Posted on Sat, Apr. 11, 2009

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Sam Brownback stands behind decision to back Kathleen Sebelius

Associated Press

TOPEKA - Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback acknowledges that abortion opponents are upset with him for not opposing Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' nomination as U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services.

But Brownback, a prominent abortion opponent, said that pragmatism guided his decision not to sound an alarm about the nomination of the Sebelius, an abortion-rights Democrat.

"People have been pretty upset," he said. "I've been saying to them there's a practicality to this."

He said any nominee for the HHS post put forward by President Obama would be someone who believes abortion should remain a legal option.

"If you're going to have a pro-choice person in that position, it's better to have a Kansan," Brownback said. "Governor Sebelius is a talented lady. I will be fighting with her on several major policy issues. I have no doubt."

Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and former Republican Sens. Bob Dole and Nancy Kassebaum Baker endorsed Sebelius' appointment.

The Senate is expected to vote on her nomination after April 20, and she's expected to win confirmation.

Troy Newman, president of the Wichita-based anti-abortion group Operation Rescue, said the slight from Brownback wouldn't be easily forgotten.

"He'll look back at this moment and say, 'I should have done something different,' " Newman said. "Make no mistake about it, the pro-life movement is furious. It's a huge miscalculation."

But Mary Kay Culp, executive director of Kansans for Life, said she can understand Brownback's thinking, even if she disagrees with it.

If Sebelius is confirmed as HHS secretary, she won't run for Brownback's Senate seat in 2010 -- when he plans to run for governor -- likely preserving the seat for Republicans. Also, Culp said, she understands the argument for having a Kansan in a Cabinet post.

But, she said, abortion opponents are growing angrier about the Obama administration.

"It's dangerous because I think things are changing," she said of Brownback's stance. "People aren't really in a mood for political strategizing when they feel their moral values have taken a punch in the gut."

She said Brownback remains the best candidate for governor for abortion opponents, but she is disappointed in his position on Sebelius.

No senator on the Finance or the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee asked Sebelius a question about abortion during her confirmation hearings. Roberts is on both committees and Brownback isn't on either.

"People knew her record," Brownback said. "There was a lot of discussion about it in the (closed GOP) caucus."

Brownback said he didn't know whether the situation would influence his campaign for the Republican nomination for governor in 2010 against Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh.

"I've had issues like this come up before where you've just got to make a call," Brownback said. "You make the call you feel like in the overall scheme of things is the best."