Reader poll
Topeka — U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., on Saturday attempted to stake out his territory in the 2008 presidential race as the "conservative you can trust."
Brownback, 50, who grew up on a farm in rural Kansas and has become a power broker of the religious Right, launched his longshot bid for the White House championing "faith, family and freedom."
For Brownback, that means opposing abortion and embryonic stem cell research, supporting a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, and rejecting tax increases.
He told hundreds of supporters, "How much better we will be as we seek to live the great commandment to love God and one another."
Trust and religion
Brownback's values and loyalty were mentioned numerous times by speakers at the event and those in the crowd.
"Sen. Brownback is a man we can trust to take our values to the White House," said Angela Perez Baraquio, who was Miss America 2001 and who introduced Brownback.
Topeka Bible Church minister Jim Congdon wove Brownback into the Lord's Prayer.
"Thy will be done, and that's all Sam Brownback wants to do is Your will," Congdon said. He also prayed for deliverance from "societal sin" that has allowed the "wanton destruction of life for the past three decades."
Partitioning Iraq
Brownback offered private market solutions for health care and Social Security and voiced disgust for the current federal tax system, saying it "should be taken behind the barn and killed with a dull ax."
On the war in Iraq, Brownback called for a bipartisan solution. "We need unity here to win over there," he said.
An ardent supporter of the war, Brownback, however, has criticized President Bush's recent plan to increase troop strength in Baghdad.
Later, Brownback said the resolution of the war probably will be in partitioning Iraq along ethnic and religious lines.
"At the end of the day, you're going to see some form of three-state, one-country solution because there is just so much animosity and history between Sunni and Shia," he said.
49abcnews.com video
Brownback sends message of unity, faith during presidential announcement. Enlarge video
Anti-abortion
Brownback, known for his opposition to abortion and embryonic stem cell research, didn't mention either term in his speech.
But his talk was peppered with allusions to the subjects.
"Let's start following our hearts and work to protect all innocent life at all stages," he said. "It is all beautiful, it is all sacred, it is all unique whether it is here, whether it's in the womb, whether it is somebody in poverty, whether it's a child in Darfur; they're all sacred and beautiful."
Brownback was scheduled to return to Washington to participate in an anti-abortion rally Monday.
The Democratic National Committee issued a statement saying Brownback places "his uncompromising ideology over the needs of real people."
Chances assessed
Despite hardly registering in national polls, Brownback said his positions were with the majority of voters.
Those in the crowd echoed his remarks, citing Brownback's religious convictions and their belief that he wouldn't abandon them.
As Sam Brownback mounts a run for the presidency, a look
None
"He knows what he stands for and is not afraid to state his opinion. That's what America needs," said Tylan Ricketts, a freshman at Benedictine College in Atchison.
"He's been good for Kansas and will be good for the rest of the country," said Shane McCoy, of Topeka, as he held his 11-month-old son Caylen, who wore a shirt that read "Future President."
"Sam is a good guy, very grounded," said Pam Edds, of Topeka. "He thinks things through and has a good Christian base."
Asked about Brownback's chances, Chris Miller, of Lawrence, said, "He's been successful at most every political effort he's undertaken. He wouldn't be doing it if he didn't think he had a reasonable shot at it."
KU professor examines Brownback's presidential chances
KU professor Allan Cigler discusses Sam Brownback's presidential chances. Enlarge video
'Yellow Brick Road'
Brownback said he wasn't worried about his place behind the pack of more well-known Republican contenders, such as U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
"My positions are at the heart of where the Republican Party is. I'm willing to take those positions with all comers. I think we're in great shape," he said.
During his speech, he strayed briefly from his prepared remarks to get in an allusion to "The Wizard of Oz."
"Today my family and I are taking the first steps on the Yellow Brick Road to the White House," he said.
Later, asked if his announcement for presidency would be overshadowed by the same-day announcement by U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to become the first woman president in U.S. history, he joked, "I don't know why she did that. I guess she's scared of me."
