The Kansas Republican Assembly is the haven of far-right Republicans like Kris Van Meteren, Phill Kline, Steve Abrams, Kathy Martin, and Connie Morris. The KRA seems to think it's the sole spiritual home of True ConservativesTM and dismisses any Republicans who don't agree with their platform as RINOs - Republicans In Name Only. They've forgotten that true conservatives are resistant to change, not radical enforcers of it.
In the past, their endorsements for the Kansas Board of Education have been unflinchingly anti-evolution: Abrams, Martin, Morris, John Bacon, Ken Willard . . .
On Saturday, the KRA released its litany of preferred candidates. In particular, for our state board of education:
SBOE 2 Brandon Kenig
SBOE 4 Robert Meissner
SBOE 6 Kathy Martin
SBOE 8 Dennis E. Hedke
SBOE 10 Marty Marshall
SBOE 4 Robert Meissner
SBOE 6 Kathy Martin
SBOE 8 Dennis E. Hedke
SBOE 10 Marty Marshall
When it comes to the state board of education, the KRA's backing is the kiss of death to any support from moderate and pro-science voters in the state.
Interestingly enough, three known creationists are running for the Kansas Senate: Steve Abrams, Iris Van Meter (Kris Van Meteren's mother), and Larry Salmans. Why would open, avowed creationists bother to run for office after Kansas voters rejected that ideology in 2000 & 2006?
It seems obvious that the Discovery Institute is determined to bring the game back to Kansas, the game Rev. Douglas Phenix so aptly described as baseball forced to play by the rules of tennis. I'm betting that the DI & the KRA-endorsed candidates will bring an "Academic Freedom
The KRA's favored candidates for the Kansas House and Senate are below the fold. Read 'em and note 'em.
KS Senate 1 Dennis D. Pyle
KS Senate 5 Steve Fitzgerald
KS Senate 8 Benjamin B. Hodge
KS Senate 9 Julia Lynn
KS Senate 10 Mary Pilcher Cook
KS Senate 11 Jerry Clinton
KS Senate 13 Jacob LaTurner
KS Senate 14 Iris M. VanMeter
KS Senate 16 Ty Masterson
KS Senate 17 Jim Barnett
KS Senate 18 James J. (Jim) Zeller
KS Senate 19 Shari Weber
KS Senate 21 Paul E. Barkey
KS Senate 24 Tom Arpke
KS Senate 26 Dick Kelsey
KS Senate 27 Leslie D. "Les" Donovan Sr.
KS Senate 28 Mike Petersen
KS Senate 29 Kenya Cox
KS Senate 30 Susan Wagle
KS Senate 31 Carolyn McGinn
KS Senate 32 Steve E Abrams
KS Senate 33 Andrew Evans
KS Senate 36 Larry D. Salmans
KS Senate 37 Jeff Colyer
KS Senate 38 Tim Huelskamp
KS Senate 40 Ralph Ostmeyer
KS House 2 Jeffrey Grant Locke
KS House 3 Thomas A Price
KS House 4 Lynne D. Oharah
KS House 5 Cynthia "Cara" Polsley
KS House 6 Jene Vickrey
KS House 9 Bill Otto
KS House 11 Virgil Peck Jr.
KS House 13 Forrest Knox
KS House 14 Lance Kinzer
KS House 15 Arlen H. Siegfreid
KS House 18 John Rubin
KS House 22 Joy E. Bourdess
KS House 26 Rob Olson
KS House 27 Ray Merrick
KS House 38 Anthony R. Brown
KS House 39 Owen Donohoe
KS House 41 Jana Taylor Goodman
KS House 42 Connie O'Brien
KS House 43 S. Mike Kiegerl
KS House 47 Lee Tafanelli
KS House 51 Mike Burgess
KS House 53 Cecil T. Washington Jr.
KS House 54 Joe Patton
KS House 57 Cheryl Reynolds
KS House 61 Richard Carlson
KS House 62 Roy Claycamp
KS House 67 Dick Miller
KS House 72 Marc Rhoades
KS House 73 Clark Shultz
KS House 74 Don Schroeder
KS House 76 Peggy L. Mast
KS House 79 Kasha Kelley
KS House 81 Peter DeGraaf
KS House 82 Don V. Myers
KS House 85 Steven Brunk
KS House 90 Steve Huebert
KS House 91 Brenda Landwehr
KS House 93 Dan Kerschen
KS House 96 Phil Hermanson
KS House 100 Mario Goico
KS House 104 Michael R. "Mike" O'Neal
KS House 105 Jason P. Watkins
KS House 106 Sharon Schwartz
KS House 108 Dave Smith
KS House 113 Bob Bethell
KS House 114 Mitch Holmes
KS House 118 Virginia B. Beamer
KS House 119 Pat George
KS House 120 John M. Faber
KS House 121 Jim Morrison
KS House 122 Gary K. Hayzlett
KS House 123 Jeff Whitham
KS House 124 Gene J Schwein
If the KRA prefers these candidates, the safe bet is that the candidates will support an "Academic Freedom
Of course, I could be waaaaay off-base about the implications of the KRA imprimatur and/or the DI's intentions in Kansas.
I hope so. If it turns out that I'm wrong about either of these, praise God. And I'll gladly buy the first round.
posted by Cheryl Shepherd-Adams
