This morning's "Topeka Capital Journal" has a front page story on Candidate Brownback. While you may have to register, it's free. The article presented Brownback in a light that disturbed me more than I had expected, not because the CJ is rah-rah about him, but because there are some things about him that may appeal to moderate people of faith. In other words, some of the very folks who might otherwise move to a Democratic candidate when repelled by Bush.
http://www.cjonline.com/stories/042405/loc_brownback.shtml
Testing the waters
Sam Brownback has been laying the groundwork for a possible White House run
By Tim Carpenter
Topeka Capital-Journal
Brownback's chances of following George W. Bush are slim. But don't underestimate Brownback or dismiss his message. Only ambitious, play-to-win politicians -- count Brownback among them -- devote time and money stirring the pot in New Hampshire and Iowa more than three years ahead of the primaries. This social conservative's courting of activists is designed to solidify alliances in advance of those bone-crushing presidential tests.
"There is no real mystery here," said Peverill Squire, a political scientist at the University of Iowa. "He's trying to get a sense of how large a potential base he has in the Republican Party. He's trying to figure out how many he can corral."
Brownback would have the luxury of seeking higher office without compromising his Senate seat. He isn't up for re-election until 2010.
...
Building blocks of that base are:
- Abortion -- "Your fight -- our fight -- to end abortion in America will be one of the turning points in the history of the world," he said at the 2004 March for Life. "Please pray. Pray, pray, pray that abortion be ended and that every human life be treated as sacred. It's time to end the sin of abortion in America."
- Stem-cell research -- The senator vows to "use all legislative options available" to defeat bills providing federal funding for this research, maintaining stem-cell studies result in "termination of a young human life."
- Euthanasia -- Brownback worked in the Senate to counter a court ruling allowing Terri Schiavo's food to be cut off. "As a society, we must protect and show compassion for those who need it most," he said. The brain-damaged Florida woman died in March.
- Gay marriage -- He supported the Kansas constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and seeks a companion federal amendment. In 2004, he blasted Massachusetts justices for ruling marriage licenses could be issued to same-sex couples. He said it "makes clear the pressing need to reign in a reckless judiciary by means of stripping courts of authority they have usurped from the people and their legislative representatives -- and through impeachment, if necessary."
- God -- Brownback, a convert to the Roman Catholic faith in 2002, said while visiting Israel last year that the Bible formed the bedrock of his early education. "Ancient Israel was, and is, a living reality in my home. Its spirituality, wisdom, poetry, its majesty inspired and encouraged me all my life. You have helped form my soul." ..."
The former mayor of his tiny home town supports him as Senator, but has doubts about him as President. "He would not make a good president because of his alignment with radicals."
Kim Johnson, a friend of 30 years, "is drafting a letter to him outlining reasons that it may be necessary to end their friendship.
'He needs to get back to his roots,' Johnson said. 'He's concerned about international affairs. His heart is in Sudan. But is he going to do anything for our economy? He's not been there for education. He's not voting for the minimum wage, and I know people struggling in his hometown to pay the bills.'"
The article also mentions previous problems such as a 2002 fine from the Federal Election Commission for excessive campaign donations from his in-laws, his support of Ahmed Chalabi, and his possible membership in Opus Dei.
It surprised me to learn that Brownback he has "stepped across the aisle" to introduce legislation with Hillary Clinton, Joe Lieberman, Ted Kennedy, Barbara Boxer, and also worked with Paul Wellstone and Jesse Jackson, Jr. He tried to establish a national commission on race relations to examine slavery reparations, apologize for segregation, and construct a black history museum. (He doubtless played a role in the establishment of a very cool National Historic Site and museum in Topeka on the Brown v. Board of Education decision.) He also proposed an official apology to American Indians, and is softer on capital punishment than he was ten years ago.
A member of the radical right who is in favor of minority rights and soft on capital punishment, and has a heartwarming history of working across the aisle--would he be a bigger threat to Democratic hopes in 2006 than a lock-step Bushite? Would a candidate like this deprive the center-to-left of those people of faith who aren't quite so radical? How worried should we be? How nauseous should we be?