Sam Brownback in his own words
U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback's comments from his speech and a brief exchange Saturday with reporters.
Marriage
"We need to support the foundational institution of marriage as the union of a man and a woman for life."
Social Security
"We need a social security system in which all Americans are given a choice in how to prepare for their retirement; a choice they do not presently have."
Taxes
"I've never voted for a tax increase, and I certainly will never sign one."
"We need a different income tax system altogether. This one, the Internal Revenue Code, should be taken behind the barn and killed with a dull axe."
"I propose the creation of an alternative flat tax, which lets the people choose which system works for them."
Health care
"Let's put our energies into conquering the No. 1 fear in America ... the fear of getting cancer. We can end deaths by cancer in 10 years."
"We must address our health care problems with market-based solutions, not government-run health care."
Religion
"And for goodness sakes, the last thing we need in America is to take God out of our public lives and institutions! We need to embrace our nation's motto "In God We Trust," not be ashamed of it."
"To walk away from the Almighty is to embrace decline for a nation. To embrace Him leads to renewal ... for individuals and for nations."
Abortion
"Let's start following our hearts and work to protect all innocent life at all stages. It is all beautiful, it is all sacred, it is all unique whether it is here, whether it's in the womb, whether it is somebody in poverty, whether it's a child in Darfur, they're all sacred and beautiful."
Iraq
"We need unity here to win over there."
"At the end of the day, you're going to see some form of three-state, one-country solution because there is just so much animosity and history between Sunni and Shia."
Chances in race
"I've been a long shot when I ran for the United States Senate. My positions are at the heart of where the Republican Party is. I'm willing to take those positions with all comers. I think we're in great shape."
Comments
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ASBESTOS (anonymous) says…
Senator Moonbeam is clueless.
bcresident (anonymous) says…
wow. I thought liberals were supposed to be open minded? that's a laugh. You might not like Brownback's stance on the issues, but apparently you aren't smart enough or open minded enough to argue the issues. You simply resort to name calling...how mature.
ModSquadGal (anonymous) says…
Ugh... God. I really didn't need to read that before I ate breakfast. What an idiot. At least stop paying him as a Senator while he's out whoring for support.
shirinisb (anonymous) says…
What a waste of time and money. Marion you are so far off it's not even funny.
This isn't 1876.
Furthermore women now have the right to vote.
There is no way this clown will even get the nomination.
shirinisb (anonymous) says…
Uh you're wrong. I don't really think that Hillary is electable. My "woman voting" comment had absolutely nothing to do with her.
I'm just saying women are smart enough not to elect a sexist bigoted posterchild for the right wing christian agenda.
My comment was regarding the nomination, not the election.
Read an entire post before you give a long winded response.
50YearResident (anonymous) says…
Marion, if his own district doesn't support him, where will he get any votes?
ronwell_dobbs (anonymous) says…
This isn't 2000, 2002, or 2004. Say what you want about our NASCAR nation of bible-thumping village idiots clamouring for the dark chains of religious rule.
I don't buy it. Americans throughout their history have gone through periods of hyper-morality (very often tied to external events such as the Red Scare of the 1920's, WWII (Father Coughlin, etc.), the Cold War (McCarthy, etc.), but each time have finally said 'enough'. Then we return to our true character as Americans -- we just want to be left alone to pursue our life as best as we can.
This means that we don't want the "gubment", the church, or anyone telling us how we have to live our lives or what are considered "acceptable" thoughts. The mole in the Whack-A-Mole game has been smashed back down for perhaps another 20 years. The religious right may fancy themselves able to foist their unwanted product on the public in 2008, but it simply ain't gonna happen.
Ronwell
srj (anonymous) says…
"My positions are at the heart of where the Republican Party is"
The fact that the Republican Party got killed in the mid-terms shows less people like what the party has done over the last six years.
