Brownback

John McCain and Sam Brownback talk before a presidential debate in New Hampshire. (Photo by REUTERS). On Wednesday, Sam Brownback announced that he was endorsing Republican presidential candidate John McCain. Sam Brownback was the family values conservative candidate of the Republican presidential campaign before he dropped out from the race on October 19, 2007. This was the second major conservative endorsement of the day on Wednesday, after Pat Robertson announced his support for Giuliani. However, this endorsement made some sense. John McCain is a pro-life candidate and is only on his second marriage. McCain dragged Brownback around to every campaign event possible in Iowa, Wednesday in order to use the endorsement as much as possible. Brownback was well liked in Iowa and had a lot of support among evangelical Christians. Brownback called McCain, “The best pro-life candidate to beat Hillary Clinton.” McCain told supporters that, “We Republicans must stand firm in

Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kansas) signs books at a conservative family values group. Photo by REUTERS.On Friday, October 19, 2007, Sam Brownback (R-Kansas) announced that he had found an exit strategy, from the presidential campaign that is. The Republican Senator from Kansas tried to sell himself on being the true family values candidate but conservatives apparently were not interested. Brownback raised only $926,000 last quarter, which is fine if you are running for county clerk, but not for president. Brownback made his emotional announcement from Topeka, Kansas with his wife Mary and his family at his side. "Today I'm ending my candidacy. My yellow brick road just came short of the White House this time," Brownback said. Oh nice one, he’s from Kansas, a “Wizard of Oz” reference. "We've really been held (back) early on by the media saying 'we don't think he can do it,'" Brownback said. Brownback’s support was waning and had sunk into the single

News Release LITTLE ROCK, AR – Former AR Governor and Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee issued the following statement today: “Sen. Sam Brownback is a staunch advocate for America 's families... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kansas) is dropping out of the 2008 presidential race due to poor fundraising performance. While I would very much like to see politics divorced from big money and wish that successful fundraising would no longer be a prerequisite for the political office, I won't lose sleep over Brownback's departure. After all, he was a Christian extremist who denied evolution, supported religiously-based homophobia in the military, and was notorious for pandering.While Brownback leaving the race is certainly good for America, it sounds like it might be bad for Kansas, where he is expected to run for governor in 2010. Poor Kansas! Haven't they been through enough?Tags: Sam Brownback, politics, 2008 election, election 2008, Kansas, Christian extremism, Christian extremist

Won't Be The Last Iowa Hears About Him Republican Senator Sam Brownback, the Kansas conservative who struggled to raise money and gain recognition in the presidential campaign, will drop out today, people close to him said Thursday.Money was a main reason, said one person close to Brownback who requested anonymity because the candidate had not yet announced his plans. Brownback is expected to announce his withdrawal in Topeka, Kansas.As recently as last week, Brownback indicated he would continue through Iowa's presidential caucuses in January, saying he would exit the race if he finished worse than fourth. But his fundraising has sagged.Read Article...Thoughts from Mainstream Iowan: Senator Brownback is in his 2nd term as a Republican U.S. Senator from Kansas. He committed to holding office to 2 terms and will likely run for Governor of Kansas in 2010. Rumor has it Brownback will not officially endorse any other remaining candidates in the field. Brownback's supporters may change t

Despite the fact he was polling very low, this hurts Giuliani (thank God.) Brownback's supporters are NOT going to back Giuliani if they don't have to.Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee will benefit from this.

WSB Radio in Atlanta is reporting that Sam Brownback may be dropping out of the race tomorrow. They are citiing people close to Sam's campaign. Very interesting. More news as it develops.EDIT - Confirmation of this possibility from the Associated Press

In today's politically correct world of politics, it is an entertaining rarity to see guys simply being guys.In this clip from the recent republican debate, see Tom Tancredo pull out the "Momma" card and watch Sam Brownback's response.

