Dr. George Tiller, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has been a political force in Kansas for a number of years including service as state legislator from 1986 to 1994, insurance commissioner from 1994-2002, and governor from 2002 till present.
President Barack Obama is expected to nominate Kathleen Sebelius to be the next secretary of health and human services later today. Because most of the media in Kansas have not reported facts about how liberal Gov. Sebelius is, many in Kansas do not know about her connections to Dr. George Tiller in Wichita. Many in Kansas do not know how three Catholic archbishops in Kansas City, KS have tried to get Catholic Sebelius to embrace the Culture of Life and support life from conception till natural death.
This report will first review recent information revealed nationally about Gov. Sebelius from reports by Bill O’Reilly on his O’Reilly Factor, and by Robert Novak in his Washington Post opinion editorial. To explain why O’Reilly and Novak wrote what they did, next this report will look at the actions of Sebelius over the years on the Culture of Life issue, along with the mostly-unreported responses by the Catholic Archbishops of Kansas City, KS.
Sebelius’ actions for nearly two decades have been consistent as she has blocked almost all protections for unborn life in Kansas, as a legislator nearly 20 years ago, and now as Governor. Political money tells much of the story, as Sebelius and Kansas Democrats have benefited greatly from the huge contributions by late-term abortion doctor, George Tiller, in Wichita.
National News about Sebelius in Recent Years The Kansas press has not been good about reporting political money in Kansas, and how Gov. Sebelius and Kansas Democrats have protected Dr. George Tiller in Wichita. Bill O’Reilly in 2006 and 2007, and Robert Novak in 2008 exposed to the nation some information not that well known in Kansas.
Bill O’Reilly Factor, “Talking Points,” May 30, 2007.
“Governor Sebelius … is not fit to serve”
O'Reilly: "You should be disturbed by what's happening in Kansas."
This man, Dr. George Tiller, known as “Tiller the baby killer,” is performing late term abortions without defining the specific medical reasons why.
Dr. Tiller specializes in late-term abortion
Let’s be more blunt. Tiller is executing fetuses in his Wichita clinic for $5,000. And records show he’ll do it for vague medical reasons. That is, he’ll kill the fetus, viable outside the womb, if the mother wants it dead. No danger to the mother’s life, no catastrophic damage if the woman delivers.
Now, some Kansas politicians want to stop the madness. But incredibly, Governor Kathleen Sebelius is protecting Tiller, citing privacy. The governor vetoed a bill a few weeks ago that would have forced Tiller to provide a specific medical reason for destroying a viable fetus.
Now America is a great country, but this kind of barbaric display in Kansas diminishes our entire nation. Tiller has killed thousands, thousands of late-term fetuses without explanation. And Governor Sebelius is allowing him to continue the slaughter. How the governor sleeps at night is beyond me. …
No question Dr. Tiller has blood on his hands, but now so does Governor Sebelius. She is not fit to serve. Nor is any Kansas politician who supports Tiller’s business of destruction. I wouldn’t want to be these people if there is a judgment day.
Robert Novak, “A Pro-Choicer’s Dream Veep,” Washington Post, May 25, 2008.
…There is substantial evidence she has been involved in what pro-life advocates term “laundering” abortion industry money for distribution to Kansas Democrats. Kansas is the fiercest state battleground in the abortion wars, making Kathleen Sebelius the national pro-choice poster girl. …
… Sebelius sits at the apex of a complicated Kansas financing system involving the famous abortion provider George Tiller of Wichita. She controls Bluestem Fund PAC, which distributed money to Kansas Democratic candidates. Tiller, one of the few U.S. doctors still performing late-term abortions, contributed $120,000 in 2006 to the Democratic Governors Association, which has given $200,000 to Bluestem.
The late Archbishop Ignatius Strecker of Kansas City, KS
Archbishop Ignatius Strecker
See the separate posting: Archbishop Strecker’s comments about State Rep Kathleen Sebelius
Archbishop James Patrick Keleher of Kansas City, KS
Archbishop James Patrick Keleher
See the separate posting: Archbishop James Patrick Keleher’s request to Gov.-Elect Kathleen Sebelius
Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, KS
Archbishop Joseph Naumann
See the separate posting: Archbishop Joseph Naumann offers pastoral advice to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius after her veto of the Comprehensive Abortion Reform Act
Besides feedback from Catholic Archbishops about the Culture of Life issue, Gov. Sebelius has used her Catholic faith to her political advantage, even though her “Catholic” views do not reflect the teachers of the church.
The next section explores this use of faith by Gov. Sebelius in ways likely not understood by many:
Kansans for Faithful Citizenship, Democrats for Life of Kansas PAC, Catholics United
A re-election ad for Gov.Sebelius in 2006
Kansas Democrats and Gov. Sebelius took several actions to show how they supported the Culture of Life as part of her campaign in 2006. But they only used words that did not result in actions that helped the Culture of Life known by most Catholics.