I think he might do well in the primaries, when alot less people vote, usually the right wing side on the party. But going face-to-face with any single democrat, no way. Heck, Clinton and Obama are proablly donating to his campaign.
merrill (anonymous) says…
Brownback is not a republican. He is a PNAC neoconservative.
The LJW on the wrong track one more time.
The_Twelve (anonymous) says…
Now that the Christian hypocrite is officially in, let's REALLY get down to honest-to-God critique.
1. "life is beautiful in all stages"--Right. That's why he can kill thousands of Iraqis, but salve his conscience with his feigned humanitarian concern for Darfur.
2. "I never voted for a tax increase..." Maybe not, but he certainly has voted to fund the killing of "innocents." And where does the money come from to fund war, anyway? I guess God makes the dollars (they do seem to grow on trees), and Sam legislates their allocation.
Just think of what all those billions might have bought...
Perhaps Sammy should try and live on someone else's income for a while. Sure, a ftat tax sounds great--it sure won't hurt him. If it's difficult for me to come up with 10% of my measly income to pay taxes on April 15, what can it be for some who are in more dire straits? Does Sam even feel the pain whether his income is $6.5 mill or $6.0 mill? --I doubt it.
3. God in our public lives: Sure, God can be there, sometimes I don't mind, just don't legislate him. Humans who err have no place in legislating morality for others.
Since Sam has chosen to pick and choose the Bible verses he lives by, so can I. And I won't be so hypocritical to think that there is only one book that contains the Truth.
4. Health care: Sam, why don't you just get everyone to start praying real hard for a cure? Or perhaps, cancer is God's way of punishing certain God-fearing people. Who's to say, right? And, while you're at it, please pay for all my father's hospital bills while he battled melanoma --you could take them off on your taxes as a charitable donation to a favorite cause. You'll get to heaven faster that way.
Then again, we could shift military funding to medical research... but that would be too easy, and not very ethical.
Jamesaust (anonymous) says…
Marion -
How does Sammy represent "mainstream values" on, say, abortion?
"Mainstream values" - honed from years of bitter fighting is to dislike abortion but dislike government interference in it even more. Sam pushes "opposite values".
What are the "mainstream values" re health care? After some strange comment about cancer, he says we must address (what a wussy word) the problem via the market. Again, that's "opposite values" as the public clearly expects government to lead, even if not take over, on this issue.
Iraq? We need "bipartisan unity"? That means the GOP President says 'jump' and the GOP Congress says 'yes, sir'? Hmmm...I'm pretty sure that when Sammy turned to his colleagues back in the day and said 'hush, we don't need to know what a shi'a is' he didn't display the "mainstream values" the public expected of him, however "ardent" his love of "W" and his "opposite values". Ironically, his 'anti-surge' position fails his candidacy completely - failing to persuade anti-war voices while signaling defeat to pro-war voices. Again, "opposite values."
Social Security? Uhh....do I need to even address this one?
IRS? Does he think anyone can forget that Congressmen such as himself control the IRS?
Please! Sam Brownback is running a campaign duplicating that of Pat Robertson back in 1988. Might I suggest that the religious/social "conservative" is considerably weaker 20 years later? ----
Instead of focusing on banning pornography things are so much worse for the religious/social "conservative" that the issues de jour (same-sex marriage, fetal stem-cell research) didn't even EXIST 20 years ago. Instead of asking for whole Departments of the government to be abolished, all Sam can push now is picking on a sub-office of a government now nearly twice as large as 20 years ago. For a candidate who 'never voted for' any tax increases, I note that he isn't willing to roll back taxes and spending to the level that existed 20 years ago (a proposal that would kill his candidacy quicker than a bolt of lighting from Zeus). And that the only political party splintering right now are the Republicans as they are being driven over a cliff by the bored, uninterested, and ill-informed "Decider" and a regional, non-mainstream Party that believes that IT represents "mainstream values" (of Alabama, circa 1955).
ASBESTOS (anonymous) says…
"Might I suggest that the religious/social "conservative" is considerably weaker 20 years later?"
