Brownback angers anti-abortion groups

Brownback seems to have his own opinions, after all

Sen. Sam Brownback always has been a reliable lapdog for the anti-abortionists. Until now, according to Operation Rescue and other anti-abortion groups. Now, he's in deep dog doo with them, having failed to obey their order to oppose Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' appointment to the head of the Department of Health and Human Services. Why? Because Sebelius, a Catholic, supports a woman's right to choose a safe, legal abortion.

This is boringly typical of the anti-aborts' reduction of anyone's professional credentials to a pass/fail on the "no abortion, no time, no-how" litmus test. Sebelius, a Democrat, has successfully governed an overwhelmingly Republican state and even been re-elected, and that takes some tact, wisdom and persuasion skills. All of which will serve her well at HHS.

Abortion is not the be-all and end-all of public policy. And in the last survey I saw, a majority of the public supports the right to choose. The tyranny of Operation Rescue and their ilk may be coming to an end, when even Sam Brownback fails to toe their line.