Talk to Sen. Sam Brownback

Thu Oct 26, 11:48 PM ET

Talk to Power is pleased to welcome Sen. Sam Brownback (news, bio, voting record) as our next guest. The Kansas Republican is now fielding your questions and comments and will respond on Nov. 1. Thank you in advance to everyone for their posts and to Sen. Brownback for participating.

Sen. Sam Brownback

Sen. Brownback first ran for the Senate in 1996 after Bob Dole announced he was resigning. A staunch conservative voice, he has worked against embryonic stem cell research as well as all forms of human cloning.

Because Sen. Brownback is a leading Christian conservative in the Senate, the issue of church and state was a key theme of many people posting early comments on the boards.  (And we might as well take this as an opportunity to note that we will delete offensive posts, whatever their political stripe.)

One reader wrote: "Why is it so important to Christian Conservatives that I, a non-believer, live by your code of morals? Why isn't it enough for you to abstain from things that you feel are not moral, such as online poker and Howard Stern? Why do you feel it necessary that you force me to abstain from them as well?"

The stem-cell debate was also on many readers' minds. "Please elaborate on your stance on embryonic stem cell research. Isn't the usage of a relatively small clump of cells that could only possibly have turned into life worth saving millions of already-living people with painful, horrible diseases?"

Similarly, the issue of gay marriage was raised by numerous people. "You've been very clear that you oppose same-sex marriage. Would you ever support the compromise of civil unions that grant the same laws currently held by heterosexual couples but not call it marriage? It seems to me that granting laws to some citizens and not others is discriminatory, and as a politician, don't you feel you have an obligation to promote equality, fairness, and tolerance. The Constitution does, after all, clearly state that all citizens are to be given equal protection under the law."

Beyond these issues, numerous other topics were raised.

On the war in

Iraq

"Under what conditions do you see the United States able to withdraw from Iraq," wrote one reader, "and how would you suggest attaining those conditions?"

On healthcare

"We continue to have in excess of 40 million Americans without healthcare coverage, and about just as many, if not more, Americans who now consider themselves to be 'with insurance, but underinsured.' Our healthcare systems, despite rapid gains in technology, continue to remain fractured and/or broken in many places of our great nation. The private market place is not motivated to solve these issues, and models like the VA Healthcare system, despite having good benchmarks for striving towards access to quality care in a timely fashion scare many citizens like myself towards having a national healthcare program, IF said program were going to be managed, and funded, as the VA is. Having said all of that: What say you?"

On the squeezed middle class

"With the cost of college soaring, what do you propose to do for middle income families? It seems that we qualify for nothing, and yet pay full price for everything! Why is that, it seems, the middle class has no voice in politics at all, not only for these issues, but for so many others?

On patents

One reader posted an unusual question — and one we are pleased to highlight — regarding patents.  Some critics argue that patents are being granted too aggressively to processes or ideas, and that innovation and ultimately economic gain may be stifled. The reader wrote: "Do you feel that business methods are valid patent candidates? And if so, would you limit them them in any way?" 

On Darfur

"You have demonstrated interest in Darfur. Please explain why nothing more substantive about this genocide has been accomplished. It is incomprehensible we were given rhetoric about

Saddam Hussein being a 'bad man' necessitating our involvement, but the horrible government in Sudan continues unchallenged."

On online forums

As with previous guests, a number of readers asked questions about the forum itself.  "
What influence do comments like these on Yahoo have on the way you view politics and your constituents?" asked one.

Another wrote: "Do you ever get frustrated by people making political statements in forums like this instead of asking actual questions intended to create dialog on the subject they find important? As someone often in the public eye, do you find this a problem in dealing with the professional media as well as the general public, and how do you get your message across when dealing with this tactic?"

On finding common ground

Since Talk to Power launched in August, many readers have expressed frustration with partisan politics.  One reader suggested a new way of framing the issue: "I have recently heard you remark that we need to find the things that link us together rather than focusing on the issues that divide us as a nation. Assuming that most people have formed faily solid positions on the war, abortion, taxes, etc., which issues do you think we can focus on as Americans that might bring us together. As a conservative Christian, I am absolutely sick and tired of all of the negativity in our politics and would like to see a return to honest debate and occasionally agreeing on an idea, regardless of which political party proposed it!"

* * * *

We continue to field your questions and comments for Sen. Brownback on matters of foreign and domestic policy. As usual, we request that you keep your posts civil and succinct. And please do tell us a little about yourself and what motivates you to write. Thanks again to everyone for participating.

Next: Rep. Tom Davis responds
Previous: Eli Pariser responds

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Comments

Join the discussion. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.

1
Could you please reaffirm the principle of the separation of church and state. As an atheist I am sickened by all this bible thumping by elected officials.
Posted by rocket_roff on Thu, Oct 26, 2006 6:07 PM ET
2
As a conservative christian, how do you reconcile the structure of our tax codes and laws, which promote the interests of property holders and the maintenance of wealth, with the example of the life of Christ, which was based on charity and giving?
Posted by jrhodesbecker on Thu, Oct 26, 2006 6:13 PM ET
3
Why did President Bush's two service age children not serve in the military at a time when the President, as Commander in Chief, is responsible for ensuring proper staffing levels of the military? And would you tell your service age children it's their responsibility to serve?
Posted by johncharlesmcgrath on Thu, Oct 26, 2006 6:28 PM ET
4
Can you please get with Tihart and let him know that the "brown americans" were insulted by his commericals. When America works America prospers! Please let the brown hispanics know that you support us working the jobs that others won't take.
Posted by emmanuelgaribay@sbcglobal.net on Thu, Oct 26, 2006 6:33 PM ET
5
As a true independent, following politics and government can lead to a headache. Certain issues will always reek with parisan politics, but other issues are important enough where both sides of the aisle should sit down and just decide what is best for America. Can we expect rationality like that from Republicans (who can't seem to stray an inch from the "family values" image, leading to stubborness on issues such as stem cell research that would benefit not just America but Humanity)and Democrats (who can't seem to take a position on anything, but are blind in their support for things like Affirmative Action for the minority vote) any time in the near future?
Posted by pneri57 on Thu, Oct 26, 2006 6:50 PM ET