The Anti-Sam Brownback Blog

In the wake of the Rolling Stone article on Senator Sam Brownback, the Human Rights Watch has called for Brownback to apologize for referring to gays and lesbians as “fruit”. Here is the original quote:

“You look at the social impact of the countries that have engaged in homosexual marriage.” He shakes his head in sorrow, thinking of Sweden, which Christian conservatives believe has been made by “social engineering” into an outer ring of hell. “You’ll know ‘em by their fruits,” Brownback says. He pauses, and an awkward silence fills the room. He was citing scripture — Matthew 7:16 — but he just called gay Swedes “fruits.”

HRC has responded with a letter condemning the remark and asking for an apology:

While you and I are far from agreement on issues of fairness for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans, I had hoped we could communicate our differences with dignity. Senator, your use of the term “fruits” to describe gays sank far below the level of dignified discourse Americans rightfully expect of their elected officials.

In an apparent attempt to use a biblical passage to derogatorily jab at gays and lesbians, you have stepped well over the line of decorum and common decency.

I don’t see why anyone is surprised by Brownback’s hateful speech. Most people are aware he is just that radical. Brownback spews hate and intolerance whenever he has the chance and in the coming months, as we hear more from him, his public displays of bigotry will only increase in frequency.

Shame on you, Senator Brownback.

Delicious:

Homosexuality may not be sanctioned by the Bible, but slavery is — by Old and New Testaments alike. Brownback thinks slavery is wrong, of course, but the Bible never is. How does he square the two? “I’ve wondered on that very issue,” he says. He tentatively suggests that the Bible views slavery as a “person-to-person relationship,” something to be worked out beyond the intrusion of government. But he quickly abandons the argument; calling slavery a personal choice, after all, is awkward for a man who often compares slavery to abortion.

What the hell does “person to person relationship” mean?

Another interesting tidbit:

Brownback’s wife, Mary, heiress to a Midwest newspaper fortune, married Sam during her final year of law school and boasts that she has never worked outside the home. “Basically,” she says, “I live in the kitchen.” From her spot by the stove, Mary monitors all media consumed by her kids. The Brownbacks block several channels, but even so, innuendos slip by, she says, and the nightly news is often “too sexual.” The children, Mary says, “exude their faith.” The oldest kids “opt out” of sex education at school.

No commentary neccessary

There is not too much Brownback news today, so I wanted to highlight an article over at DailyKos that addresses one of Senator Brownback’s central beliefs. We all know that he is an opponent of Gay Marriage. From his support of a constitutional ban on gay marriage to his threats against Washington DC, his impact is wide ranging. His intolerance not only covers actual marriage, it also extends to any construction that would give legal rights to same sex couples. A diarist named lowkell took the time to write up a list of 9 Arguments Against Gay Marriage and preceded to demolish them. You should read the entire article, but here is a taste:

8) That marriage is about procreation and ensuring the continuation of Homo…Sapiens, and gays don’t procreate.
Ha ha ha hahahahahaha. OK, besides the fact that world is wildly overpopulated - 6 billion, 7 billion, do I hear 8 billion people - the last time I checked, just because you’re gay doesn’t mean your sex organs don’t work. Breaking news! Breaking news! Gays can (and do) procreate! Video at 11! Oh, and not only can (and do) the procreate - via artificial insemination, for instance - they also are perfectly capable of adopting orphaned and abandoned children who desperately need homes. I know, I know, it’s a horrible thing to tear a child out of a perfectly lovely Romanian hellhole…er, orphanage and plunk him or her down with a couple of rich, highly educated, doting (gay) parents. But you know what? It happens, and from what I can gather, the children do just fine for themselves, thank you.

Like I said, the entire article is great. Why Senator Sam Brownback continues to oppose equality baffles me.

Plus, he did make a prominent appearance in Brownback Mountain…

In a move sure to enrage Kansas Senator Sam Brownback, Washington DC has quietly passed a comprehensive domestic partnership ordinance. SF Bay Times reports:

The Domestic Partnership Equality Act of 2005 grants registered D.C. domestic partners an impressive range of benefits and obligations. The law grants full inheritance rights to registered partners and their children, prevents partners from being compelled to testify against one another in court, ensures the right to make medical decisions for each, and grants legal standing to sue in wrongful death cases.

The measure is also unusual in that it allows opposite-sex couples of any age, as well as blood relatives, to enter a domestic partnership.

The statute also adds several “marriage-like” obligations to domestic partnerships. Both partners are responsible for alimony and child support should the partnership dissolve. Each partner is also responsible debts the other has accrued under home mortgages and property holdings.

Fairness, equality, compassion. Sounds like an ordinance Brownback will hate. As I have mentioned in the past, he is the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on the District. In other words, he holds the purse strings to the District’s budget. You better believe he will wield this like a cudgel. Nothing like equality to bring out the bigoted monster Brownback.

Strong words? Yes. I support equal rights, and I cannot understand people who believe discrimination should be allowed. Brownback is motivated by his religious fervor. I’m sure he will also soon start a crusade against shellfish consumption:

And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you: They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination. Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you. (Leviticus 11:10-12)

Come on Sam. “Shellfish Sucks (and that’s bad) 2008″ It has presidential campaign slogan written all over it.

This week, the Washington DC city council will vote on a measure to allow civil unions for gay and lesbian couples. It would seem that a vote on such a measure would be a foregone conclusion in a city that voted 90% for John Kerry in 2004. However, the U.S. Senate has final veto power over all DC laws.

Who is the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on the District? Senator Sam Brownback. Understandably so, council members are hesitant to pass this measure for fear of not only a veto, but other reprisals. 365gay.com reports:

Catania [a councilman] warns that “If the District trots out too far, we become a cause celebre for Congress to whip on.” A better strategy, he told the Post is to “try to make sustainable advances instead of ideal advances.”

