Posted on 03/04/2009 11:55:34 AM PST by presidio9
After a day of uncertainty, Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas said Tuesday he would vote to confirm Gov. Kathleen Sebelius for secretary of health and human services.
“The president won the election and has nominated a Kansan to the Cabinet,” Brownback said in a statement. “Despite our profound policy differences, I will support my fellow Kansan.”
Brownback joined Sen. Pat Roberts, who also made his intentions known Tuesday.
Earlier Tuesday, Brownback had deferred. “He doesn’t plan to say anything either way at this point,” said a spokesman.
Some questioned how Brownback would decide, considering how abortion opponents — who have long seen Sebelius as unacceptable — are a major part of his base.
Brownback’s position had been a concern to the White House. Two sources have told The Kansas City Star that President Barack Obama himself called Brownback last week to gauge his reaction. The president wanted to be sure that Brownback wouldn’t work to derail the nomination, a top Democrat said.
Unlike Roberts, Brownback was not at the White House ceremony Monday and seemed to be wavering.
“He’s between a rock and a hard place,” Kansas State University political scientist Joe Aistrup said before Brownback issued his Tuesday statement.
Ron Thornburgh, the four-term secretary of state running against Brownback next year for the GOP nomination for governor, had ripped Brownback for “backpedaling” from a joint statement issued Saturday with Roberts that said:
“We are hopeful Governor Sebelius will be a voice for Kansas and rural America at the department. We look forward to working with her on issues important to the state…”
Thornburgh called the weekend statement tantamount to an endorsement: “I’m stunned that Sam would endorse her because she’s an individual who goes against everything he has said he believes in
(Excerpt) Read more at kansascity.com ...
http://brownback.senate.gov/public/contact/emailsam.cfm
Phone Numbers for his offices:
Washington - (202) 224-6521 Topeka - (785) 233-2503
What a retard. I think he can kiss any aspirations for higher office goodbye.
Republicans! Is there anything they stand firm on?
I’m an American but that doesn’t mean I support every American.
I’m glad the devil incarnatae is not a citizen of Kansas, else he would get Brownback’s vote.
Gary Heidnik is a fellow Pennsylvanian, but that doesn't mean I would support him for a cabinet position. What a dolt.
To be fair Obama is going to be nominating a serious pro choice person any way. This way she won’t end up in the Senate. I welcome the appointment.
For higher office he should vote “present”.
Unbelievable.
This woman is DOWNRIGHT EVIL. She is pro-infanticide. She might as well set up an altar to Molech in her office and sacrifice children to an idol.
And, we’re going to get “go home and die” medical care out of her as well.
Baby Brains is People, MS KS CRUEL GOV.
That's just stupid.
Kansan First, Catholic Second. Not very smart, Sam.
This is disgusting. Senator Brownback has presented himself a principled, anti-abortion conservative.
Sebelius isn’t just a wishy-washy, pro-choice woman. She is an abortion extremist activist. And for Sen. Brownback to support her is a betrayal.
Brownback is one the biggest frauds....he always painted himself as some Christian Conservative....yet he is one of the most Open Borders pro-illegal/anti-American out there...and now is backing one of the most extreme abortionist Democrats for a Cabinet position
Hmmmm, when Dollar Bill Jefferson, with whom I have profound differences, ran for office, I decided to support my principles first which required me to vote against him.
Freepmail wagglebee or DirtyHarryY2K to subscribe or unsubscribe from the moral absolutes ping list.
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Something Jean Carnahan couldn't do for her fellow Missourian, John Ashcroft.
This statement is a display of the weakness that is the GOP today. How many times did we see/hear statements like this from the Dems supporting Bush nominees despite “policy” differences???
queue the crickets!!!!
Sam still thinks he's presidential material. That's why he's leaving the Senate and running for Kansas governor.
Brownback, you are a coward. Guys like you are what’s wrong with the GOP.
Idiot!
Elections have consequences.
How about supporting your fellow Kansans who are slated to be aborted?
I wonder what other rotten individuals from Kansas old Yellowback can throw his support behind.
What exactly would it take for Brownback not to support a fellow Kansan?
No, he isn't. He's between a principle and a taking a stand.
And he failed.
This is great!! At the end of the day we’ll have all the true and closet RINO’s flushed out!!!
See post #14. I think he did that when he decided that the interests of illegal aliens were more important than those of American citizens.
That is a disappointment. What a moron.
Dennis Lynn Rader (alias "BTK Strangler") of Wichita. Judging by his track record, if the President nominited Mr. Rader to his cabinet, Senator Brownback would have no choice but to confirm him, right? After all, the man (or whatever he is) is from the Sunflower State.
