Earlier today we noted that Sam Brownback was refusing to comment on his ties to Lou Engle despite the fact that the two lived together for several months and that he has attended several events with Engle.
Well, it looks like the pressure has started to get to him and so Brownback finally broke his silence today and attempted to distance himself from Engle while claiming that his work with him was all about "human rights":
U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback expressed uneasiness Wednesday with some elements of controversial evangelist Lou Engle's proselytizing.
The Kansas Democratic Party raised questions about ties between the Republican Party's nominee for governor and the minister with headquarters in Kansas City, Mo. Brownback has participated in religious rallies in Tennessee and elsewhere hosted by Engle, who says Christians may need to martyr themselves in the campaign against abortion and homosexuality.
Engle and Brownback were together as recently as December 2009 when they appeared on the Internet broadcast of a prayer service seeking God's intervention to block Senate passage of health reform.
Brownback, interviewed following a TV appearance in Topeka, said Kansas voters should understand he doesn't agree with all positions expressed by Engle.
"He's said things I don't agree with," Brownback said. "I haven't talked to him in months."
Brownback, of Topeka, said he worked with Engle on adoption by the U.S. Senate of official statements of apology to Native Americans and African-Americans. He said the Native American statement became law.
"Those were the substantive items," Brownback said. "It's all been about human rights and helping people live better."
Brownback said any description of his relationship with Engle shouldn't suggest the senator had minimized his views on abortion and gay rights.
"I'm pro-life," Brownback said. "I support marriage as the union between a man and woman and I support the 'don't ask, don't tell' policies."
Please - Engle is know for a lot of things, but his "substantive" concerns about Native Americans, African Americans, and human rights are not at the top of the list.
He may very well care deeply about such issues, but Engle is not drawing tens of thousands of prayer warriors to day-long fasting and prayer rallies aimed at apologizing to Native Americans - he mobilizes activists to fight abortion and gay marriage.
So let's ask Brownback again just which of Engle's views concern him the most: Is it his Dominionism? or his view that homosexuality should be criminalized? or his fear that President Obama is unleashing demons upon this nation? or that universities are conditioning students to accept the Mark of the Beast? or maybe that Satan has gained control over the US government?
