[TigerTale]

Not true. I know him personally. I used to work for him, and I volunteer in his campaign. He attends one of the most conservative churches in Johnson County, graduated from West Point, and believes firmly in a strong defense. He's opinions on defense issues are based on his experience in military intelligence and on the DMZ in Korea. He is a strong advocate for the business community.

The state political blog "Fire Kansas Democrats" said, on the day after the primary:

"Despite Barnett and Ahner's huge victories, it was a tough night for conservatives."

So while many of the victors in Kansas last Tuesday were moderates, Ahner was one of the big winners on the conservative site.

What about all this, exactly, makes him a RINO?

[AuH2ORepublican]

It seems that Chuck Ahner may be that rare breed, a Kansas Republican who is acceptable to both conservatives and RINOs, thus having a good chance of defeating Moore in November. BTW, Ahner is not only economically conservative, pro-military and pro-border security, but also strongly pro-life:

Sunday, July 09, 2006

REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLY ENDORSES CHUCK AHNER IN THE 3rd DISTRICT -
5:43 PM

While acknowledging that other good Republican candidates are competing for the Third US Congressional District Republican nomination, the official Republican Assembly endorsement goes to Chuck Ahner of Overland Park, Kansas.

The KRA Assembly, a strongly ProLife group, was most impressed with Chuck Ahner, and Scott Schwab. Both leading candidates were discussed, and both were invited to attend the July 6th Republican Assembly meeting. However, only Chuck Ahner’s representative, Tim Dugger, was present at the meeting. Campaign literature and personal testimony from Republican Assembly members also played a role in making this endorsement decision.

The members present at the meeting seemed most impressed with Chuck Ahner’s personal attention and dedication to the ProLife cause. Chuck Ahner is the only Republican Candidate in the third district to have spent time on-site at the Tiller Abortion Chamber in Wichita, and the only candidate to tour the ProLife Choices Medical Clinic, which works closely with the Kansas Coalition for Life and other Kansas ProLife groups.

It should be noted that a renegade splinter group that is illegally using the name “Kansas Republican Assembly” made an endorsement of a different 3rd district candidate, long prior to the filing deadline. However, all candidates for statewide public office in Kansas have been notified, that bogus candidate endorsements issued by independent or non-affiliated groups may NOT be claimed as official Republican Assembly endorsements.

Due to the exceptionally high quality of all four leading candidates for Kansas Governor, Barnett, Canfield, Pickell and Jennison the KRA Assembly, did not make an endorsement in the Governors race. Rather, the Republican Assembly will strongly support the Republican nominee as he defeats Sebelius in the November General Election.

Other official Republican Assembly Primary Endorsements include: Kay O’Connor for Secretary of State, Eric Carter for Insurance Commissioner, and Phill Kline who was given an early endorsement for Attorney General.

Kansas Republican Action Assembly
5575 S Mosley, Wichita, KS 67216-3631
Voice: (316) 522-8866 Fax (316) 522-8833
www.kraa.org

[fieldmarshaldj]

My apologies, then. I was under the mistaken impression that Ahner was a pro-abort RINO. I get wary when I see "fiscal Conservative" and no mention of social positions (and I also contest that a pol can be a social liberal AND a fiscal Conservative -- it's a contradiction in terms, but you can be a social Conservative and a fiscal liberal). I wish him good luck in taking out the liberal Dennis Moore and returning KS to an ALL-GOP delegation.