Two things Kansas Democrats did was have a conference, Kansans for Faithful Citizenship in Overland Park in Sept 2006, and the other was to form a Political Action Committee (PAC), Democrats for Life of Kansas. The known work of these two groups is described below.
Sebelius and Kansas Democrats consulted with James Salt for their faith-based messaging plan in Kansas. A Take Back America 2007 page as part of the Campaign for America’s Future gave this profile for James Salt:
Bio: James Salt is a co-founder and board member of Catholics United, an emerging organization that works to build and empower a national movement of grassroots activists dedicated to raising up the Catholic social tradition in our national dialog on faith and public life. Salt has extensive experience working with national progressive Catholic peace and justice organizations as well as with political campaigns involving Catholic strategy. He has worked for Pax Christi USA, including a leadership position with Pax Christi’s Young Adult Forum, NETWORK: A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby, and was part of the launch team of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good. He currently works with Maryland Citizens Against State Executions. His political work has involved overseeing the Kansas Democratic Party’s faith outreach efforts, including messaging work for Governor Kathleen Sebelius and development of faith-based messaging resources. Salt lives in Washington, D.C.
See information below about Catholics United. Salt’s plan for Kansas and Gov. Sebelius must have been for her to organize a conference and give a speech, and to form a PAC that would exist but raise no money.
Kansans for Faithful Citizenship. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ Address to Kansans for Faithful Citizenship Conference, Sept 2006
Faith calls us to community … It calls us to think and care about something greater than ourselves and to have concern for the least and the last among us. …
I believe in a moral vision that unites Kansans … Acting on behalf of the common good, expanding opportunities for all Kansans, and pursuing policies that encourage the development of the full potential of every human being are my basic principles. … Of course, no discussion of life and dignity of the human person can be complete without discussing the important issue of abortion. My Catholic faith teaches me that all life is sacred, and personally I believe abortion is wrong. … If we truly wish to reduce the number of abortions further, we need to work together to truly promote a culture of life, by helping women and families get the support they need when facing unexpected pregnancies and to continue to reduce the number of abortions. Health care, child care, job opportunities, affordable housing – they are all the building blocks of a culture of life and we can use them to build a future where abortion is extremely rare.
[Reports by Curmudgeon's Cave blog about Faithful Citizenship Conference: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.]
How can Gov. Sebelius claim any connection to a “Culture of Life” in Kansas when late-term abortions are available on demand every day in Wichita, and she looks the other way in enforcement of Kansas Laws?
Democrats for Life of Kansas PAC. In 2006 as part of its deception about supporting the Culture of Life in Kansas, some Kansas Democrats formed a Democrats for Life of Kansas PAC. This PAC never raised any money, nor spent any money and never supported any “Life” candidates. Apparently, this PAC was only setup so Kansas Democrats could claim they supported the “Life” issue. Also, Gov. Sebelius and Kansas Democrats never help the non-partisan Kansans for Life, nor attend any of their events.
Catholics United. Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, released information in 2008 that the Catholic Left is Funded by George Soros:
Catholic League president Bill Donohue exposes the nexus between George Soros and two left-wing Catholic groups, Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good and Catholics United: “In 2003, after left-wing mogul George Soros blamed Jews for anti-Semitism, the ADL branded his comments ‘obscene.’ Two years later, I accused him of anti-Catholicism when his group, MoveOn.org, posted a picture of a smiling Pope Benedict XVI holding a gavel outside the U.S. Supreme Court, along with the following inscription: ‘God Already Has a Job…He does not need one on the Supreme Court.’ “Why is this relevant? Because this same bigot is connected to two apologists for abortion rights, Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good and Catholics United. In 2006, Soros’ Open Society Institute gave Catholics in Alliance $100,000 (double the amount he gave in 2005), and in the same year Catholics in Alliance listed Catholics United on its 990 as an organization with which it has a formal relationship. John Podesta, who runs the Soros-funded organization, Center for American Progress, admits that he works closely with Catholics in Alliance and Catholics United. The Center for American Progress is also the sponsor of Faith and Public Life. “Why would any Catholic organization take money from a man like George Soros? Because legitimate sources of revenue aren’t available? And why would Soros have any interest in funding Catholic groups? He doesn’t give the Catholic League any money, and if he offered, I would refuse it. “The reason Soros funds the Catholic Left is the same reason he lavishly funds Catholics for Choice, the pro-abortion group that has twice been condemned as a fraud by Catholic bishops: they all service his agenda, namely, to make support for abortion rights a respectable Catholic position. On October 17, Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput accused Catholics in Alliance and Catholics United as doing a ‘disservice’ to the Catholic Church. He’s right. And now we know what really makes them tick.”
