Brownback wants to criminalize assisted suicide in Oregon

By Lee Russ

Wednesday, August 16, 2006 at 04:55 PM

It isn't officially part of that Republican invention known as the "American Values Agenda," but good old Sam Brownback has introduced legislation that would make it a crime for doctors in Oregon to prescribe federally controlled drugs in order to help a patient commit suicide, even though doctor-assisted suicide is legal in Oregon, and has been upheld by the Supreme Court.
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Call it Brownback's personal "American Values Agenda."  Or call it "Brownback wants religious right funding to run for president."  Or call it "Look here, over here, not over THERE."  Just don't call it compassionate conservatism, or respect for states' rights or focusing on the real problems in a nation rapidly decaying on many fronts.

Sam the sham's reasoning:

"When the law permits killing as a medical 'treatment,' society's moral guidelines are blurred, and killing could gain acceptance as a solution for the chronically ill or vulnerable," said Brownback, a favorite of religious conservatives who is considering a run for president.
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Brownback said in an interview that he did not expect the bill to become law this year, but said it was important to bring up the bill as a "discussion point and hopefully as a rallying point for those opposed to assisted suicide."

Wouldn't want to blur those moral guidelines would we, Mr. Brownback?  Good thing those morals don't get blurred by donations from Jack the Flack Abramoff, or voting to reduce fed spending on programs for the poor and needy, or voting against the repeal of tax subsidies for companies which move US jobs offshore.  No, those are all good, Republican values, clearly in line with the party's current moral guidelines.

Sam Brownback.  What's the matter with Kansas, eh?