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Brownback enters race with talk of God - and Pat Roberts' blessing
Here are today's headlines from the Kansas congressional delegation:
Sen. Sam Brownback (R) 
(New York Times) Kansas Senator Announces Bid for Presidency: Declaring himself a proud conservative before a crowd of cheering supporters waving American flags, Senator Sam Brownback, Republican of Kansas, on Saturday announced his candidacy for president. Mr. Brownback, an evangelical Protestant turned Roman Catholic and a former Kansas agriculture secretary, said he would focus on reviving faith and families in America; combating abortion, poverty and wasteful government spending; opposing same-sex marriage; and revamping Social Security and the federal tax system. "The last thing we need in America is to take God out of our public lives and institutions," Mr. Brownback said during his speech in Topeka, Kan. "We need to embrace our nation's motto, 'In God we trust,' and not be ashamed of it. "To walk away from the Almighty is to embrace decline for a nation," he said. "To embrace him leads to renewal, for individuals and for nations."
Watch Brownback's announcement.
See Brownback's interview on ABC's "This Week."
(Christian Broadcasting Network commentary) Excuse Me, My Name is Sam: Did you hear the big news over the weekend? Did you hear who's running for President? Sam Brownback! Oh, wait, sorry about that. It's Hillary Clinton, right? Hillary Clinton received page A1 exposure everywhere this weekend. But Sam Brownback announced he's officially running for President this Saturday. His coverage was on page A8, right next to the story about budget surplusses and economic development if you know what I mean. They might as well have put Brownback's announcement in the obituaries. That's how much coverage he received this weekend.
(AP) Sen. Roberts endorses Brownback's presidential bid: Sam Brownback doesn't have to worry any more about whether his presidential candidacy will be endorsed by Pat Roberts, his fellow Kansas Republican in the Senate. Roberts attended the rally Saturday in Topeka at which Brownback kicked off a long-shot bid for the Republican nomination. He also issued a statement: "Kansans have a long history of supporting their native sons as national leaders - and I am honored to stand with Sam today. He has my support and best wishes as he undertakes this historic journey in his life as a public servant." In December, Roberts' sympathies were in doubt after he spoke to a group of lobbyists and corporate officials in Washington. The leader of Arizona Sen. John McCain's presidential exploratory committee said Roberts endorsed McCain.
Sam Brownback commentary in the Washington Times: Americans are a life-loving people. They always have been. Whether Republicans are returned to power by the voters will in large part depend upon whether Republicans embrace a Culture of Life both philosophically and in practice. The voters are watching. I have great confidence that the leadership of our party will embrace the culture of life more consistently, and I am hopeful that they will, even from the minority, help us chart a course to find ways to get pro-life policies enacted. These are policies that are embraced by the majority of Americans. This past election was a wake-up call for pro-lifers, and the extent to which Republicans act with constancy and integrity will determine when the pro-life party of Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan is returned to the majority.
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22 January 2007
at 10:26 a.m.
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shirinisb (Anonymous) says…
My post will have to be cut short because I feel the sudden urge to vomit.
22 January 2007
at 10:27 a.m.
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ronwell_dobbs (Anonymous) says…
“The last thing we need in America is to take God out of our public lives and institutions…”
I guess the U.S. Constitution won't be considered a guiding principle for his administration
22 January 2007
at 11:38 a.m.
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jayheel (Anonymous) says…
Brownback has about as much credence as Al Sharpton.
22 January 2007
at 12:15 p.m.
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blue73harley (Anonymous) says…
What's next? Phill Kline for VP?
Possibly the only thing worse would be a Clinton/Sharpton ticket.
22 January 2007
at 12:55 p.m.
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cog_nate (Nate Poell) says…
jayheel, you're pretty much spot on, but I think Brownback is a bit more of a fortunate son than Sharpton.
22 January 2007
at 1:43 p.m.
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bangaranggerg (Anonymous) says…
It's a shame there isn't a better son of Kansas for the next race. I'd like to see Kansas represented, but Brownback won't do.
22 January 2007
at 2:06 p.m.
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OnShakedown (Chris Tackett) says…
bangaranggerg: “I'd like to see Kansas represented, but Brownback won't do.”
Obama's mother was from kansas, plus, Sebelius could be a VP candidate is Hillary isn't the front-runner, if that helps.
22 January 2007
at 3:23 p.m.
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Jamesaust (Anonymous) says…
“Brownback enters race with talk of God - and Pat Roberts' blessing”
And its not even been 24 hours since I was pointing to Sammy's God-problem and comparing his support with Pat Roberts back in 1988.
22 January 2007
at 3:25 p.m.
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Jamesaust (Anonymous) says…
Does anyone know if Brownback was asked if he was going to resign from office while he ran?
22 January 2007
at 3:32 p.m.
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Crispian (Crispian Paul) says…
Separation of church and state seems to exist less and less these days.
22 January 2007
at 4:58 p.m.
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drewdun (Anonymous) says…
What a joke. I hope the fringe-right that makes up the Republican primary voting bloc installs this nut as their candidate. Then we will see just how out of step these religious fanatics are with the mainstream. If he wins the nomination, he will get drubbed in the GE - it won't even be close.
22 January 2007
at 5:26 p.m.
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Reality_Check (Anonymous) says…
I hope he gets the nomination! I really, really do…he'd be so easy to beat that ANY of the Dems could do it.
Bill Richardson's looking better to me all the time. Definitely the most moderate, most experienced, and most qualified. Plus, only governors or vice-presidents have been elected since 1960.
22 January 2007
at 6:18 p.m.
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jonas (Anonymous) says…
Some stats show most anything, but I would guess that it's highly likely that the “fringe-right” make up the primary voting block for the party, as they are the most predictable and the easiest to manipulate. Simply say you are against abortion and gay marriage, and occasionally try and pass rediculous laws that won't ever pass to show, and they fall over themselves to vote for you, as long as you also say you're a republican.
22 January 2007
at 6:20 p.m.
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jonas (Anonymous) says…
And it probably means that they are a 20-30% block of the party, which means that it would only be 1 in 8 to 1 in 10 of all people, assuming you want to believe statistics.
22 January 2007
at 6:21 p.m.
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jonas (Anonymous) says…
and I suppose that I meant that the abortion laws have no hope of passing. Clearly, the anti-gay laws are easy to pass, no matter how horribly unconstitutional or rediculous that they are.
22 January 2007
at 6:38 p.m.
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couranna1 (Anonymous) says…
Want a dem to win for sure place this fool on the ballot
22 January 2007
at 6:48 p.m.
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frwent (Anonymous) says…
Pat Robertson says he talks to God about hurricanes. Can Brownback talk to God about tornados? Seems a good choice if I can deliver this miracle. Go for it, Sammy, pray us out of those spring storms!!!!!!!!!!