Republican Rep. Steve King and the conservative activist group Citizens United are holding the Iowa Freedom Summit Jan. 24 in Des Moines. It promises to be a big deal. A good part of the 2016 GOP presidential field — Chris Christie, Ted Cruz, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum, Mike Huckabee and Ben Carson — is scheduled to attend. But Jeb Bush, who last month announced he is “actively exploring” a White House run and has lately freed himself from corporate connections in anticipation of a run, won’t be there.
An aide said Bush would not be able to attend because of a scheduling conflict. Some conservatives have interpreted that as a snub to King and to conservatives, especially social conservatives, in Iowa and beyond. But King himself, who will play an influential role in the campaign leading up to the January 2016 caucuses, doesn’t see it that way.
“Jeb let us know early on that he had a scheduling conflict,” King told me in an email exchange over the weekend. “Jeb Bush’s history of straightforwardness informs me to take him at his word. Keeping his prior commitment for January 24th is keeping his word.”
“I have watched [Bush] take on tough issues head on,” King continued. “That’s his style and it seems to be his desire.”
Nevertheless, some conservative commentators are decidedly unhappy about Bush’s absence. “In a clear sign that Jeb Bush is going to be keeping the GOP base at arm’s length in the coming presidential campaign, the former Florida governor turned down an invite to attend an immigration summit sponsored by Iowa congressman Steve King,” the American Thinker wrote recently. It’s not clear where the writer got the idea that the Iowa Freedom Summit is an “immigration summit.” It’s not. In announcing the event, Citizens United chief David Bossie said it will “feature speakers who will talk about the importance of pro-growth economics, social conservatism, and a strong national defense.”
Still, many observers are interpreting the event, and Bush’s decision not to attend, in the context of immigration. After all, King is a vocal opponent of comprehensive immigration reform while Bush is a supporter. But Republicans on both sides of the reform issue find themselves together at events all the time, and if Bush runs, he will not doubt find himself addressing King’s positions. He’ll have to.
At this stage of the game, however, King sees the process as more about Iowa than any particular issue. “I am about encouraging all potential candidates to come to Iowa early and often,” King told me. “The path to the presidency for Jeb’s father and brother was through Iowa. In fact they are the only two Republicans who have ascended to the presidency since Reagan and both won the Ames Straw Poll and the Iowa caucuses.” Immigration, it seems, can wait.
