August 14, 2007
Posted: August 14th, 2007 05:30 PM ET

Brownback is seeking to differentiate himself from his White House rivals.

(CNN) – Sen. Sam Brownback says the next president “shouldn’t have to learn foreign policy on the job.”

The Republican from Kansas and GOP White House hopeful made the comments while campaigning Tuesday in Barrington, New Hampshire.

Brownback also added that the United States must “walk wiser and humbler in the world.”

The comments by Brownback, a three-term senator who served on the Foreign Relations Committee, may be a new line of attack against some of his rivals for the GOP nomination, such as former governors Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee. The comments also appear to be a slight against President Bush, the man Brownback hopes to succeed.

Brownback is swimming against the tide of modern electoral history by embracing this argument. Four of the past five presidents entered the White House after serving at least one term as a state governor. The last sitting U.S. senator to be elected president was John F. Kennedy in 1960.

– CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser

Filed under: Mike Huckabee • Mitt Romney • Sam Brownback


Dave, Oakland, CA   August 15th, 2007 5:55 pm ET

Anyone can be good at foreign policy. Just ask Bill Clinton how he dealt with things when we were attacked under his watch.

Hillary Clinton has also proven on more then one occasion that just because she is on the Committee for Armed Services she is by no means an expert on the military.

To AJ: While were throwing out the supposed Republican trash we can throw out all the race baiting fear mongering Democrats. I would love nothing more that to see all the trash from both parties gone and the American people thinking for themselves instead of listening to all the political propaganda from both sides of the aisle. It must be nice to choose a side and know your always right.

C.LyOns, New York, NY   August 15th, 2007 11:41 am ET

Brownback is swimming against the tide of modern electoral history by embracing this argument. Four of the past five presidents entered the White House after serving at least one term as a state governor. The last sitting U.S. senator to be elected president was John F. Kennedy in 1960.

-Interesting point here backed up by stats....all the bruhaha about Obama's lack of 'experience'...turns out he is actually more relative experience at the this point in his career than at least 4 of the last 5 Presidents (Bill, Reagan included)...especially more than Rudy G for god sake he was a MAYOR!!!!

Brad, Columbia, SC   August 15th, 2007 10:36 am ET

> I didn't even see the Foreign Relations Committee mentioned in his wikipedia page.

Uhh... hold on there Christian... his Wikipedia page?? Let's not let Wikipedia be the final determinant of relevancy in America today...

Jorge, Dayton OH   August 15th, 2007 9:33 am ET

Four of the past five presidents entered the White House after serving at least one term as a state governor.

Wow, and only one has been a great president. Bush 41 is the odd man out (and wasn't spectacular to begin with). Bush 43 has his own widely-documented problems (look around the site). Clinton became only the second president to be impeached (although the economy faired well). And Carter drove the country into double digit inflation and a terrible energy crisis, while being weak on foreign policy.

Reagan is the only good president among the 4/5. Why would we expect any better from another governor (Romney, Huckabee, Richardson, et al.)???

AJ; Montpelier, VT   August 15th, 2007 8:21 am ET

What foreign policy experience? Sitting on a committee is not experience, he has shown no leadership abilities whatsoever. This guy is a joke. He is a nothing but a right wing bible thumper who has done NOTHING good for this nation but foster hatred and bigotry. It's time to throw him out along with the rest of the Republican trash.

chapel hill, nc   August 15th, 2007 8:17 am ET

sam brownback. you are a joke, my friend.

Yvan. L. Indio,CA   August 14th, 2007 11:25 pm ET

How dare you telling the true to the American People! It seems to be the philosophy fellowed bt the Bush administration. Lies lies and more lies has been the legacy on the Republican party.Rove may be gone, but its deceiveness, and loss class political tatics seems to be well anchor in the Republican Party.

Adam, Clearwater, FL   August 14th, 2007 8:14 pm ET

My compliments to CNN for covering a second-tier candidate in this blog (and perhaps, eventually, linking such a post to the cnn.com front page?)

Your committment to providing equal coverage to all candidates does this country a great service.

Christian, Palmetto FL   August 14th, 2007 7:42 pm ET

Serving on the FRC for a while does not a foreign policy guru make. (Yoda talk)

I didn't even see the Foreign Relations Committee mentioned in his wikipedia page. It just said that he's chairman of the Helsinki commission which "monitors compliance with international agreements" having to do with an international organization.

Jeff Richards, Seattle Washington   August 14th, 2007 7:30 pm ET

Give me a break this man is a self righteous egotist.

John ,Long island, NY   August 14th, 2007 6:28 pm ET

This guy is a joke. He wants the country to turn the clock and act like its the 50s.

Go away Brownback!

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