Brownback the stubborn mule
UPDATE, 10:20a: Susan B. Anthony List just released a statement, based on Sebelius’ veto yesterday of “woman-centered legislation” further regulating late-term abortionists:
“If there was any doubt about how a pro-life Senator ought to vote on the Sebelius nomination, there should be no doubt now,” said SBA President Marjorie Dannenfelser [pictured right]….
SBA spearheaded a coalition letter to RNC Chairman Michael Steele, signed by 33 pro-life organizational and opinion leaders, asking him to oppose the Sebelius nomination. Susan B. Anthony List activists have sent over 42,000 letters of opposition to their Senators.
“The pro-life movement is grateful to Chairman Steele for his leadership. Additionally, Senator McConnell’s recent decision to delay Governor Sebelius’ final confirmation vote was crucial and praiseworthy. With every day that goes by, more opposition mounts to Sebelius and her support for the abortion agenda. We’re grateful for the articulate and vocal leadership on the part of the pro-life House leadership. All of this mounting evidence should persuade more pro-life Senators to oppose the Sebelius nomination.”
Politicians are loathe to be accused of “flip-flopping.”
Rather, it shows intelligence and guts to be willing to change one’s mind when given new information or pause to reconsider by good counsel.
And the opposite is true. It shows stupidity and cowardice not to.
Two months ago KS Sens. Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts openly endorsed their colleague, KS Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, as President Abortion’s pick to head the Dept. of Health and Human Services.
Brownback, as the Senate titular pro-life leader as head of the Values Action Team (a post he should resign), has since been the focus. Both sides consider him the bridge to Sebelius’ confirmation.
Think of all that has transpired since Brownback’s endorsement of Sebelius…
universal condemnation of Sebelius’ nomination by pro-family groups, including a VAT walkout by FRC, which is very serious revelations Sebelius lied on tax returns revelations Sebelius lied to senators about her financial relationship with late-term abortionist George Tiller Sebelius’ “inaccurate and contradict[ory]” responses, according to Sen. John Kyl, while refusing to clarify she opposes healthcare rationing and denial only yesterday vetoing a bill tightening reporting requirements in KS by late-term abortionists
Yesterday even the head of the GOP, Michael Steele, called for Sebelius’ nomination withdrawal based on her “evolving relationship with a late-term abortion doctor as well as about her position on the practice of late-term abortions,” according to the Associated Press.
Other Senate Republicans have attempted to block Sebelius’ nomination all along the way, first in the Senate Finance Committee, and now, according to the AP:
Steele’s statement came as Republicans blocked immediate action on Sebelius’ confirmation in the Senate, likely pushing a final vote to next week at earliest. Supporters had hoped for faster action, but Democrats remain confident they have enough votes to get Sebelius confirmed.
Sebelius was approved by the Senate Finance Committee this week with just 2 of 10 GOP votes [1 being Roberts, argh]….
Republicans had some cover on the [abortion] issue because Sebelius was supported by both her home-state GOP senators, including Sen. Sam Brownback, a strong abortion opponent.
But since then opposition from anti-abortion activists – and pressure on Republican senators – has grown.
Clearly, if Brownback changes his mind, Sebelius’ nomination collapses. I’m sure he wakes up every morning with a headache, wishing this to be over.
But it’s not. Whatever political gains Brownback thought he made by supporting Sebelius are gone. He looks increasingly ridiculous – weak and lacking in simple common sense.
Brownback could correct his political miscalculation by a single sentence, “I no longer support Sebelius for HHS Secretary.”
I don’t know if that will correct Brownback’s political future. If he recants, all hell will break loose on the liberal side, of course. Brownback is really in a no-win political situation, with only himself to blame.
But Brownback is not in a no-win moral situation. There is a clear moral answer to the question whether Kathleen Sebelius should be allowed to advance her and Obama’s radical abortion agenda, including universal abortion coverage according to Planned Parenthood , as well as healthcare denial, to the national stage.
[HT for AP article: Billy Valentine]
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
You know, the longer the GOP stalls, the more anti-choice bills Sebelius will be able to veto in Kansas. It’s really your own fault.
“Raised as a Methodist, Brownback later joined a nondenominational evangelical church, Topeka Bible Church, which he still regularly attends, even though in 2002, he converted to Catholicism.”
So Brownback is a Catholic convert of seven years who attends a Bible Church. This may explain why he’s not feeling pressure as a Catholic to vote pro-life.
The source is “Wiki”.
As a Conservative Christian born and raised in KS, I am extremely disappointed in Brownback’s support of this nomination to say the least. I do want to make a point though about him not feeling the pressure to vote pro-life as a Catholic; I honestly think that what should be the most offensive is that he is not feeling the pressure to vote pro-life as a CHRISTIAN. I think that it is immediately incumbent upon Christians of any denomination to firmly start calling all of these “pro-life” Christian representatives and leaders and demand they start actually “walking the walk” and not merely giving the pro-life cause lip service when it is politically expedient for them.
Jill,
Amen.
What is so maddening about this is if Sebelius was from any other state it’s quite certain both Roberts and Brownback would have opposed her along with other conservative Republicans.
However, I’m not certain even if Brownback changes his position that it will matter. There are 3 RINOs that will likely vote in favor and Roberts already has. The rest of the Repulicans don’t have enough votes. The only hope is persuading any Democrats to oppose and I think pigs will fly first.
The ‘encumbent politicians’ number one concern is getting re-elected.
These folks are constantly surveying the changing political landscape and adjusting their positions to fit the present reality.
Pay close attention children, when the heat is intense, it burns away the facade and you see who they really were all the time.
Life is really tough for the ‘moderate republican’ politicians. The democrats are calling the tune and the moderate republicans are hvaing great difficulty in adjusting to having two left feet.
What these lost rino’s really need is a political GPS to show them where they are and how far they have strayed from ‘home’.
They are Hansel and Grettel. Maybe the naturalized US citizen Arnold ‘governator’ Schwarzenegger can point out to them their founding principles.
yor bro ken
Sebelius is the latest in a long list of cino Catholics and ex-prolife Democrats who have found the only way to get ahead in the Democratic Party is to embrace abortion rights. As for Brownback: it seems he can no longer be trusted.
Joanne – I can’t agree with you more! I think you are dead on with your thought that if Roberts and Brownback were from ANY other state, they would vote against her.
Yor Bro Ken – Amen to all of that! Their almighty re-election seems to be all that is of importance to them; they seem to no longer understand values and principals.
Jerry – I think you are ABSOLUTELY right, Brownback has lost all trust with me anyway.
Do you think the Tiller murder will have an effect on her confirmation? this video about it is interesting: http://www.newsy.com/videos/the_killing_of_george_tiller