This morning in Topeka, the Traditional Republicans for Common Sense proudly endorsed Jim Sherow, (D) who is running in opposition of Tim Huelskamp.
http://cjonline.com/...
"It is time for serious leadership in our congressional district," said Sherow, a former Manhattan mayor. "Our district, the third largest agricultural economy in the country, has lost all meaningful representation in Congress."
In December 2012, Huelskamp and three other Republicans were stripped of key committee assignments by the House steering committee, which was controlled by House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.
The Huelskamp campaign, meanwhile, noted that Tim Huelskamp is currently busy in DC, continuing his fight in regards to prairie chickens.
Clay Barker, Kansas Republican Party Spokesman issued this statement:
Clay Barker, executive director of the Kansas Republican Party, questioned the group’s Republican credentials.
“Clearly they are not Republicans,” Barker said. “Most of them were members of a faction that was thrown out by the voters in 2010 and ’12 and this is their way of trying to get revenge.”
http://www.kansas.com/...
There is no real denying a portion of Clay Barker's arguments - moderate Republicans, who felt as though they were run out of the party by Brownback in the 2012 culling have made an effort this year to fight back. Rather than lick their wounds, many of these moderate Republicans have decided to call out their own party for it. While Barker calls it revenge, many within the Republican community seem to view it as an attempt to write a wayward ship.
Former Sen. Lana Oleen, a Republican who represented Manhattan, said that the largely rural district had been silenced in Congress on agricultural issues. Sherow said that getting a seat on the Agriculture Committee would be his top priority if elected.
“We know the history of this district and we know its political leanings. But we also know that people in this district want practical results and that hasn’t been happening,” Sherow said.
http://www.kansas.com/...
Lana Oleen, a board member, remains a life long Republican - and an elected official who represented Riley County, part of District 1 who contends that the district simply lacks the support it needs to move forward.
Tim Huelskamp has taken on new approaches to battling the turmoil that exists within the Republican Community. As a result, Jim Sherow hit back at him - as to what a Real Republican actually is.
As a historian, I am aware of the proud Republican Tradition within my district, a district that provided a home to Dwight Eisenhower. As a leader in my city government, I was honored to work with Republicans to help solve issues that go beyond party politics. Until recently, my opponent referred to himself as an “Independent Conservative” instead of a Republican. Tim Huelskamp was benched by his own party, in part because he refused to work with them but also because he refused to acknowledge he was one of them.
While Tim and Clay Barker huff about Political theater and call out Republicans who have elected and served their party for years, Tim Huelskamp until very recently refused to call himself a Republican, issuing out mail and releases calling himself an 'Independent Conservative'. This tact was likely necessary as he was removed from his house committees for his combative nature.
Yonally said that Huelskamp had been disruptive as a member of the Kansas Legislature before his election to Congress in 2010. He blamed this trait for Huelskamp’s removal from the House Agriculture Committee earlier this year.
http://www.kansas.com/...
While Clay Barker and Huelskamp huff and puff, Jim Sherow stood by his guns. Since the state fair, Huelskamp members have been circulating email and claims about Sherow, mostly highlighting the fact that Manhattan Kansas, where he was mayor, was the first city in Kansas to adopt a non-discrimination policy for those who are LGBT.
Sherow was asked about antidiscrimination ordinance, which prohibits discrimination in accommodations for LGBT. Jim Sherow quickly pointed out that the largest employers in Manhattan area were the U.S. Army and Kansas State University. Both organizations have antidiscrimination statutes that the city now matches.
Jim Sherow tore the argument apart, pointing out the policies of the U.S. Army against discrimination, and arguing that aligning city policies with the military policy was supportive of the military and patriotic.
That's right. Jim Sherow, a man who served in the US Military is willing to openly say that backing the US Military in it's support for LGBT is the PATRIOTIC thing to do.
Sherow's argument, coming from a person of his background of success at every level sends the message home to Huelskamp: I will stand by what I believe in.
The time for division in Kansas is over - and a Democrat who has to remind the Kansas Republican Party what REAL Republicans were about.
https://secure.actblue.com/...