Free Republic

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA — Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, among the most conservative of the potential Republican presidential candidates, said Tuesday there’s room in the GOP for candidates who favor gay rights, but he warned that such politicians wouldn’t be welcomed by the party’s conservative base. “It’s a big-tent party and has been for a long period of time, particularly since Ronald Reagan talked about this being a party of different viewpoints,” said Brownback. “If somebody agrees with you 80 percent of the time, he’s not your enemy.” Brownback, in the midst of another visit to Iowa, was asked about...

America has reached a tipping point on the topic of immigration.The country can maintain the status quo — an unattractive option — or it can seriously address the matter of some 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States today. It needs a good conversation on what role the undocumented individuals have or can play in American society. The immigration reform legislation endorsed by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday is a positive start to the conversation. And unlike legislation passed by the House earlier this year or a bill supported by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, it would offer...