to the head!
When has Norris ever lived in Iowa? Does he own any property here? Maybe he ought to just stay home and shut the hell up!!!
Sounds like a lot of people here are worried that BVP might start raising some serious money. Meanwhile, Branstad (aka, Culver Light) is sounding like a bumbling geezer in front of us all. Not only that, but Huckabee won the Iowa caucus beating the establishment’s candidates. Is there any reason to think that the same thing can’t happen in this primary?
You RINOs and moderates should be worried.
Timmy… you’d better hope that Chuck doesn’t read your comments and finds out who you are!
Tyler: Newsflash, Branstand has always been a bumbling speaker, but a succesful governor. And governing succesfully is far more important than campaigning for governor eloquently yet unsuccessfully since M*A*S*H* was still on the air. I misss Hot Lips! Giggidy giggidy goo!
Mr. Q, you make a very good point. It’s been barely a decade since the former Governor held that office, yet evidentally some folks memory is about as long as, welll…………
As for me I’m neither worried nor do I care a whit about Mr. Norris except for the fact he continues to poke his beak into our business(where it really doesn’t belong). Unless he either lives here or owns any property here, he should shut his pie hole and stay home!
(BTW Tyler, you aren’t the only “conservatives” just because you claim to be better “christians” than the rest of us!!!)