Might I suggest that just because one holds themselves up as "Evangelical" or "Christian" or is a Bible Thumper does NOT make a political conservative!!!
Brownback and Bush and a lot of Senators and Representatives that ate Republican that put religion BEFORE the US Government, are NOT conservatives. The recent election tells us that.
Conservatives went for the Conservative Democrat, because the GOP abandonded political conservatism.
i am a Republican but not for long, and many in the GOP are doing the same thing, based on appointing Mel Martinez in charge of the GOP Chairman. Most of us are turning our Voter Registreations to Independent or Democrat to give the Repukes in charge of the GOP a *conservative straw poll".
I am sick of idiots like Brownback screwing up the Republican party. This is the party of Lincoln, but it doesn't resemble that at all ion 2007!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
And Jamesaust this statement"
"Social Security? Uhh....do I need to even address this one?"
That is the one. Brownbutt supports Social Security Totalization as well as our current misguided President. Totalization gives illegal aliens SS Benefits and adds millions to the rolls and they are eligible for benefits after 6 quarters of contribution, that is 18 months folks. American Citizens do not qualify until they have contributed for 40 quarters!!!! This is backed by the Democratic majority, and will add 10-20 million illegals to the system that is already broken.
I am Glad that I am over 50, because anyone 20-40 will NEVER see Social Security if it is not fixed, and if illegals are added.
Stem cell research is a no brainer as it is not BANNED, just federal funding.
nugget (anonymous) says…
Marion, you may want to read up on the word 'cuckold'. Not only are you spelling it incorrectly, but you also have your sexes mixed up.
That said, Brownie's doing a heck of a job at 1%.
yourworstnightmare (anonymous) says…
Hey Sam, are Islamic religious terrorists "sacred and beautiful"?
Or maybe they are not alive. What gives?
ASBESTOS (anonymous) says…
"Sen. Brownback is the prototypical, "I don't have a specific plan for how to affect change, so I'll run on an ideology" candidate."
You mean Sammy boy is EQUAL to the Democratic Party Candidates with NO PLAN other than to bitch about Bush? Biden is the only one with a Plan and that is partitioning IRAQ and that is a non starter. THe rest are for "Phased Re-deployment" which is surrender and leave. (Leaving without the mission being fulfilled or not winning is a LOSS) That is what the Democrtats plan is: Force a loss in Iraq and Blame Bush.
Not much of a plan dealing with the Bad guys. The Dems will lose the '08 election if they do not have anything to propose other than complaining.
deec (anonymous) says…
According to an 2005 poll, only 12% of americans support making all abortion illegal.
According to a 11/2006 Fox news poll, 60% favor either gay marriage or legal partnerships.
According to a 2006 poll, wage stagnation is the #1 fear they face.
According to a poll, 77% of people fear oil supplies are vulnerable.
58% of Americans support stem cell research.
Then there's Brownie's support for shrub. What's shrub at now, 25% approval?
Yup. Brownie represents America all right
Jamesaust (anonymous) says…
"Might I suggest that just because one holds themselves up as "Evangelical" or "Christian" or is a Bible Thumper does NOT make a political conservative!!!"
i couldn't agree more (hence, the scare quotes around "conservative" - I hate it when people try to control reality by misapplying terms where they don't belong. Brownback in many ways defies conservatism).
It is people like Brownback who have made "christian" (as in "Doing the christian thing"), defined by the dictionary as "showing a loving concern for others" into this freakish modern alternative synonym for "bigoted." (I actually came across a tele-evangelist who had the gall to proclaim that Jesus was the biggest bigot - against sin - in history.)
I believe we saw in the last election that many evangelicals really can be driven away from the GOP if it persists in such attempts to use the power of government for force un-Christian arrogance down everyone's throats. Our system of government is one of respect for all citizens and neutral good government (a policy that Christians benefit from greatly, I note, despite the propaganda about 'war on Christians' and such piffle).
yourworstnightmare (anonymous) says…
I suppose Brownback sees this as his last chance. Right-wing evangelical christians have spent themselves out with the public and their power is waning. He sees now as his only chance, before right-wing christian power and influence are completely gone.
