This Is Why Sam Brownback Can't Be Trusted

I know, I know, conservatives loooove Sam Brownback.  He's pretty staunch on most conservative issues (though not all...remember his pathetic and disingenuous flip-flop on amnesty?), and that's great.  But is he strong enough to withstand the harshest of political storms?  The biggest thing he's known for is his pro-life stance.  He's kind of an icon when it comes to abortion and life issues.  Well, at least he used to be.  Apparently political hackery is more important to him than standing on what he himself called his signature issue.  Allow me to demonstrate why Sam Brownback can't be trusted.

In an interview with Christianity Today in October of 2007, Brownback had this exchange:

Do you see abortion as a significant part of this [Presidential] campaign?

I see it as the lead moral issue of our day, just like slavery was the lead moral issue 150 years ago.

In that same interview, he expressed frustration that he wasn't given more of a podium to put forward his views on the subject.

Now let's examine Brownback's actions on Obama's nomination of Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius for Secretary of Health and Human Services.  First, we know that Obama is the most pro-death President in recent memory, if not ever ( see here, here, here).  Thus, he would naturally surround himself with people of generally the same viewpoint, would he not?  Sebelius fits right in, aggressively advancing abortion as Governor of Kansas, in part by protecting mass abortion provider George (the 'baby-killer') Tiller.  This duo have paired up to allow Kansas to become the 'late term abortion capital of the world'.

Now Obama has nominated Sebelius to a higher post, and Brownback has an opportunity to take a vocal and visible stance against someone who is the very antithesis of what he calls 'the lead moral issue of the day'.

Will he?  Don't bet on it.  He's been silent so far.

Typically, the Senators of a state will support a nominee of the same state, even if there are some pretty major differences of opinion.  It's business as usual.  But, in this case, it seems we have more than a difference of opinion - it's a diametrically opposed philosophy of stated central principles.

Even worse, Sebelius has twice had to change her story when testifying before Congress, once to reveal that she had failed to pay her taxes correctly (apparently a pre-requisite for an Obama cabinet member), and once to reveal that she actually took a boatload more money from George Tiller than she initially admitted.  So, not only is she aggressively pro-abortion, she is a pathological liar.

In a letter sent from various pro-life and pro-family groups to members of Congress, the case against her approval is summarized nicely:

• Failed to pay taxes.  Governor Sebelius found it necessary to correct three years worth of tax returns, inform the Senate of this serious financial oversight and subsequently paid, some $7000 in back taxes.
• Failed to disclose campaign contributions. Gov. Sebelius initially failed to disclose to senators the $35,000 in personal and PAC contributions she received from notorious late-term abortion provider Dr. George Tiller and another $200,000 that Tiller donated to ProKanDo, a political action committee (PAC) dedicated to defeating her pro-life gubernatorial opponent.
• Built her political career on abortion money. Not only did Governor Sebelius receive significant money from Kansas abortion and late-term abortion clinics, but she also vetoed every piece of legislation that would have provided even the most minimal oversight over these providers, putting the health of thousands of Kansas women at risk.
• Advocates taxpayer funded abortions. Gov. Sebelius favors publicly-funded abortion at home and abroad — a stance that places her far outside the mainstream. In doing so she also makes a mockery of the millions of struggling working families who will scrape and save to pay their taxes during this recession, only to see their hard-earned dollars pay for abortions on demand.
• Takes a position far outside the mainstream in support of late-term abortions.  Although 80% of Americans disapprove of late-term abortion, Gov. Sebelius advocates it relentlessly. Wichita is known as the late-term abortion capital of the Midwest despite its fairly restrictive laws, thanks to Gov. Sebelius's refusal to enforce the will of the people. With such an utter disregard for the position of an overwhelming majority of Americans, Gov. Sebelius is clearly too ideological and partisan to oversee the health care of 300 million people.

Incidentally, you should all feel free to contact your Senators' office to weigh in on your opinion of this woman's qualifications to hold this office.

For Kansans in particular, the question is: will Sam Brownback man up?  Will he buck political correctness and 'business as usual' to stand up for his signature issue?  The vote is coming soon, so we'll find out before too long.

All you Kansans out there - pay attention.  Brownback is running for Governor in the next go-around.  You need to understand the strength of the convictions of this man who wants to lead your state.  If he is willing to fold and compromise on what he himself calls the most important issue, then it is foolish to think he wouldn't do the same on any other issue in the future, too.

There's my two cents.