They're not exactly the Bobbsey twins.But it is nice that Joe Biden and Sam Brownback are working together on something. I think all of us are pretty darn sick of all this Red State- Blue State, liberal-conservative crap.But I just can't get worked up about their mission.The senators are crisscrossing Iowa promoting the idea that Iraq be divided into three separate countries: Sunni, Shia, and Kurd.I think it makes a lot of sense. But, that is why the Iraqis will never go for it.And who the hell are we to tell Iraqis how to govern themselves, and to divide them up and create new nations?After we ousted Saddam, they had free elections. By all accounts the elections were fair and the Iraqis were quite enthusiastic about them. George Bush and his neo-cons managed to import a bit of democracy into the Middle East. It was the crowning achievement of their glorious war.This would have been an opportune moment to step out.Dasvidania and mission accomplished.But we were not all that thr

  Senator and presidential hopeful Sam Brownback has introduced a bill that would require doctors to take an ultrasound and show it to the would be mother before she has an abortion. This is something that has been signed into law in Georgia earlier this year, and now Brownback is proposing it on a national level.   This was part of Senator Brownback’s statement: “We can reduce the number of abortions and help people reflect on the humanity of the unborn child by providing more information to women,”   Therein lies the problem, however, with this bill. The left wants to protect abortion at all costs, they are not interested with reducing the number of abortions. They see reducing the number of abortions as an attack on the woman’s right to choose. If there is a chance more woman will use the right to choose to choose life instead of death, and this reduces abortions, it will be considered an attack on abortions from within. You see, while this bill doesn&rsqu

Thanks to Pastor Bob for this link. I thought it was a joke site, but actually, I am still not sure. It is Baptists for Brownback 2008. Pro-Life, Pro-Family, Pro-America, Pro-Jesus. And the good thing to know is that Jesus is Pro-Brownback!

Governor Huckabee In Iowa 6 days until the Straw Poll and here is idea #13 of what you can do TODAY to help Governor Huckabee WIN the Iowa Straw Poll: #13. Let everyone... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

The Huckabee campaign has released this statement concerning Sam Brownback. I glad to see that campaign manager Chip Saltsman is making things a little clearer and simpler so that maybe this time Sam... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Brownback wants apology WASHINGTON -- Republican presidential hopeful Sam Brownback said rival Mike Huckabee should apologize for a supporter's "prejudiced whisper campaign" against Brownback for... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Gazzette Online AMES - Republican presidential hopeful Tom Tancredo criticized two of his GOP rivals on their commitment to combat illegal immigration. The Colorado congressman was in Ames on Sunday to open a campaign office and seek support for the Aug. 11 straw poll in Ames. Tancredo said he is running for president because no other candidate has [...]

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Sen. Brownback's futile attempts to clarify why he raised his hand during a Republican presidential debate to indicate that he does not believe in evolution may just top the creation museum as an embarrassment for rational Americans. The museum is certainly a monument to the Christian idiocy which continues to afflict many Americans, but this is an elected representative charged with shaping the policy of our country. He even has presidential aspirations!Writing in Time's Eye on Science blog, Michael D. Lemonick calls attention to Brownback's stupidity quite effectively.If, writes the senator, "evolution means assenting to an exclusively materialistic, deterministic vision of the world that holds no place for a guiding intelligence then I reject it."How curious. Does this mean that the senator also rejects the laws of gravity? Last I heard, they reflected that same view of the world.Good question. I wonder if Brownback sees any value to science at all. It seems that he is trying to

Norma McCorvey Endorses BrownbackU.S. Senator Sam Brownback announced that he has enlisted the support of Norma McCorvey, the now pro-life "Jane Roe" of the infamous Roe v Wade decision, for his presidential campaign.In 1970, Norma McCorvey, then an impoverished pregnant woman, was convinced by a team of ambitious lawyers to be their plaintiff in a case to challenge the state law prohibiting abortion in Texas. This case, Roe v Wade, was eventually appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court and led to one of the most tragic judicial decisions in American history, essentially giving the consent of the nation's highest court to tens of millions of abortions since 1973. In 1995, realizing her error and touched by the neighborly love of a number of her pro-life opponents, McCorvey abandoned her pro-abortion activism and became a vocal pro-life Christia n. In 1997, she founded the pro-life ministry, Roe No More. In 2005, McCorvey formally petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn the 1973 decision t