Faith is a poison that absolves true believers from the responsibility of defending their actions using reason and reality. Brownback is a true defender of the faith.
Tychoman (anonymous) says…
bcresident you're obviously new. Arguing the issues doesn't get us anywhere here, so eventually it resorts to name-calling.
penguin (anonymous) says…
I liked his statement about trying to cure cancer or at least make it just a chronic illness...I liked it even more as part of the story in "100,000 Airplanes" the 12th Episode of Season 3 of the series "The West Wing". During constructing the State of the Union address the characters debate making it a new policy intiative
Also their is a quote from Jonas Salk (Polio Vaccine developer) said "I believe if we relied on the government to fix the Polio problem we would now have the best iron lung money could buy instead of a polio vaccine."
Also there is Brownback's whole Opus Dei connection will be a source of many interesting stories.
However, I will get a good laugh watching all this...especially when I see a car with an Iowa plate that has a bumper sticker that says "I am a Brownbacker"
kugrad (anonymous) says…
I think Brownback is too extreme for most Americans. His lot is part of what voters were rejecting in the last election.
Go to a library and look at the last 2 months or so of the magazine "The Nation." There is some excellent analysis of Hillary in there. She is going to have a hard time convincing a lot of people she is the progressive feminist she claims to be. I don't despise her or anything like that, but her image, her voting record, and her beliefs don't add up to a coherent whole. She'll have a LOT of explaining to do, and elections work in 15 second bites or less these days (sad as that it).
always4ever (anonymous) says…
I say NEVER!
Mkh (anonymous) says…
I don't think Brownback has any kind of a chance, but an alliance could prove in the cards for him.
McCain/Brownback might be a smart GOP ticket.
Tychoman (anonymous) says…
I don't think he should have mentioned cancer. He didn't elaborate on how he plans to follow up on his promise to cure cancer in 10 years, unless I misheard him. I watched his announcement and all I was thinking was "He is too conservative." We need a moderate President.
salad (anonymous) says…
pretty sure that if brownback gets elected, the seventh seal will be broken....
ASBESTOS (anonymous) says…
As usual logic you take things out of context, and quote mine to get what you want:
"This article isn't about the 2006 midterms, about which you are still obviously bitter."
I am posting my next statment from that post here:
"The Dems will lose the '08 election if they do not have anything to propose other than complaining."
I KNOW it is about the '08 elections, THAT was what I was writing about there LOGIC, only you cannot read, or you post dishonestly.
Go screw yourself logic.
doc1 (anonymous) says…
The only good news about this is I can look forward to the SNL skits.
Newell_Post (anonymous) says…
Speculation about him actually shooting for VP makes sense, I'm sorry to say. The Republican leadership saw what happened in 06, but they also know their party is "the coalition of God and Mammon" and one commentator once said. Right now they have a half-witted theo-fascist in the top job and a shrewd businessman as #2. They need to keep the coalition together to muster enough votes for anything, so next time they might change it up with the businessman for POTUS and the theo-fascist for VP. SB would be perfect in the latter role, and a presidential campaign would give him exposure and name recognition in the rest of the country.
BTW, I am a registered Republican and a church-going Christian. The fact that SB is a fundamentalist isn't the problem. Do you choose to believe that every word in the Bible is factually true and that the signs of a true believer are poison drinking, snake handling, tongue speaking, demon casting, and faith healing? Go ahead. That is your right, even if you are a politician. Do you choose to believe that some of the Bible is factual and some is allegorical to illustrate how to live your life? Also OK. That is your choice. Do you want to go out and try to win converts and save souls (whatever your interpretation of the Bible)? Also OK, provided you do it on your own time. But when you try to get the government to help you, that is when you violate the First Amendment and cross the line into theo-fascism. SB's public theo-fascism should be the issue and not his personal fundementalism.
