Yesterday, newly re-elected pro-choice Kansas Gov. Kathy Sebelius refused to sign a certificate endorsing anti-abortion extremist Phill Kline in his new position as Johnson County district attorney.
Under Kansas state law, Sebelius doesn't have the power to block Kline's appointment. But she can take a stand, and that's exactly what she's done. As attorney general (a position he was ousted from in November), Kline was obsessed with obtaining women's medical records from two clinics in Kansas, one of them a Planned Parenthood health center. His invasive crusade was widely known as a "fishing expedition," and earned him the dubious "honor" of being named Operation Rescue's "Man of the Year." Now he's back, and Sebelius is doing everything in her power to sustain the will of the people:
"The people of Kansas made a strong and unequivocal statement about Phill Kline's fitness for law enforcement and his pursuit of misguided, personal priorities in public office," Sebelius said.
The Johnson County Republican chairman, Scott Schwab, called the Sebelius move "political." But let's take a look at the facts. As district attorney, Kline may be tasked with handing high profile criminal cases. But he has never served as county prosecutor and didn't try criminal cases in district court as attorney general. Yet an assistant district attorney with 18 years of experience as a prosecutor was snubbed for the job.
Schwab told Sebelius to "just sign it and get it over with." But Sebelius is a tough cookie. And she's also committed to protecting women's rights. I can't wait to see what else she has up her sleeve.