I am giving Sam a second look

I have decided since the 2^nd debate at South Carolina to give Sam Brownback a second look. I have not reached a decision about who I am going to support yet. My impression of Sam Brownback has been that he is just a “single issue” pro-life candidate. After the debate in South Carolina I decided to dig a little deeper into the background of Sam Brownback.

Sam is one of four candidates who have been interviewed and graded by Club for Growth. Reading their white paper I have learned this about Sam from Club for Growth President Pat Toomey:

"Over his year and a half in the House of Representatives and his ten years in the U.S. Senate, Senator Brownback has proven himself to be, on balance, a strong defender of limited government and pro-growth policies," said the Club's President, Pat Toomey. "On taxes, Social Security reform, school choice, and tort reform, Senator Brownback has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to fighting for American taxpayers. His record on trade, political speech, and government regulation of business is generally pro-freedom, with a few exceptions."

Sam Brownback on free speech

"Groups that seek to advertise a point of view should not, and I believe constitutionally can not, be limited from their participation in the political system. If provisions to hinder constitutionally protected free speech issue advocacy are added to the bill, I will vote against the final bill" (10/12/99).”

Senator Brownback was also one of seven Republican senators to sign a letter to Majority Leader Bill Frist in 2006 that threatened a filibuster against the House-passed bill to impose draconian speech restriction on certain nonprofit advocacy groups (Letter, 06/09/06). The letter played an important role in the demise of the House bill. In our interview with him, Senator Brownback continued to emphasize his support for free speech.

Compare Sam to John McCain wrt free speech

Over the ten-plus years since Senator McCain first introduced campaign finance reform legislation, he has pursued his trampling of the First Amendment with a vengeance. On a April 28, 2006 taping of The Don Imus Show, McCain cavalierly admitted as much: "He [Michael Graham] also mentioned my abridgement of First Amendment rights, i.e. talking about campaign finance reform . . . I know that money corrupts . . . I would rather have a clean government than one where quote First Amendment rights are being respected, that has become corrupt. If I had my choice, I'd rather have the clean government."

In defense of the provision banning issue advocacy ads that mention a candidate 60 days before an election, McCain said, "These ads are almost always negative attack ads, and do little to further beneficial debate and healthy political dialogue." In his brief to the Supreme Court, Senator McCain continued along the same lines: "These ads are direct, blatant attacks on the candidates. We don't think that's right."

Thus, Senator McCain and his partner in crime, Senator Russ Feingold, have anointed themselves the arbiters of appropriate political speech, worthy of deciphering which speech is "right" and which should be permitted in American political debate. To this day, Senator McCain remains responsible for the greatest modern infringement of political free speech. While bestowing significant advantages upon incumbent office holders, this feat has created neither a less corrupt political domain nor a more democratic one.

Compare Sam to Rudy Giuliani wrt free speech

From a speech Mayor Giuliani gave:

“Freedom is about authority. Freedom is about the willingness of every single human being to cede to lawful authority a great deal of discretion about what you do. [Interruption by someone in the audience.] “You have free speech so I can be heard.”

Sam Brownback quotes from 2^nd debate:

9:09PM First question for Brownback, about his initial response to the troop surge. "I think we've got to pull together over here to win over there.... it's difficult for democracy for one party to be for a war and another party to be against a war." Smacks around Harry Reid for saying that we've lost.

9:24PM Brownback is asked about gasoline prices. Ethanol from Kansas (or Iowa) - drilling more at home - supports drilling in ANWR. More conservation here. Technology and increasing supply here.

9:49PM Brownback is asked about "difficult decisions" w/r/t abortion - How would you explain to a rape victim why her trauma should be compounded... "The basic question remains - is the child in the womb? Is it a viable life? And if it is a person, is it entitled to respect?... Abortion is a procedure, we're talking about a life... ending a life of this child. Will that make the woman in a better situation if that takes place?"

10:20PM Brownback is asked whether he would go to the United Nations for authorization - Brownback says "No." "Is your primary concern U.S. lives, or how you're going to be perceived in the world. And my standard is, U.S. lives."

Maybe Sam will do something I don’t like, but right now I am willing to give Sam a second look.