Tychoman (anonymous) says…
"Go screw yourself logic."
That seems to be Brownback's platform.
ASBESTOS (anonymous) says…
Well it looks as if the Iraq'is are "getting the message". Here Al Sadhr is losing his protection form Al Maliki, and Al Sadhr has also let the 30 members of the Iraq government that he controlled to go back to work.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070121/a...
Seems as if the plan is working.
NO need to apologise as you are not that bright to begin with to be able to switch "mental gears" LOgic.
ASBESTOS (anonymous) says…
"The bottom line is that many Democrats DO have plans for Iraq, "
A lie, no democrat outside of BIden even remotely has a "plan" for Iraq. Murtha has a plan, surrender, but that is no plan. "Phased Redepolyment" means "retreat" and that is surrendering Iraq.
So there is no viable plan from the Dems, except to bitch at BUsh. And that is no plan. The "PLAN" by the democrats is to block and bitch, and to obfuscate what is going on until we do lose, so they can blame BUsh. That is the Democtatic Party's PLAN in Iraq, force the US to lose and blame Bush.
Not very pretty, nor very American.
Jamesaust (anonymous) says…
Of course the best attack line on Brownback will come in some primary debate:
'Senator, you've been quoted in saying that you consider yourself to have a constituency of one - God, Himself.
'How can you come here and ask voters to support you when you've made it clear that you'll never listen to their opinions if that disagrees with your understanding of the opinion of your Single Constituent?'
ASBESTOS (anonymous) says…
Well it looks as if the Iraq's are "getting the message". Here Al Sadhr is losing his protection form Al Maliki, and Al Sadhr has also let the 30 members of the Iraq government that he controlled to go back to work.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070121/a...
ASBESTOS (anonymous) says…
James another good post:
"'Senator, you've been quoted in saying that you consider yourself to have a constituency of one - God, Himself.
'How can you come here and ask voters to support you when you've made it clear that you'll never listen to their opinions if that disagrees with your understanding of the opinion of your Single Constituent?'"
That is scarey and unfortunately running wild in the GOP. Hopefuly it will infiltrate the dems and we can get rid of the whacked out Bible Thumpers like Senator Moonbeam.
Tychoman (anonymous) says…
I don't like the idea of redeployment. It sounds like some kind of punishment. "It's still in civil war over there! The first two tours of duty there didn't work, maybe a third will!"
ashuck33 (anonymous) says…
I hope Brownback keeps this platform because he will lose any race. The Republicans of KS were swayed in the midterm. Keep going with the religious agenda and "values" agenda. It won't get you anywhere. And just so you all know, people think KS is a blue state now.
ashuck33 (anonymous) says…
I do not think Marion knows what cuckholding is. See page 124 of the lastest Smoking Gun book for reasons why.
Tychoman (anonymous) says…
RT, al-Qaeda wasn't IN Iraq until Bush put us there.
janeyb (anonymous) says…
"When are you gonna come down?
When are you gonna land?
I shoulda stayed home on the farm.
I shoulda listened to my old man."
How cool of Sam to pick an Elton John song for his theme. Courting the gay vote again!
Sam never voted for a tax increase. No, he voted to spend and run the deficit up. But I'm sure Sam is willing to buy another round of tax cuts for the wealthy.
budwhysir (anonymous) says…
This guy seems to be a very official type of politician
emilyhadley (Emily Hadley) says…
Lame.
What kind of policy can we expect from someone raised to think that the boys do the chores while the girls work in the kitchen?
ASBESTOS (anonymous) says…
"rightwinger. re-deploy is a plan. "
YES it is a plan to surrender and retreat. good plan!!!!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
from logic the idiot:
"Democrats ALSO happen to have differing views on how to deal with the Iraq situation, that are not being listened to by Bush's admin. "
OK, for the millionth time, what is the dems plan to win in iraq?????