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Sam Brownback on Families & Children

Republican Sr Senator (KS)


Get back to the basics: life, family, & faith

I think we, as a country, have got to get back to the basics. And I think we have wandered away from it. And until we get back to the basics, we’re not going to be able to grow and prosper. And to me those basics are: life--that every life is sacred, bea
Source: 2007 GOP Values Voter Presidential Debate Sep 17, 2007

Rebuilding the family solves problems of education & crime

It is important that the Republican party stand for family values. We need to rebuild the family in this country. I think we need to be clear about our efforts and willingness to do that. And if we’re going to solve problems of education, crime, what’s taking place in some of our areas where we’re not getting the growth, we’ve got to rebuild the family. That’s at the core of what we need to do. We should be bolder about standing up for family. Family’s important for us, and it’s important for America.
Source: 2007 GOP debate at UNH, sponsored by Fox News Sep 5, 2007

FactCheck:No 80% illegitimacy in countries with gay marriage

Brownback said, “In countries that have redefined marriage, where they’ve said, okay, it’s not just a man and a woman, it can be two men, two women, the marriage rates in those countries have plummeted to where you have counties now in Northern Europe where 80% of the first-born children are born out of wedlock.”

This sentence has so many problems it’s hard to know where to begin. We confirmed that two Norwegian counties, Nordland and Nord-Troendelag, have an out-of-wedlock birthrate in excess of 80%. But Norway doesn’t have legalized gay marriage, so Brownback’s use of Norwegian statistics to argue his point is illogical and misleading.

The Netherlands and Belgium are the only Northern European countries that do, enacted in 2001 and 2003, respectively. The Netherlands’ rate of out-of-wedlock births is much higher than it was a decade ago, but in 2005 the rate was only about 35%. In Belgium, unmarried birth rates have been climbing since the mid-1970s.

Source: FactCheck.org on 2007 GOP debate at UNH Sep 5, 2007

Highest priority is rebuilding the family

Q: What will you restore to the Oval Office?

A: Rebuilding the family. You know, in Washington DC, right now, 63% of the children are born out of wedlock. Nationwide, the number is 36%. You can raise a good child in that setting, but it gets more difficult. The best place is between a mom and a dad bonded together for life. I would stand for life. And I would appoint the next justice I hope would be the voting decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Source: 2007 GOP Iowa Straw Poll debate Aug 5, 2007

Greatness depends on our communities more than our Capitol

Our greatness as a nation depends more on what happens in America’s communities than in America’s Capitol. What goes on in our families, churches, schools, and neighborhoods is a far more important indicator of our national character and civil health than what goes on in the corridors of Congress. Congress reflects America. Communities make America.

The march for reform through our cultural institutions will be a long march; no quick fix will do, no shortcuts exist. Reform of our cultural institutions cannot and does not occur without dedicated reformers, energized social movements, strategic plans, and a coherent philosophy.

Appealing to conscience and reason takes time, patience, and persistence, and offers few short-term political benefits. But it is the best way to keep citizens involved, society civil, and our culture healthy.

Source: Building a Healthy Culture, Don Eberly, ed., p. xiv Jun 3, 2001

Voted YES on killing restrictions on violent videos to minors.

Vote to kill an amendment that would prohibit the distribution of violent video programming to the public during hours when children are reasonably likely to comprise a substantial portion of the audience. Voting YES would kill the amendment proposing the new restrictions. Voting NO would suport the amendment proposing the new restrictions.
Reference: Bill S.254 ; vote number 1999-114 on May 13, 1999

Rated 100% by the Christian Coalition: a pro-family voting record.

Brownback scores 100% by the Christian Coalition on family issues

The Christian Coalition was founded in 1989 by Dr. Pat Robertson to give Christians a voice in government. We represent millions of people of faith and enable them to have a strong, unified voice in the conversation we call democracy.

    Our Five-Fold Mission:
  1. Represent the pro-family point of view before local councils, school boards, state legislatures, and Congress
  2. Speak out in the public arena and in the media
  3. Train leaders for effective social and political action
  4. Inform pro-family voters about timely issues and legislation
  5. Protest anti-Christian bigotry and defend the rights of people of faith.
Our ratings are based on the votes the organization considered most important; the numbers reflect the percentage of time the representative voted the organization's preferred position.
Source: CC website 03n-CC on Dec 31, 2003

Other candidates on Families & Children: Sam Brownback on other issues:
KS Gubernatorial:
Mark Parkinson
KS Senatorial:
Jerry Moran
Joe Bellis
Lisa Johnston
Pat Roberts
Todd Tiahrt

Newly appointed in 2009;
special election in 2010:

DE:Kaufman (D)
CO:Bennet (D)
IL:Burris (D)
MA:Brown (R)
NY:Gillibrand (D)

Announced retirement as of 2010:
CT:Dodd(D)
DE:Kaufman(D)
FL:Martinez (R)
FL:LeMieux(R)
IL:Burris(D)
IN:Bayh(D)
KS:Brownback(R)
KY:Bunning(R)
MO:Bond(R)
ND:Dorgan(D)
NH:Gregg(R)
OH:Voinovich(R)
PA:Specter(R)
UT:Bennett(R)
WV:Byrd(D)
WV:Goodwin(D)


Senate races in 2010:
AK:Miller(R) vs.McAdams(D) vs.Murkowski(I)
AL:Shelby(R) vs.Barnes(D)
AR:Lincoln(D) vs.Boozman(R)
AZ:McCain(R) vs.Glassman(D)
CA:Boxer(D) vs.Fiorina(R) vs.Lightfoot(L)
CO:Bennet(D) vs.Buck(R)
CT:Blumenthal(D) vs.McMahon(R)
DE:Coons(D) vs.O`Donnell(R)
FL:Rubio(R) vs.Crist(I) vs.Meek(D) vs.DeCastro(C) vs.Snitker(L)
GA:Isakson(R) vs.Thurmond(D)
HI:Inouye(D) vs.Cavasso(R)
IA:Grassley(R) vs.Conlin(D)
ID:Crapo(R) vs.Sullivan(D)
IL:Giannoulias(D) vs.Kirk(R)
IN:Ellsworth(D) vs.Coats(R)
KS:Johnston(D) vs.Moran(R) vs.Bellis(Rfm)
KY:Conway(D) vs.Paul(R)
LA:Vitter(R) vs.Melancon(D)
MD:Mikulski(D) vs.Wargotz(R)
MO:Carnahan(R) vs.Blunt(D)
NC:Burr(R) vs.Marshall(D)
ND:Potter(D) vs.Hoeven(R)
NH:Ayotte(R) vs.Hodes(D)
NV:Reid(D) vs.Angle(R)
NY6:Schumer(D) vs.Townsend(R)
NY2:Gillibrand(D) vs.DioGuardi(R)
OH:Fisher(R) vs.Portman(D) vs.Deaton(C)
OK:Coburn(R) vs.Myles(D)
OR:Wyden(D) vs.Huffman(R)
PA:Toomey(R) vs.Sestak(D)
SC:DeMint(R) vs.Greene(D)
SD:Thune(R) unopposed
UT:Lee(R) vs.Granato(D)
VT:Leahy(D) vs.Britton(R) vs.Freilich(I)
WA:Murray(D) vs.Rossi(R)
WI:Feingold(D) vs.Johnson(D)
WV:Manchin(D) vs.Raese(R)
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Page last updated: Oct 29, 2010