I've written a lot about the races in Kansas. The hard road that many have in a red state - and how so many Democrats nationally like to write off the future of places like this.
In the past, I've written of the ills of Kris Kobach - from voter registration roll shenanigans to his policy of Dual Track Voting. But most national Democrats wrote this race off. As of today, that isn't true. Jean Schodorf, in recent polls is DEAD EVEN with Kris Kobach -
http://ksn.com/...
WICHITA, Kansas – In the latest KSN News Poll, conducted exclusively for KSN-TV by SurveyUSA, the race for Secretary of State is tied.
Both incumbent Republican Kris Kobach and Democratic challenger Jean Schodorf poll at 46 percent.
And that was before the debacle that is this week. So, I want to take a moment to tell you why it is IMPERATIVE that Kossacks, and Democrats nationwide support Jean Schodorf now.
For many, the idea of a Secretary of State race in Kansas seems too far away, a state that doesn't matter if it isn't your own.
But Kris Kobach isn't just a standard Secretary of State. He is THE lead drafter for legislation throughout the country - legislation that harms democrats from coast to coast.
When Markos declared his lack of interest in going to Arizona, it was in large part due to SB 1070 - a Papers Please piece of legislation that was designed to harass Hispanic Americans. Who wrote it?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
TOPEKA, Kan. — When politicians and police across the country want to crack down on illegal immigration, they often reach out to the same man: a little-known Kansas attorney with an Ivy League education who is the architect behind many of the nation's most controversial immigration laws.
Sure, he wrote SB 1070, but what else?
While at the White House, he created a post-9/11 Justice Department program requiring immigrants from 25 mostly Muslim nations who were already in the U.S. to re-register with the federal government. Civil libertarians argued that it led to unwarranted detentions of law-abiding immigrants.
"He promotes himself as absolutely, positively being a constitutional scholar on these issues, and he's just wrong," said Bill Brewer, a Dallas attorney who has faced off with Kobach in court over immigration laws in Farmers Branch, Texas.
Yes, re-registering those who were islamic just because they were Islamic.
Earlier this year, Kris Kobach participated in a piece of legislation in Nebraska that would require Hispanic Americans to show a proof of citizenship before they could rent property. In other words, they would not only be singled out - he would prefer they stay homeless.
Now, in a move designed to antagonize Democrats nation wide, Kris Kobach - who is also a campaign committee person for Pat Roberts - http://www.robertsforsenate.com/... - has unhinged the rule of law, enforcing a standard on a Democratic candidate that has not been required of others in recent years - even by his own office as many besides myself has pointed out.
I have come to Kos and occasionally advocated for candidates I work on, always with the caveat: if you have it to give, I know it's Kansas.
But today, I'm not doing that. Today I will be blunt: This is your chance, as a democrat anywhere in the country to short circuit the career of someone who has harmed the rights of many.
In an interview with Emira Palacios, a director of The Seed House for immigrants I was told:
Kris Kobach is scary because he spends his time telling people to hate us - to fear the Hispanic community. He is driving a division between us and he must be stopped
This is your chance Kossacks. If you honestly want to see this legislation stopped - if you want to see the brakes point on bills like SB 1070 in Arizona, the Education bill in North Carolina, the Rental Legislation in Nebraska, the drafted voting policy for Wisconsin - all of those came through the hands of Kris Kobach.
Kris Kobach has crossed the line and gone too far. Two weeks ago, this was an even race in Kansas - a shocking fact that made Kansas a place where the unthinkable could happen, where the Koch Golden boy could get taken to the woodshed.
Do you want to be a part of it? To send a message that not only are these policies of rigging the vote and manipulating the ballot wrong, but also to protect your own state from the kind of legislation he was drafting?
Take a minute - and give. I have always used the caveat "I know it is another state".. but Kris Kobach impacts YOUR state. If YOUR state deals with ALEC, if YOUR state is Arizona, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Nebraska or any other with pending legislation.. if YOUR state worries about Koch led impacts..
This is YOUR chance to do something about it.
Do NOT let this get away from you.
Of all the races in the country, this single race would be vindication for so many nationwide. It deserves your attention, your support and yes, a contribution.
"It is time people understand that so much persecution starts here - how joyous would it be if we can stop it." (Emira Palacios)
Join us. Stop the madness.
https://secure.actblue.com/...