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Republican presidential candidate Sam Brownback is backing the Pentagon’s top general over his remarks that homosexuality is immoral. The Kansas senator planned to send a letter on Thursday to President Bush supporting Marine Gen. Peter Pace, who earlier this week likened homosexuality to adultery and said the military should not condone it by allowing gay personnel to serve openly. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs also said: “I believe that homosexual acts between individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts.” Lawmakers of both parties criticized the remarks, but Brownback’s letter called the criticism “both unfair and unfortunate.” “We should not expect someone as qualified, accomplished and articulate as General Pace to lack personal views on important moral issues,” Brownback said. “In fact, we should expect that anyone entrusted with such great responsibility will have strong moral vi

Several announcements were expected this weekend but the unexpected formation of a presidential exploratory committee by Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) will certainly takeover the news cycle further than she already has. Also, Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kansas) formally declared his candidacy. He had formed an exploratory committee just over a month ago. Tomorrow, Governor Bill Richardson (D-New Mexico) is reportedly announcing his decision to form an exploratory committee.

12.04.06Jeez, I'm getting really tired of all these exploratory committees. At least this one is kind of interesting: on Brownback's steering committee are Former Major League Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, Domino's (pizza chain) founder Tom Monaghan, and the Reverened Frank Pavone, head of Priests for Life. Daniel Owen of ovaloffice2008.com pointed out that it sounds like a fun-filled weekend. Brilliant Observation.

Political Background: Senator Kansas Time Period: 1996-present Joined the Race: December 4th, 2004 Front Page: The first real social conservative to join the race. In fact, if there is a social issue, then Brownback is on the right edge of it. His announcement was probably inspired by last weeks news that Bill Frist would not be the social conservative hoping for the nomination, although Brownback claims that it was prayer that was responsible for his choice. Among his biggest supporters is Pat Robinson, which I am not sure is good or bad. I am not going to say that Brownback's bid cannot be taken seriously. After all anything can and usually does happen in politics. But a Sam Brownback nomination for the Republican party would likely propel whatever Democrat he is running against into office.

It's been a long time - months, probably - since I last had anything particular to say about Kansas Republican Senator Sam Brownback. If he was engaged in any kind of presidential campaign activity, it passed me by. So it's nice to see this Associated Press story in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer which confirms that Brownback is, in fact, still in the game. Indeed, he is remarkably upbeat considering how little progress he has made on the presidential front since what I thought was a rather promising 2005. "I think there's room for a full-scale Ronald Reagan conservative in the field," said Brownback, apparently referring to himself. "I fully agree that other people have much higher name identification than I do. No question about that. But I think what you have to look at is the policy positions they get out once you have an effective campaign." "Where are my positions and others versus the base of the party?" Brownback asked, rhetorically. At least, I assume it was rhetoric

Let's kick things off - for no very good reason - with Kansas Republican Senator Sam Brownback. Brownback made the news a couple of weeks ago for two reasons. First, his decision to hold up the judicial nomination of Michigan judge Janet Neff (Associated Press in the Columbia State) because Neff went to a lesbian civil ceremony once. As a guest. Four years ago. I hear Dick Cheney has put on hold his ambition to be appointed to the Supreme Court.More importantly from our point of view was this AP report - here in the Dodge City Globe (seriously - it's in Kansas) - that Brownback had "poured thought and prayer" into whether or not he should run for President, and was "very close with announcements." Brownback attempted to be coy with ABC 'This Week' host George Stephanopoulos, when asked about his plans, but Stephanopoulos interpreted Brownback's smile as a sign that he considered himself to be in the running. (I guess we can rule out the possibility that Brownback was just

Kansas Republican Senator Sam Brownback wants to be known as more than just a Christian conservative - he wants you to think of him as a fiscal conservative, too.Topeka CBS affiliate WIBW-13 reports that Brownback has, not for the first time, signed the Americans for Tax Reform 'Taxpayer Protection Pledge'. The Pledge commits Brownback to oppose "any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates for individuals and/or businesses" and "any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits." Other signatories listed by ATR include John McCain, Duncan Hunter, Tom Tancredo, Chuck Hagel and Mitt Romney.

