Kansas views on Kobach, Benghazi hearing, early childhood education, State Fair
Kobach – We’re confused. We thought Secretary of State Kris Kobach wanted prosecutorial powers to curb voting by undocumented immigrants. He got those powers. Now we learn his initial cases involve only alleged double voting by citizens. For heaven’s sake, is this what nearly five years of warning, lobbying and spinning is all about? Does anyone really think that double voting is doing in our democracy? It seems to us that what is damaging our democracy is the slippery, exaggerated and too often arrogant behavior of our secretary of state.
After years of hearing Secretary of State Kris Kobach complain about the state’s lack of prosecutions for voter fraud, most Kansans probably were expecting a more dramatic start to the secretary’s own prosecution efforts. Having obtained the authority earlier this year to prosecute such cases on his own, Kobach kicked off his anti-fraud campaign by filing charges against three people who allegedly voted both in Kansas and another state during the same election cycle. All three people apparently are U.S. citizens, so the prosecution has nothing to do with the state’s new proof-of-citizenship law.
Officials in many other states actually pursue ways to increase voter participation. Not in Kansas, which has become a model for trampling voter rights and the electoral process. Secretary of State Kris Kobach may crow about prosecuting three possible voting violations, but having nearly 37,000 prospective voters sidelined hardly is a victory for democracy. When the next election rolls around, ultraconservative state lawmakers who’ve supported Kobach’s incessant quest to rig the system in their favor need to be thrown out of office.
Benghazi – The House Select Committee on Benghazi has lost all legitimacy in its zeal to damage Hillary Clinton. Republicans should cut their losses and disband this partisan witch hunt. Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Wichita, who serves on the Benghazi panel, one-upped the politicization by suggesting Benghazi was worse than Watergate. Failing to heed the proviso that such comparisons are odious, Pompeo huffed and puffed to boost his own ambitions for speaker. It’s unattractive, politically tone-deaf and embarrassing to his home state.
Early education – Gov. Sam Brownback’s formation of a working group dedicated to early childhood education is a welcome development. The importance of early childhood education can’t be overstated, and any attempt to enhance efforts in that arena – publicly, privately or jointly – should be well-received by Kansans.
State Fair – Cooperative weather always helps. But record attendance at this year’s Kansas State Fair is evidence that it remains as relevant and strong as ever. The fair recently released its official attendance numbers, reporting that 369,322 people passed through the gates, a new record, up about 7,500 from the previous high mark in 1995. In the intervening 20 years, State Fair leadership might have had reason to worry whether the event’s best days were behind it. Especially strong attendance last year and this, however, should put any lingering fears to rest. The fair’s still got it.
This story was originally published October 25, 2015 at 7:07 PM with the headline "Kansas views on Kobach, Benghazi hearing, early childhood education, State Fair."