Perhaps now the media will call Catholics in Alliance and Catholics United what they are: Organizations bought and paid for by the far-left to bury the abortion issue under an agenda favorable to the Democratic Party. Chris Korzen, president of Catholics United, released the following statement to Catholic News Agency: “Catholics United has no connection with Mr. Soros. We have taken money from neither him nor OSI.” I am not aware of any statement from Alexia Kelly, president of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, in response to Donohue’s evidence of support from George Soros. Since the donations are clearly recorded on the 990s of Catholics in Alliance, it would be useless for her to deny it. UPDATE: We received this message from Chris Korzen this morning in response to my post:
“Gentlemen – this is just plain silly. We don’t take any money from OSI but I would have absolutely no problem doing so… the organization that’s doing some great work. Let’s get back to the issues, please.”
Chris
Chris Korzen Executive Director Catholics United
What the Family Research Council said about “Catholics United” (no longer online):
Meet the liberal partisan organization Catholics United. The organization is running radio advertisements on Christian stations in 10 congressional districts targeting what they deem as pro-life hypocrites. By this they mean House members who are pro-life when it comes to abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research and the Mexico City policy, but who oppose the expansion of SCHIP, a children’s health insurance program that has become a Trojan Horse for universal health care. Catholics United promotes global warming, government control of health care, and withdrawal from Iraq. Their targets for the SCHIP ads look like they were handpicked by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. All the targeted congressmen, save one, are pro-life Republicans and of those nine, six are in very vulnerable districts. The one Democrat, Gene Taylor of Mississippi, won with 80% of the vote last year and thus is a fig leaf for the group’s partisanship. Such choices indicate that the ideal candidate for Catholics United is a pro-abortion and pro-gay marriage Democrat – issues the Roman Catholic Church deems non-negotiable who will support a massive expansion of SCHIP. Catholics United Executive Director Chris Korzen in a press release regarding these ads said: “Building a true culture of life requires public policies that promote the welfare of the most vulnerable.” Given the organization’s determination to oust pro-life Republicans, the “most vulnerable” to Mr. Korzen are clearly not innocent children in the womb.
A similar strategy has been used by Obama and Democrats to continue to confuse Catholics in elections:
- Obama Campaign Manipulated Catholics, The Catholic Key Blog, Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Feb 20, 2009.
- Catholics in Alliance’ New Falsehood, The Catholic Key Blog, Feb 27, 2009.
Kansas Today A victim of a forced, late-term abortion at Dr. Tiller’s Clinic in 2003 can tell her story in public, but cannot receive justice in a court of law in Kansas at this time.
This failure to enforce existing Kansas laws can be largely credited to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius:
1000 in Overland Park Hear About Forced Late-Term Abortion As Kansas Laws are Ignored, Kansas Meadowlark, Feb 15, 2009.
Also see Testimony of Michelle Armesto, Kansas Special Committee on Federal, State Affairs, courtesy of Kansans for Life.
Kansans and the rest of the nation may learn a great deal more about Gov. Sebelius as her confirmation hearings proceed. Kansans and Americans everywhere may realize that Gov. Sebelius is far more liberal than she pretends to be.
Related:
- Sebelius and Abortion, Kansans for Life
- Gov. Sebelius picks Obama Donor for new Kansas Supreme Court Judge, Kansas Meadowlark, Jan 8, 2009.
- Political Profile of Kansas Supreme Court Nominating Commission: Gov. Sebelius stacks deck, Kansas Meadowlark, Jan 7, 2009.
- ‘The Factor’ confronts Governor Kathleen Sebelius, Kansas Meadowlark, July 17, 2008.
- Did $13,000 given to Gov. Sebelius play part in Supreme Court Nominating Commission appointment?, Kansas Meadowlark, June 28, 2008.
- A Pro-Choicer’s Dream Veep, Robert Novak, Washington Post, May 25, 2008.
- Gov. Kathleen Sebelius Withdraws Carmichael Appointment to Kansas Human Rights Commission, Kansas Meadowlark, May 5, 2008.
- Why did a Kansas Supreme Court Justice Change Political Parties?, Kansas Meadowlark, Dec 4, 2007.
- Integrity of Kansas Elections Less Important to IRS than “Privacy Rights” of Groups Abusing Non-Profit Laws, Kansas Meadowlark, Nov 16, 2007.
- Governor Sebelius Rewards $13,700 Democratic Donor with Johnson County District Judgeship, Kansas Meadowlark, Aug 7, 2007.
- Governor Sebelius appoints one of George Tiller’s Attorneys, Dan Monnat, to Kansas Sentencing Commission. Why?, Kansas Meadowlark, April 7, 2007.
- Shame of Kansas, Kansas Meadowlark, Nov 13, 2006 (with updates)
- The Silent and Suffering Church in Kansas, Archbishop Strecker, The Leaven, March 27, 1992.
- Killing fetus not crime, court rules, Wichita Eagle, Oct 28, 1989.