Brownback is doing this out of nothing else, but personal advancement. He wants to be governor of Kansas, and with Kitty Kat in DC, it makes it so much easier. The nominal opponent, the now Lt. Gov. is a turn-coat who flipped from R to D. There are people on both sides that don’t like him. While he would get the vote of all 10 democrats in KS, he would not have the support that Kitty Kat has.
Between a rock and a hard place? She clearly is going to be confirmed, so why can’t he vote “no”? Just because she’s a fellow Kansan? Principles have sunk mighty low when geography is the top priority and not something small and meaningless like killing babies. (sarc)
Laura Ingraham was saying yesterday that she would never support Brownback in any election of this, and would in fact campaign against him in Republican Primaries.
Laura Ingraham was saying yesterday that she would never support Brownback in any election of this, and would in fact campaign against him in Republican Primaries.
_________________________
The Dems here in KS hate him so I thought maybe he was actually OK. He has proven by these statements that he is really not to be trusted. Time to fire off another e-mail to the senator.
Way to go, Sam - show that ol’ backbone of yours. HaHa.
“Brownback waffles”
Not the first time.
Two words -- Jean Carnahan.
Two more words -- John Ashcroft.
-PJ
Less than 20% of the population cares very much at all about the abortion issue.
I care deeply, but I am humble enough to realize that the general public does not care.
Let our Conservative politicians makes a few PR calls and judgment calls.
It is good for Kansas to get rid of Sebelius, as Governor.
It is bad for Tiller, who sends tons of money to pro abortion politicians, nationwide.
Do not ask our leaders to shoot themselves in the foot.
Learn to play smart, and play to win.
Please stop it with the circular firing squads. When Brownback runs against an Obama or a Sebelius, we need the 80% that doesn't give one whit about abortion to consider Brownback as a reasonable candidate.
Maybe Sen. Brownback needs to review what an abortion looks like:
http://www.abortionno.org/Resources/pictures_3.html
This mystifies me. Democrat Senators are under absolutely no obligation to support Republican nominees from their home state (e.g. Carnahan voting against Ashcroft).
Yet somehow, Republicans must do so. WTF?
Oh yes, Senator. By all means, support a person who advocates murder because she is from your home state. I guess if Charles Manson lived in Kansas, you would vote for his confirmation.
No wonder America is in the shape it is in!
You sir are a damned coward.
The standard for these appointments should be the competence of the nominee. Granted, I have issues with Sebelius in that category, too. However, the President SHOULD be given broad lattitude in his picks of a cabinet. Absent a criminal or absurdly incompetent appointment, the President should get who he wants.
If Brownback voted against, she would STILL win -— and Brownback would not vulnerable to those who want to paint him as a radical.
Again, we need to play a bit smarter, and QUIT demanding that our fellow Congressman and Senators jump on every single grenade that is rolled in front of them.
The political bloodbaths that we have had in this state would humble ALL Of you, if you had any idea at all what we have been through.
Do you want to make statements or do you want CONTROL?
Brownback has the best chance of anyone to become the first truly conservative governor of Kansas in my lifetime, and I am 50.
QUIT EATING OUR OWN!
STOP THE CIRCULAR FIRING SQUADS!
This is a principled vote. It has long been a Conservative principal that the President should, with few restrictions and reservations, have the cabinet that the President wants.
Your reasoning is why this country is sinking (along with the GOP).
Abortion is murder of a baby in the womb. There is never any reason to support someone who is in favor of it. Never.
Again, we need to play a bit smarter
I agree with you there but disagree with just about everything else you said. So why have the senate vote at all?? We ELECTED these people and I refuse to play dead and let them make decisions simply to support their own political gain in DC. In my opinion, Selebius’ attitude toward Tiller and late term abortion (why Obama loves this person) IS criminal.
Taking a principled stand against a zealous pro-abortionist is NOT jumping on a grenade.
(And if it were, I would be dead.)
STOP IT WITH THE LITMUS TESTS ON STUPID PR MOVES!
You demand that our politicians waste their ammunition when it does nothing for the cause.
Brownback OR a radical proAbort buddy of Tiller -—
THOSE are our choices. Grow up, study politics, realize that the vast majority of the world is NEITHER prolife nor PROCHOICE but apathetic on the issue.
Hurt Brownback, at this state, and you guarantee another Tiller buddy wins.
“Despite our profound policy differences, I will support my fellow Kansan.”
Gee, wonder who he’d support if he were German in 1933?
These people NEVER cease to amaze me. Geography trumps principles. What a way to vote. I guess if you are clueless, it’s as good as anything else.
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