2008 Presidential Campaign Blog

Sam Brownback Ames Iowa Video

Sam Brownback Iowa State Leadership Town Hall

Sam Brownback Ames Iowa HQ Grand Opening Photos

Brownback to Open Ames Office

Brownback to Open Ames Office
Grand opening of Ames office concludes whirlwind Iowa bus tour

DES MOINES - U.S. Senator Sam Brownback, Republican candidate for president, will conclude his whirlwind 4-day, 27-stop Brownback “Ames for the Future” bus tour with the grand opening of his new campaign office in Ames.

“I am thrilled with the enthusiastic reception as I have spoken with Iowans about my Midwestern, conservative values and my commitment to Iowa and the Ames Straw Poll,” said Brownback. “Iowans agree that we need to rebuild our families and renew the American culture. Coming from a small town and rural background myself, I am committed to visiting small-town Iowa just as much as the larger cities. You can’t win the presidential nomination if you don’t compete in Iowa, and you can’t compete in Iowa unless you participate in the Ames Straw Poll.”

Senator Brownback has announced that unlike other candidates who have dropped out of the Ames Straw Poll, he will fully compete in the straw poll and is committed to Iowa. Last week Senator Brownback debuted a new website, www.brownbackevents.com, to organize grassroots support for the Straw Poll.

Brownback Will Compete In The Ames Straw Poll

Brownback Will Compete In The Ames Straw Poll
Looks forward to going head-to-head against Mitt Romney

DES MOINES – U.S. Senator Sam Brownback today announced that he will compete in the Ames Straw Poll on August 11, 2007.

"I am excited and honored by the opportunity to participate in the Ames Straw Poll and I reaffirm my intention to compete in Ames," said Brownback. "I stand in solidarity with the Iowa Republican Party leadership in recognizing the importance of this event. I look forward to going head-to-head against Mitt Romney. Iowa voters have a great responsibility and have always been influential in choosing the Republican nominee. People deserve to know where a candidate stands, and you don't declare yourself the winner before the game is played. I am confident that my message of uniting social and fiscal conservatives will resonate with Republicans across the Hawkeye State, and especially those attending the Straw Poll."

Brownback challenged Romney and the other candidates participating in the Straw Poll to a series of debates across Iowa that will highlight the candidates' differing stands on the issues prior to the Straw Poll.

"This will be a great contest between a Midwestern conservative farmer and a Northeastern liberal Republican who has flip-flopped on fundamental issues and will find limited support in Iowa as the summer goes on," said Rob Wasinger, Brownback for President campaign manager. "The Brownback campaign looks forward to this match-up as it will be a great opportunity for Iowa conservatives to decide the direction of our country and our party. In this regard, we expect to be very competitive."

Brownback made the announcement at his Iowa campaign headquarters in West Des Moines.

Brownback also announced a new website, http://www.brownbackevents.com, that will help organize his grassroots support for the Straw Poll.

Brownback to Announce Ames, Iowa Straw Poll Intentions

Brownback to Announce Ames, Iowa Straw Poll Intentions

DES MOINES, Ia—U.S. Senator Sam Brownback will hold a press conference at noon on Friday at the Brownback for President Iowa Headquarters to announce his intentions for the Ames, Iowa Straw Poll

Sam Brownback Statement NH Debate

Brownback Offers American Leadership and Solutions at NH Debate
Calls for a political solution in Iraq, confronting Iran, fixing our nation's broken immigration system and a pro-life nominee for the Republican Party

MANCHESTER, NH –United States Senator Sam Brownback participated in the New Hampshire presidential debate on Tuesday, calling for a political solution in Iraq, fixing our nation's broken immigration system and a pro-life nominee for the Republican Party.

Brownback's strong performance was noted by the Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post who noted, "...Sen. Sam Brownback (Kans.) and former Gov. Mike Huckabee (Ark.) made the biggest and best impressions."

Brownback offered strong leadership on the issue of Iraq, announing that he will introduce legislation tomorrow that would offer both a political solution to the war, and a political consensus amongst politicians in Washington.

"...We've got to put forward now a political plan," Brownback said. "It's about getting the situation to a point that we can turn it over to Iraqis and then us pull back from the front of the line. That's why I'm putting forward tomorrow a bill — and this would be about a three-state solution in Iraq — a Kurdish state, a Sunni state, a Shi'a state — with Baghdad as the federal city, in a loose, weak, federated system, oil revenues equally divided, and it's a bipartisan bill. We will have bipartisan support. We've got to pull together here to win over there."

Brownback also offered harsh words towards Iran, calling them the lead sponsor of terrorism and the need for aggressive confrontation.