“Whip on” is likely to be an understatement. I previously reported on Brownback’s warning about joint tax filing for gay couples:

“I have been and continue to be a strong believer and protector of traditional marriage. I think it’s an important issue for society and for the country,” Brownback said. “This issue has now been moving across the country for several years, and I guess we will deal with something in D.C. now.”

Brownback has not made a statement on the current measure under consideration, but I would expect a comment in the next few days. In the meantime, ponder traditional conservatives focus on States Rights and a small unobtrusive Federal Government. Ask yourself if a radical Senator from Kansas should have the ability to dictate policy to disenfranchised voters 1141 miles away. I think not.

It seems these days some Christians are convinced there is a conspiracy in the U.S. to rob them of their rights. Many of these “persecution complex” Christians will be gathering at “The War on Christians and the Values Voter in 2006″ conference to be held in Washington D.C. on March 27-28. Confirmed guests include:

Senator Sam Brownback
Senator John Cornyn
Congressman Tom DeLay
Congressman Todd Akin
Congressman Louis Gohmert
Rod Parsley
Gary Bauer
Janet Parshall
Alan Keyes
Rick Scarborough
Ron Luce
Phyllis Schlafly

A veritable who’s who of radical fundamentalist Christians. Do note that Brownback is the only Presidential hopeful listed. His strategy hinges upon courting this base. For Senator Brownback to have a chance in 2008 he must have their full support.

A speaker of particular interest is Rod Parsley, the radical Mega Church pastor from Ohio who Brownback has worked with in the past. Parsley has become a powerful force in Ohio and his continued connection with Brownback can only help the Senator’s bonafides with social conservatives.

Remember Chuck Hurley, President of the Iowa Family Policy Center? He was Senator Brownback’s classmate in law school and remains a close friend. Hurley has even pledged his support for a Brownback Presidential run. Now Hurley is spearheading an assault on the rights of GLBT Americans in Iowa.

Republican state lawmakers say they will push for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage in Iowa after six same-sex couples filed legal action Tuesday claiming they should have the right to marry.

The Iowa couples filed a lawsuit in Polk County District Court claiming denial of a marriage license violates their constitutional rights.

Chuck Hurley, president of the Iowa Family Policy Center, said many in Iowa’s religious community will join the push for a constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage.

“We’re very confident that if it is allowed to be debated and voted on, we will continue to have common-sense marriage recognized in law,” Hurley said.

Ahh yes, common sense discrimination and bigotry. Thank goodness there are people like Chuck Hurley and Sam Brownback to protect me from the deleterious effects of gay marriage.

On a more serious note, this is setting up IFPC to be a major player in Iowa electoral politics. I would not be surprised at all to see Hurley resign from IFPC and run Brownback’s Iowa Caucus plan. Brownback will have a pre-organized, religiously motivated base ready to caucus on his behalf. A nice ace in the hole, so to speak.

President Bush’s Healthy Marriage Initiative seems to appear any time republicans are worried about support from their Christian Fundamentalist base. Given the subject matter, it should be no surprise that Senator Sam Brownback is involved. The Washington Times reports:

“Tragically, government spends hundreds of billions of dollars each year to pick up the pieces when marriage fails, yet does virtually nothing to preserve or strengthen marriage,” Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) said in a letter sent Thursday to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley (R-IA).
“The healthy marriage initiative represents a bold departure from this pattern of failed policy,” said the letter, which was signed by Republican Sens. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina, Jim Talent of Missouri, Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, Sam Brownback of Kansas, Jim DeMint of South Carolina, Mel Martinez of Florida and David Vitter of Louisiana.

A veritable who’s who of panderers to the religious right. How does this legislation encourage marriage? The Heritage Foundation explains:

The proposed program would seek to increase healthy marriage by providing individuals and couples with:

• Accurate information on the value of marriage in the lives of men, women, and children;
• Marriage-skills education that will enable couples to reduce conflict and increase the happiness and longevity of their relationship; and
• Experimental reductions in the financial penalties against marriage that are currently contained in all federal welfare programs.

Of course all of these claimed benefits would only be for heterosexual couples. No need for gay or lesbian couples to attempt to get the benefits. This is par for the course for these intolerant republicans. Certainly Brownback doesn’t like gays and lesbians. The HRC is quick to comment on the rank hypocrisy:

“We think it’s ironic that the administration is spending $1.5 billion to support this [marriage initiative] while at the same time considering a constitutional amendment that would deny the security and stability and protection of marriage to literally millions of same-sex couples who are in lifelong devoted, committed relationships and want to embrace those rights,” said HRC spokesman Mark Shields.

I don’t have a problem with the counseling services the legislation would provide, even though I’m sure most of the money would go to churches which would discriminate and proselytize. Frankly, churches have taken the lead on marriage counseling and I wish more secular options were available.

My main concern with this government meddling in marriage centers around the last point of financial incentives. I don’t believe the government should be in the business of monetizing marriage. It seems to me that a decision to marry based upon potential financial benefits is built upon a shaky foundation. Besides seeming crass, would republicans really want people marrying for the money?

Additionally, why should women women who have abusive boyfriends be financially encouraged to marry them? Shouldn’t a strong woman who walks away from abuse be rewarded for trying to provide a better environment for her children? Why penalize women in this way?

Obviously this legislation is pandering towards a certain set of voters who don’t care about women’s or GLBT issues. Brownback certainly fits that category.

Over at Thoughts From Kansas, Josh mentioned that whenever he heard about the movie “Brokeback Mountain” the phrase that sprang to his mind was “Brownback Mountain”. He took his ideas to photoshop, and the rest is history:

Photoshop makes me so happy! Great job Josh!