The Anti-Sam Brownback Blog

It is unclear what this defeat will mean for the Senator’s presidential aspirations. The key will be noticing how Senator Brownback explains himself to the anti-choice activists. Especially during his address at the NRLC Conference. I would imagine he will allude to higher political pressure and defer some of the blame onto his presidential rival, Senate Majority leader Bill Frist. He also likely will diplomatically defer some of the blame onto the Whitehouse. This would fit the narrative that is starting to seep into the religious conservative consciousness. Many religious activists are beginning to feel like they are used to win elections and then discarded until the next cycle. A prime example usually cited is the President’s emphasis on the Constitutional Amendment to ban gay marriage. During the fall of 2004 Bush often talked about the need for an amendment. However, once he was re-elected the talk of pushing an amendment faded and the activists were told “now is not the time.” They don’t care if now is not the time. They wanted it this spring.

It is this subtle sense of betrayal that Senator Brownback will have to use in order to defeat other, more moderate, GOP candidates in a primary. He has to feed off of a feeling of buyer’s remorse that the extreme right of the party is already beginning to vocalize. These will be his voters. Brownback is known as a constant in the religious right. He always votes the correct way. He constantly speaks to the activist base. Here in Kansas he can be very extreme without endangering his seat.

When addressing his base he will have to spin this defeat as a valiant effort against overwhelming odds. Can he get away with it? I think so. There is no one currently running for president who is more conservative or who has a better religious right pedigree. Senator Sam Brownback is pure-bred extremist.