"Iran is the lead sponsor of terrorism," Brownback said. "Ahmadinejad just this past week called for the destruction of Israel, continues to call for attacking of the United States. I think we have to confront them aggressively for what they are, which is the lead sponsor of terrorism in the world. I think we need to push the sanctions forward more aggressively. And I think we have to show that purpose and resolve — that we're going to confront these guys, and we're going to stand with our allies like Israel, we're going to stand against them oppressing and pushing us and trying to fund terrorists against us."

Brownback called for a solution to immigration, emphasizing border security with an interior solution regarding the illegal immigrants already here.

"...Everybody is concerned that we get something done and get something right," Brownback said. "I think if you do exterior enforcement, border enforcement, you do aggressive interior enforcement, and then you work on a comprehensive solution interior, that's something that a lot of people are going to be upset with, but that can work and move us forward. And it's better than not doing anything."

Brownback proved to be the leading candidate on social conservative issues, emphasizing respect for life in all stages, and the need for a pro-life nominee for the Republican Party.

"I am pro-life and I'm whole life," Brownback said. "And one of the things I'm the most, the proudest about our party about is that we've stood for life. We've been a party that has stood for a culture of life, and it was in our platform in 1980 and it continues today...That's why I don't think we can nominate somebody that's not pro-life in this party because it is at our core. We believe that every life is beautiful, is sacred, is a child of a loving God, from natural — from conception to natural death, and that applies not only here and in the womb, it applies to somebody that's in poverty, it applies to the child in Darfur. And that philosophy, being pro-life and whole life, is something I think can really help move us forward as a country and as a party. I don't think we're going to nominate somebody that's not pro-life."."

Iowa State Senator Mark Zieman Endorses Brownback for President

Iowa State Senator Mark Zieman Endorses Brownback for President
"Sam Brownback is the only candidate in the race who can unite both fiscal and social conservatives."

DES MOINES, Ia. –U.S. Senator Sam Brownback announced today that he has enlisted the support of Iowa State Senator Mark Zieman for his presidential campaign.

"Sam Brownback is the only candidate in the race who can unite both fiscal and social conservatives," said Zieman. "Sam Brownback is a proven leader on social and economic issues, and he's the only candidate Iowans can trust to continue to fight for the unborn, traditional marriage and lower taxes in the White House."

Senator Zieman, former Co-Chair of the Senate Ways & Means Committee of the Iowa General Assembly further stated, "America needs a courageous leader who balances his pro-life position with serious income tax, Social Security and Medicare reform. Sam Brownback understands the importance of life and the benefits all Americans will derive from having the choices of personal accounts in Social Security and Medicare, and having an alternative flat-tax for filing personal and corporate income taxes. Moreover, he's strong on national defense and an expert on the immigration problems we face in gaining control of our borders without crippling our economy."

In a response to today's endorsement, Senator Brownback said, "Mark Zieman is an effective leader in the legislature who fights every day for Iowa families in the 8th District. I am proud to welcome him to my growing coalition of conservative and Republican leaders across the Hawkeye state."

Brownback Mourns Loss of Reverend Jerry Falwell

BROWNBACK MOURNS LOSS OF REVEREND JERRY FALWELL

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Sam Brownback today paid his respects to the family, friends and loved ones of Reverend Jerry Falwell.

"Today, America lost a true spiritual leader and a man of great faith in Jerry Falwell.  His great words and actions will never be forgotten by the hundreds of thousands of people around the world that his life has touched.  Jerry's moral character and principle will forever be remembered deep within my heart and those whose lives were so blessed to be touched by him." Reverend Falwell, who passed away earlier today, was 73 years old.

Brownback Applauds Supreme Court Decision To Uphold Partial Birth Abortion Ban

BROWNBACK APPLAUDS SUPREME COURT DECISION TO UPHOLD PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION BAN

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Sam Brownback today applauded the decision by the United States Supreme Court to uphold the federal ban on partial birth abortions. 

“I am very pleased that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled to uphold the ban on partial birth abortions,” said Brownback.  “This ban was enacted to put an end to one of the most grotesque forms of abortion, and it is completely in line with the respect for life that is at the very heart of our Constitution.  This is a great step forward for our nation’s citizens, born and unborn.”

The U.S. Supreme Court by a 5-4 decision today ruled that the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act is constitutional.  The Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act was passed by Congress and signed by President Bush in 2003.

Brownback continued, “I applaud the Court for finding that the constitution ‘expresses respect for the dignity of human life,’ and hope that this decision signals the Court’s willingness to revisit and reverse Roe v. Wade.”