Demagogue

The Daily Darfur is up over at the coalition blog.

But I wanted to call attention to this article in the Chicago Tribune

With their intervention in Terri Schiavo's life-or-death case, social conservatives have dramatically expanded the political terrain of the "culture of life" philosophy and all it implies, seizing the high ground and throwing liberals on the defensive.

Once a phrase devoted primarily to questions about abortion, lawmakers hope to apply that ideological - and politically appealing - imprimatur of "life" to an array of matters from the genocide in Darfur to embryonic stem cell research to cloning and even prison reform issues.

"'Culture of life' means all life is sacred and has to be protected," Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., said in an interview. "That includes somebody in Darfur or in the womb or disabled or somebody trying to get ahead in the inner city. We should look at this as a very holistic message."

I have to admit that, when it comes to Darfur, Republicans in Congress have been far more active than have Democrats - or at least far more visible.

I don't necessarily have any way to quantify this and it might be nothing more than my own general impression, but it seems to me that, of the members of Congress who have spoken out on this issue, most of them have been Republicans.

I don't know why that is and I don't care. I am simply glad that men like Sam Brownback, a man with whom I disagree with on almost every issue, is willing to go on the News Hour with Jim Lehrer and decry what is taking place in Darfur and work toward ending the suffering there.

I happen to think that Brownback and the rest of the US government - and the rest of the world for that matter - are not doing nearly enough. But it cannot be denied that Brownback, and President Bush, are doing more than most everyone else. And for that they should be commended.