True story: Pat Roberts rents space at a La-Z-Boy store to claim Kansas residency.
U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts put a signature to documents associated with the mortgage on a Virginia residence that identify the Fairfax County home as “principal residence” of the three-term incumbent Republican.
The re-election campaign of the Kansan has been awash in controversy about whether his ownership of a duplex in Dodge City, which is rented out, and his payment of about $300 a month for a room in a Dodge City supporter's home satisfied legal requirements for public office.
In most races, a nugget of information like this would probably have no impact. But in this race Roberts has been hammered not just for his questionable claims of Kansas residency, but also because during his 30-plus year career in the House and Senate, he's become a creature of Washington without any real accomplishments to show for it. It would be one thing if Roberts were a Washington insider who used his influence to fight for Kansas, but he seems to think Kansas is a nuisance, a problem to be managed rather than a constituency to be served.
As the Capital-Journal notes, Jerry Moran, the other senator from Kansas, spends nearly 5 times as much time in the state as Roberts—and Roberts' attempt to dismiss that fact only made things worse for him:
In a gaffe that received great attention he said in an interview, “Every time I get an opponent — I mean, every time I get a chance — I’m home."
Roberts probably isn't the only senator to sign a document like this. But he might just be the only senator who acts like he really, truly believes it. And that's a big part of what his problem is.
