WICHITA, Kan. - My father's father was a pioneer in Kansas and much given to teaching essential lessons by using old folk sayings. One of his favorites was, "Always keep your word; without honor you are nothing." I have held that memory in my mind all of my life. We were taught to never make a promise we couldn't keep unless we apologized in person for not keeping our word.
Frequently I have been reminded of his words, especially in politics. In 1976, my husband was a candidate for Udall delegate to the National Democratic Convention. I counted votes and he was a little short so I approached the leaders of the Kansas Young Democrats, suggesting they support my husband and our contingent would give our second votes to their supposed delegate. After discussion, the two men told me that was agreeable. They would trade votes. Unfortunately, they reneged on their commitment. One of the leaders came to me later and apologized; the other just smirked at me. I have never forgotten his failure to keep his word and to this day will not trust him.
Recently, Sam Brownback, U. S. Senator from Kansas running for governor, has also failed to keep commitments. Last month, he held a meeting in Dodge City with community leaders, both elected officials and others for the stated purpose of listening to them about their area's needs. They spoke and, following the leadership conference, he held a town hall meeting supposedly to speak at length about the results of the conference. Brownback talked about the vision he held for Kansas without mentioning one word that came from the community leadership.
Did he break a promise? To the leadership, he might not have; but to the citizens of southwest Kansas, he certainly did.
Not long ago Brownback voted to approve the establishment of a nonpartisan commission to investigate the national debt and to make recommendations.
When approval of the proposal came up for a final vote he, with all of the Republicans, voted against the measure. Why? The proposal had not been changed in any way; it was still bipartisan led equally by a Republican and a Democrat. No, he and the rest voted against it this time because the Republican leadership ordered them to do so.
Aren't we tired of this constant warfare? Aren't the American people disgusted electing people who "talk with forked tongues." Brownback was elected to serve the citizens of Kansas, not the corporate leadership of multi-national conglomerates who send Kansas jobs to Mexico and Asia. He has not kept his word to us so far; why should we believe him now?
Why should we believe him now? Cuz he's a republican and sheers us sheeps ta make fine linens fer his base of corporate friends and extreme right conservatives.