The Anti-Sam Brownback Blog

Senator Sam Brownback caved. There really is no other way to describe it. The Associated Press is reporting that Brownback is lifting his hold on the nomination of Julie Finley to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. She is a long time GOP activist and also happens to be pro-choice. Which you would think would have no bearing on the OSCE considering it doesn’t deal with social policy. As mentioned in previous posts however, Senator Brownback blocked her nomination purely out of pandering to his base. The AP story gives Brownback’s explanation of the released hold:

“I had a very good meeting with Ms. Finley yesterday, and we had an opportunity to address concerns I and others have regarding the OSCE,” Brownback said in a statement. “I am satisfied that she will well represent the interests of the United States.”

This is not how Brownback wanted this situation to end. My gut feeling says that this was a stunt pulled specifically for the National Right to Life Committee Conference which is being held in a week. Brownback has recently announced that he is going to be a featured speaker. The NRLC was a major opponent of Finley. Had Senator Brownback succeeded in blocking her nomination he would have further cemented his support among the religious right of which the NRLC is a major component.