Brownback Disavows FOCA Attack Letter

Staunch legal abortion opponent Sen. Sam Brownback's name is on the letterhead of an incendiary direct-mail piece fanning fears that the Freedom of Choice Act will be signed into law any day, but Brownback himself wants no part in it, Politico reports.

Calling FOCA the "Partial-Birth Abortion on Demand Act," the letter accuses pro-choice Catholic members of Congress Ted Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Mikulski, John Kerry, Patty Murray and others of "voting to undermine the values we hold most dear."  The letter is written on behalf of the Catholic Advocate, a project of the Morley Institute for Church and Culture.  Politico reports that Brownback spokesman Brian Hart told the National Catholic Reporter, "Our chief of staff ... had never seen, heard of, or approved it."

Hart said Brownback's Senate staff has "reached out to both the organization responsible and the mail house [responsible for printing and distributing the letter] and directed them not to use Sam Brownback's name, signature, likeness or representation in any way moving forward and expressed that we are not pleased with the content of the letter."

By making clear his disavowal of the letter, Brownback not only refutes a histrionic piece of mail and attacks on legislators who have been his partners (notably, Ted Kennedy), but also distances himself from scare tactics on a "mythical abortion bill" (TIME magazine) that's not going anywhere.