The Anti-Sam Brownback Blog

Today (Friday) Senator Sam Brownback will be in Ohio to attend a rally for Reformation Ohio, a group that wants to register 400,000 conservative voters in that state. The associated press reports:

A second conservative Christian movement is planning a foray into politics built on its success in helping gain passage of a gay marriage ban and the election of President Bush in Ohio last year.

Reformation Ohio, created by a suburban Columbus minister, the Rev. Rod Parsley, is a four-year plan to bring 100,000 people to Christianity, help low-income families and recruit 400,000 new voters.

It scheduled a Statehouse rally on Friday expected to be attended by U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, a Kansas Republican, and U.S. Rep. Walter Jones, a North Carolina Republican.

What the story leaves out is Rev. Rod Parsley’s sketchy background. The Reverend is a “Big Money” Christian who focuses on financial wealth and giving plenty to his church. He claims no political affiliation and claims he is a “Christocrat”. He also has some interesting ideas about Islam. The Columbus Dispatch reported on April 17th 2005 (via lexis):

Parsley’s book advocates fighting “judicial tyranny” expressed in rulings such as in the Terri Schiavo case in Florida; opposing homosexuality and abortion; ending poverty and racism; and challenging Islam, which Parsley calls “the anti-Christ religion.”

Additionally, The Columbus Dispatch reported on August 21st 2005 (via lexis):

In his book, he also condemns Islam as being responsible for “more pain, more bloodshed and more devastation than nearly any other force on Earth.”

CoughBullshitCoughCrusadesCoughCough

The real question is what kind of credibility would Brownback have as President if he keeps company with people who hold views like those? None. You think Muslim nations are wary of President Bush’s motives? Brownback associates with pastors who want to destroy Islam.

The political reasons for this visit are obvious. Parsley is a powerful advocate with the group of voters most likely to identify with Senator Brownback. A tacit endorsement some time down the road would be a boon to Brownback’s campaign.

Additionally this should put to rest those that say Brownback is throwing his hat into the 2008 contest solely to advance his pet issues (such as Tancredo). While Ohio used to be relevant in primaries, super Tuesday is less super because of the large number of states that have leapfrogged Ohio and now have primaries in February. The only reason to pander to an Ohio preacher in 2005 is to lay the ground for a general election in 2008. By campaigning in Ohio Senator Brownback is tipping his cards and showing he’s all in.