The Associated Press and the Kansas City Star both report that U.S. Senator Sam Brownback will officially announce for the GOP nomination on January 20th. Brownback--a staunch fiscal and social conservative from Kansas--sees an opening in the GOP field for himself as the only, "true conservative." This should come as no shock to the political junkies out there. Brownback has a good degree of support amount religious conservatives, and has focused on some issues largely reserved for liberal democrats--HIV/AIDS and the crisis in Darfur. What remains to be seen is whether he has the charisma and (more importantly) the political networks and fund-raising ability to survive against the heavyweights such as McCain, Romney, and Giuliani. On a more immediate basis, Brownback should probably focus his efforts on trying to neutralize outgoing Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. Both Brownback and Huckabee are the only potential candidates that would be natural candidates of the religious righ

As Larry has already mentioned, Kansas Republican Senator Sam Brownback is preparing to make his formal campaign announcement on 20 January - exactly two years before the next president is inaugurated. Brownback's announcement speech will be "much more inclusive than just a conservative set of issues," campaign manager Rob Wasinger told the Kansas City Star. "He'll talk about religious freedom, taking care of the poor, challenging people to rise up and confront the challenges we face," Wasinger said. The Star suggests that Brownback "has clear appeal to conservatives" who, for various reasons, "distrust" each of John McCain, Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani. Associated Press (in the Lawrence Journal-World) says that the announcement will take place in Topeka, after which Brownback will fly to Washington to join in an anti-abortion rally.A McClatchy News story (in the San Jose Mercury) highlights Brownback's commitment to a flat tax. "We need a flat tax instead of the dreadful, in

12.04.06Jeez, I'm getting really tired of all these exploratory committees. At least this one is kind of interesting: on Brownback's steering committee are Former Major League Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, Domino's (pizza chain) founder Tom Monaghan, and the Reverened Frank Pavone, head of Priests for Life. Daniel Owen of ovaloffice2008.com pointed out that it sounds like a fun-filled weekend. Brilliant Observation.

As we've had a little flurry of announcements in the last few days - with more on the way - I know a lot of people are discovering this blog for the first time, so I wanted to extend a welcome to any new visitors. This blog is entirely impartial, and welcomes comments from across the political spectrum. Feel free to add your comments, or join in the debates and discussions taking place on the Oval Office 2008 Forum. And, if you're thinking of getting involved in a campaign, or looking for a way to show your support for your favourite candidate, don't forget to wander over to the Oval Office 2008 Shop where a range of campaign merchandise for all of the major candidates is available.

Kansas Republican Senator Sam Brownback planned to announce today that he is now officially a candidate for President. He may have been drowned out by the news from Hillary, but I can reassure you that he did announce as planned - here's the Associated Press story on the launch, on Yahoo! News. (At the time of writing, however, his website was down.)Two words now routinely appear in stories about Brownback. The first makes him the envy of his rivals. It is 'conservative'. "He's a known commodity," Focus on the Family's Carrie Gordon Earll told AP approvingly (here in the International Herald Tribune). "Nobody questions Sam Brownback" on where he stands on conservative litmus-test issues, Earll added."Analysts say Brownback, as one of the most conservative presidential hopefuls being discussed, appears to be aiming to get an early lock on religious voters and draw focus to conservative precepts in the 2008 campaign," writes Congressional Quarterly (carried in the New York Tim