Brownback waffles but will vote to confirm Sebelius

The Kansas City Star ^ | Tue, Mar. 03, 2009 | STEVE KRASKE

[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

[outofstyle]

Gary Heidnik is a fellow Pennsylvanian, but that doesn't mean I would support him for a cabinet position.

Compared to whom? This is the Obama administration after all. Heidnik would fit right in with the other cannibals. Did he pay his taxes?

[Kanzan]

This story (keep in mind that the KC Star is no friend to Brownback) implies that Brownback could have cooled this nomination when 0bama called him. If that’s true, it means that Sam caved to 0bama and to Sebelius. He’s such a dunce: the 0bama people were looking for any excuse not to drag her into their cabinet - they can’t stand her. And now the rest of the country can find out why. Thanks, Sam!

[Sun]

“And for Brownback, “the best he can, today” IS NOT supporting a radical abortionist to be Secretary of HHS. If Sebelius was nominated for a position where she could not affect abortion policy (say Secretary of the Interior) it would be different, but the FACT is that Sebelius will now be in a position to spread her militant abortionism nationwide.”

Well stated!

Laura Ingraham really hammered Brownback and Pat Roberts? for congratulating Sebelius on the nomination.

[Coleus]

Sign these 4 petitions against Sebelius & Contact the Senators:

-- Contact your Senator here  and Call your U.S. Senators & Sen. Brownback today at 202-224-3121.

-- Catholics Against Sebelius petition

-- Susan B. Anthony List petition

-- American Life League petition

-- Liberty Action petition

-- More SBA action alerts

-- Operation Rescue Page

-- Fact Check

-- e-mail 0bama

Call Sen. Brownback the Traitor

-- ALL's Judie Brown on Sen. Brownback: "I'll never use 'pro-life' to describe him again"

-- Brownback waffles but will vote to confirm Sebelius

-- Sam Brownback - the latest GOP traitor?

Read and pass around these two articles about Sebelius:

-- InsideCatholic.com: Obama's Choice of Sebelius Heats Up the Pro-life Battle

-- USA Today: Kansas Gov. Sebelius told not to take Communion

Call the RNC and ask Chairman Steele (who is Catholic and pro-life) to officially mobilize the party against the Sebelius nomination and to expose her radical pro-abortion views: 202.863.8500

[narses]

Sign these 4 petitions against Sebelius & Contact the Senators:

-- Contact your Senator here  and Call your U.S. Senators & Sen. Brownback today at 202-224-3121.

-- Catholics Against Sebelius petition

-- Susan B. Anthony List petition

-- American Life League petition

-- Liberty Action petition

-- More SBA action alerts

-- Operation Rescue Page

-- Fact Check

-- e-mail 0bama

Call Sen. Brownback the Traitor

-- ALL's Judie Brown on Sen. Brownback: "I'll never use 'pro-life' to describe him again"

-- Brownback waffles but will vote to confirm Sebelius

-- Sam Brownback - the latest GOP traitor?

Read and pass around these two articles about Sebelius:

-- InsideCatholic.com: Obama's Choice of Sebelius Heats Up the Pro-life Battle

-- USA Today: Kansas Gov. Sebelius told not to take Communion

Call the RNC and ask Chairman Steele (who is Catholic and pro-life) to officially mobilize the party against the Sebelius nomination and to expose her radical pro-abortion views: 202.863.8500

Hat-tip to Coleus for assembling this data, THANK YOU!