Terry Branstad met with a group of social conservatives last week in the hopes of easing their concerns about his right-wing credentials.

It didn’t go as well as planned.

“If recent comments by grassroots conservatives across the state of Iowa are any indication, Terry Branstad winning the Republican gubernatorial nomination next June is anything but a foregone conclusion.” – Right-wing radio host Steve Deace

“In all the meeting, in my opinion, didn’t go well for him. Social conservatives are looking for tangible ideas on items of concern for us. He was unwilling to provide them. We are looking for principled leadership, and instead we saw political maneuvering.” – Blogger Shane Vander Hart

“He is NOT running a campaign on social moral issues…I asked him if he would openly campaign against retaining those justices and speak out against their decision. He bristled at the thought. He said that privately he feels that way but he can not publicly do something like that. WEAK!” – Pastor/blogger Mike Demastus

Check out 17:10 when he makes a particularly offensive remark about the visually impaired. Iowa voters looking for a “compassionate conservative” in Terry Branstad are going to be sorely disappointed.

“We went from like 64 agencies to 25 agencies. The one we weren’t able to get done was the Commission for the Blind, because the Legislature just couldn’t take the heat from the tap tap tap of the white canes.”

As if the statement itself weren’t appalling, the timing of it adds further embarrassment to Branstad. His statement came just two days before the Iowa Department for the Blind celebrated “50 years of Opportunity” with a speaker’s panel and awards ceremony on October 30 and 31.

The 63-year-old who was elected Governor nearly three decades ago brings an outdated, uncaring mentality to the table when it comes to people with disabilities. Just one more sad piece of evidence Branstad is out of touch with Iowans.

Audio source: Caffeinated Thoughts