Posted on 01/05/2007 5:01:39 PM PST by xzins
Brownback to Move on Presidential Bid
By LIZ SIDOTI (Associated Press Writer)
From Associated Press
January 05, 2007 5:57 PM EST
WASHINGTON - Sen. Sam Brownback, a Kansas Republican and favorite son of the religious right, will officially enter the presidential race later this month in his home state.
"He will be fully announcing on January 20 in Topeka, Kansas," Brian Hart, the senator's spokesman, said Friday. The move was expected even though Brownback set up an exploratory committee in December to gauge whether he had enough support for a full-blown campaign.
After the announcement in Kansas, Hart said Brownback will fly to Washington to participate in the anti-abortion march marking the anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling.
Brownback is a lesser-known candidate in a crowded GOP presidential field that likely will include Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor. Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, rounds out the top tier. All three are considering runs but, to various extents, also have records or positions on social or fiscal issues that don't sit well with the Republican base.
So, Brownback - a Catholic revered by the GOP's conservative wing for his opposition to abortion and gay marriage - sees an opening in the race for someone like him.
At the time, Brownback also called for a return to an American culture that promotes family values. He said the main focus of his campaign would be "to save and improve lives, rebuild families and renew the culture" in the United States that supports the institution of family.
Brownback, 50, was raised on a farm near tiny Parker, Kan. - population 281 today - where his parents still live.
His first foray into national politics was in 1976 while a student at Kansas State University, where he campaigned for Ronald Reagan in his unsuccessful quest to wrest the GOP nomination from Gerald Ford.
After receiving his law degree from the University of Kansas in 1982, he practiced law in Manhattan, Kan., and served as secretary of the state board of agriculture. He was named a White House fellow in 1990, and worked in the office of the U.S. trade representative.
Brownback was elected to the House in 1994, part of the Republican revolution that gave the GOP control of both the House and Senate for the first time in 40 years.
Two years later, Brownback was elected to the Senate, winning the seat Bob Dole vacated to run for the presidency. Brownback, who promised to serve no more than two terms, has said he will not seek re-election in 2010.
He'll be in the corner with Rudy, John and Mitt trying to explain to Duncan Hunter why another forty million nonenglish speaking illiterates is a good idea for America.
My mistake. The correct position, which the ACU supports is to oppose the Kennedy-Clinton-Chafee-McTreason act.
Duncan Hunter does it a lot better.
I don't know much about Duncan Hunter.
PING
I am not surprised by Lugar as he is very, very liberal. He is pushing the UN Sea treaty that Reagan refused to support. He also sponsored a bill to guard the perimeter of North America by moving the obrder to the southern part of Mexico.
I don't know that much about Brownback except I do remember him voting for the comprehensive immigration reform bill.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
January 4, 2007
Contact: Rob Wasinger
Brownback Enlists Key Iowa Conservative Leader
Noted pro-life activist offers support
DES MOINES, Ia. - U.S. Senator Sam Brownback today announced that he has enlisted the support of Kim Lehman, President and Executive Director of Iowa Right to Life, for his upcoming Iowans for Brownback Leadership Committee.
"For those who care about protecting the unborn and supporting the right to life, Senator Brownback is the clear choice," said Lehman. "While other candidates are in the process of defining and refining their position at the
start of this campaign, Senator Brownback has been principled, consistent, and unwavering in his support for the right to life."
Senator Brownback expressed his appreciation for the early support, saying, "I am gratified to have the support of Kim Lehman, as her support in Iowa will be essential for success in 2008. I am proudly and unequivocally pro-life, and I look forward to optimistically and compassionately articulating the pro-life position in this upcoming campaign."
Since 2000, Lehman has been Iowa Right to Life's Executive Director and chief lobbyist. She was the State Director for Concerned Women for America before her taking her current position at Iowa Right to Life.
Lehman continued, "Senator Brownback has also been a tremendous advocate for a judiciary that respects the law and does not legislate from the bench. Further, he has plainly stated his opposition to the tragic Roe v. Wade
decision, which legalized abortion for all nine months of pregnancy. I look forward to working with Iowans from all 99 counties to enlist support for Senator Brownback and his quest for the Republican nomination."
Support from the pro-life community in Iowa will be critical in the 2008 Republican caucus. An August 2006 poll reported by the Des Moines Register of likely GOP caucus-goers found that while a large majority are pro-life (70 percent), nearly half (46 percent) said the issue of abortion will be a key determining factor in whom they decide to support.
I'm willing to listen to Duncan Hunter. At this point, though, I know absolutely nothing about him.
He's got to start doing some name recognition work if he expects to have a prayer of a chance.
Life is the most critical issue in any election.
Without the Right to Life no other right is important. Dead people don't vote.
Thank you. This takes care of brownback for me.
Brownback is most definitely NOT a RINO. He is far and away more conservative than McCain, Guiliani, or Romney. Do more research.
I will definitely vote for someone like him over either Rudi or McCain in the primaries.
Where does he stand on civil unions? I shouldn't have to ask in that he says he defines marriage as one man, one woman. But the word games being what they are -- where does he stand on civil unions or whatever else one might choose to call gay marriage? How about gay adoption? ENDA?
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