Brownback Focus On Family Issues, Abortion

1-21-07

Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas, a declared GOP candidate for president, has kind words for Hillary Clinton and is against the U.S. troop buildup in Iraq.

But he says his main effort now involves family issues and getting the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe vs. Wade, the 1973 decision recognizing a woman's right to an abortion.

Brownback, a religious conservative, appeared Sunday on ABC News' "This Week with George Stephanopoulos."

His announced candidacy Saturday was knocked out of the headlines by New York Sen. Clinton's announcement of her candidacy on her Web site.

Brownback apologized to Clinton at a Senate prayer breakfast last year for "hating her," and asked for her forgiveness. "It was wrong for me to do what I had done," he told ABC Sunday. "I came in the class of '94 and this was a big surge for the Republicans ... We were trying to balance the budget. President Clinton was standing in the way at the time ... there was a deep hatred in me and hatred is wrong at any time by anybody at any place."

He said he thought the former first lady was "very bright ... talented lady, quite committed."

Brownback was in Washington over the congressional break to address the March for Life Monday.


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