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Re: Sebelius Alludes To Race Factor; GOP Reacts

GPM — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:02:59 -0000

Kansans generally value hard work, fiscal responsibility and self-sufficiency. It's easy to see, then, why they would support John McCain over Barack Obama - without any regard whatsoever to the color of either man's skin.

In light of the fact that Kansans will almost certainly vote overwhelmingly for John McCain, it's disturbing beyond words to hear our governor publicly represent us as overwhelmingly racist.

I suppose the next thing I will hear is the governor of Kansas publicly describing its citizenry as bitter, gun-toting, religion-clinging bowlers.

Re: Kansas GOP objects to Sebelius’s campaigning in Iowa

GPM — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 02:51:47 -0000

I've lived in Kansas for 50 years and have been a registered Democrat for over 30 of them - and I object to Sebelius' campaigning in Iowa.

I understand that Sebelius will be out of a job shortly, and that she's looking to secure a position for herself in an Obama administration.

But Obama and Sebelius are wrong to expect the people of Kansas to pay her to campaign for him.

Re: Sebalius says McCain has morphed from ‘maverick to sidekick’

GPM — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 02:45:50 -0000

Sebelius has morphed from governor of the State of Kansas into a patronage-seeking shill.

If she's so concerned about the economy of the state, perhaps she should come home and do her job - she is, after all, collecting a salary from the state - as opposed to spending all her time campaigning for a position in an Obama administration.

Re: Sebelius Alludes To Race Factor; GOP Reacts

GPM — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 02:35:42 -0000

I've lived in Kansas for nearly 50 years and have been a registered Democrat for the last 32 of them. My take on Sebelius, who I've met, is that she is a nice, relatively ordinary woman of average intelligence.

In nearly eight years, however, it is notable that her administration has been entirely reactive and has not taken a proactive leadership role with respect to any issue.

Sebelius complacently presides over a state that:

Has some of the worst worker protection laws in the nation.

Has some of the most polluted water in the nation.

Has no usury laws to protect its citizens.

Despite being directly north of Oklahoma (which passed some of the toughest laws against illegal immigration in the nation), has taken no legislative steps to constrain illegal immigration in the state.

Has an education system that is widely desparate and, for the majority of the last 50 years, has largely functioned under court supervision to ensure equality.

Governor Sebelius has done nothing whatsoever with respect to any of the above nor has she taken a leadership position with respect to any other issue that could make the lives of Kansans (who, quite frankly, really don't expect all that much) better.

She's not been a disgrace. But she hasn't actually done much of anything, either.

I'm somewhat shocked, then, to hear Governor Sebelius refer to Obama's race as the reason for the close race, however.

Kansas is staunchly Republican and the majority of people here truly embrace many of the positions of the party of Lincoln - hard work, limited government intervention in the lives of the citizenry (see above), fiscal responsibility and self-sufficiency.

Life in Kansas is hard (no one ever got rich easily here) and "toughness" - both mental and physical - is both regarded and expected. "Bleeding hearts" really just don't have a place here.

Through this lens, it's easy to see why Kansans would vote for John McCain - as the state almost certainly will - without giving any consideration to his skin color.

It's disturbing beyond words, however, to hear a sitting governor suggest that the citizens of her own state are overwhelmingly racist.

Instead of spending all her time campaigning for Obama, perhaps it's time for Sebelius to come home and reacquaint herself with Kansans.