Brownback rallies South Dakotans for abortion ban

Here are today’s headlines from the Kansas congressional delegation:Sen. Sam Brownback (R) !(Dakota Voice commentary) Marriage, Abortion Ban, Video Lottery Repeal Supporters Rally in Pierre: A “Gideon’s Army” of pastors, priests and lay Christians gathered in the South Dakota capitol of Pierre Thursday evening to take a stand for some of the most important issues of this election season. The first rally of the evening was at Community Bible Church in Pierre where several pastors and pro-life leaders spoke. Several state and federal officials, and candidates for office were present, including state District 33 senate candidate Dennis Schmidt, Rep. Larry Rhoden (Union Center), U.S. House of Representatives candidate Bruce Whalen (Pine Ridge), and United States Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas. When Senator Brownback spoke, he asked rhetorically what there was to disagree with in the statement that all life is precious. He said that he had asked some people at Harvard during a meeting, “Who in this room doesn’t think your life is unique and precious?” Brownback said no one raised their hand. … Brownback said the pro-life position would triumph on November 7, but admonished the crowd to get involved and stay involved to make the victory happen.(AP) Judicial nominee says nothing wrong with attending lesbian ceremony: A Michigan judge whose nomination to the federal bench is stalled over her appearance at a lesbian commitment ceremony says she attended as a friend, not to give legal sanction. The nomination of Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Janet T. Neff to be a U.S. District Court judge is on hold because Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., is not satisfied with her response to questions about her views on same-sex marriage, a spokesman for the senator said Thursday. Neff’s status has been in limbo since last month, when Brownback placed his procedural hold – using a technique that allows a lone senator to stall a nomination. Brownback wanted to know whether there was anything illegal or improper about the 2002 ceremony in Massachusetts and how Neff’s actions might shape her judicial philosophy. … Neff declined to answer Brownback’s questions on whether the Constitution guarantees a right to same-sex marriage or civil unions, saying it would be improper to address questions that might come before her as a federal judge. “She did not really address the judicial philosophy questions to his satisfaction,” Brownback spokesman Brian Hart said. He would not say what Brownback planned to do next. (Yahoo! News online chat) Talk to Sen. Sam Brownback: Talk to Power is pleased to welcome Sen. Sam Brownback (news, bio, voting record) as our next guest. The Kansas Republican is now fielding your questions and comments and will respond on Nov. 1. Thank you in advance to everyone for their posts and to Sen. Brownback for participating.