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Obama’s Lawyer Chris Koster Sends Staff to Support Militant Gay Agenda

Far left members of Missouri’s House have introduced a new job-killing regulation that will allow men and women to claim discrimination based on their self-professed sexual orientation.  HB 1500 is summarized as follows:

Changes the laws regarding complaints filed with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights and makes discrimination based upon a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity unlawful.

Discrimination based on immutable attributes of Missouri’s citizens is fundamentally wrong, and our laws ought to reflect that.  However, sexual orientation and gender identity have proven over the last few decades to be subject to a great deal of change.

Vague laws such as this poorly worded legislation could be easily construed by activist judges to allow any type of behavior of a sexual nature to become a protected class.

On April 11th 2012, Koster sent Joan Gummels to a hearing on the bill.  Witnesses heard Ms. Gummels speak on behalf of the bill, but gave little as to why Koster felt the bill was important.

There are plenty of legitimate concerns.

• Are adulterers a protected sexual orientation?
• Would a business not be able to fire a pedophile?
• Will churches be able to reassign staff based on sexual conduct at odds with religious teaching?
• How does a business or property owner defend themselves against a false claim of discrimination?
• How does someone claiming they were discriminated against because they were of a protected group prove they are in fact in that group under the law?
• Will heterosexual men and women be able to sue gay-owned businesses for discrimination under the law?

Like his client, President Obama, Koster is likely content to leave these questions up to bureaucrats who write regulations.  The current dismal economy shows us how that works out.All citizens deserve to be free of discrimination for those things beyond our control or are matters of conscience.

If we want to have true equality, we cannot carve out special privileges for personal lifestyle choices.  The track record of far-left militants show that these new regulations will become a bludgeon to further hamper business growth or punish businesses targeted by “gay rights” groups.  If Chris Koster were not Obama’s Lawyer, he would understand this.  Given the support his office is giving for HB 1500, we can expect that Chris Koster will not defend Missouri’s laws on these matters. We need an Attorney General who will fight for real constitutional rights, not those invented for political purposes.

Will Obama’s Lawyer Chris Koster Defend Missouri from Obama on Gay Marriage?

President Obama recently announced a flip-flop on so called “gay marriage”, stating that his views had evolved on the issue.  Early in his career, he supported allowing same-sex couples to marry, then as part of his presidential aspirations, said he was against it.  Now that he needs to fill out his campaign war chest, he is back to supporting it.

While the President has stated that this latest reversal on gay marriage is his personal belief, nobody who is paying attention believes that there is much that Obama believes personally that he will not use the power of his office to force on the rest of the nation.  Obamacare has never been a popular idea, but he rammed it through anyway.  Worse, the Obama Administration has shown over and over that they will sue states to keep them from enforcing state laws – even if those laws are identical to Federal laws.  Just ask Arizona as it tries to curb illegal immigration.

The state of Missouri passed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) that clearly states that marriage is between one man and one woman and cannot be redefined by governmental entities within the state.  Given that Obama’s Lawyer Chris Koster has not been much use in the fight against Obamacare despite a vote of the people on the issue, can we expect Chris Koster to defend Missouri’s DOMA against an assault by the Obama justice department?

What evidence do we have that Obama’s Lawyer Chris Koster won’t just roll over?  His fellow lawyers on Obama’s legal team already refuse to defend the Federal Defense of Marriage Act.  Does anyone believe we can rely on Attorney General Chris Koster to do the right thing?

Missourians deserve an Attorney General who shares our values and will defend our laws against the bullying of the Federal government.

Did Obamacare Kill the New Job You Need? Thank Chris Koster!

Recent unemployment numbers have been deeply disappointing.  While Chris Koster’s client, President Obama is trying to put a positive spin on meager 115,000 new jobs, anyone who can do simple math knows that 115,000 jobs compared to the millions of Americans who are out of work is a drop in the bucket.  90,000 people per month, on average, are being added to the labor force.  This sort of job creation barely covers the new folks becoming old enough to get a job, much less replacing the jobs destroyed under Obama’s economic leadership.

This is why Obamacare, and Obama’s Lawyer Chris Koster’s support for it, is so important for reasons beyond just the negative impact of health care.  With 2,000 pages of legislation, it will create tens of thousands of pages of regulation and many new taxes.

Among the reasons economists site for slow job growth is uncertainty over the rules for running a business.  Obamacare is simply a symptom of a greater problem – Federal overreach into the affairs that ought to be managed at the state level.  There are a whole host of new Federal regulations imposed on Missouri citizens.  Some have been defeated, but many more have been rammed through when congress was under the control of the Party Chris Koster switched to.

By sitting idly by while Obamacare looms over Missourians, Obama’s Lawyer Chris Koster is absent from the fight against Obamacare’s job killing regulations.  Worse, by not fighting Obamacare like Missourians clearly expect, he is in fact encouraging the Federal government by signaling that Missouri will just roll over when they tell us what kind of light bulbs we can buy, how much dust is allowed on a farm road, or putting a halt on tens of thousands of new jobs by shutting down the Keystone Pipeline.

Team Obama’s people are trying to claim that excessive regulation has no effect on the economy.  Maybe not among their politically connected friends who can get taxpayer subsidies for their businesses, but regulations increase costs, which reduce profits, which makes it harder to grow.  No growth, no new jobs.  You can thank Obama’s Lawyer Chris Koster for letting the situation deteriorate.  Missouri needs an attorney general willing to fight big government, not sit back and let it happen.

Will Obama’s Lawyer Let Friends Walk on Felony Rap?

Why is Obama’s Lawyer Chris Koster not pursuing state charges against former Democrat Governor Roger Wilson? Is ignoring campaign fraud part of the deal with working for Obama’s legal team?

Roger Wilson plead guilty to Federal charges of campaign finance fraud. Wilson conspired with another lawyer Ed Griesedieck to funnel money from the taxpayer-supported Missouri Employers Mutual Insurance company (MEM) to the Missouri Democratic Party. Griesedieck gave several thousand dollars to his Democrat friends and in return, Roger Wilson agreed to pay bills from Griesedieck’s law firm with money from MEM.

While Wilson has plead guilty to Federal charges of campaign fraud, the question remains where are the state charges? Do we really want crooked attorneys funding political parties like this unless the Feds catch them? Is Obama’s Lawyer Chris Koster angry that members of his new party conspired to hand several thousand dollars out of funds supposedly set aside to help workers injured on the job?

When Ed Griesedieck mailed those bills to MEM knowing full well he was not billing for legitimate legal work, but simply getting compensated for making a campaign contribution, did he break any Missouri laws?

President Obama sets a terrible example of allowing funds to flow from the taxpayer to his political friends who fund his campaign. Chris Koster has a chance to show Missourians he is ready to hold up a higher standard. Will he, or will he simply look the other way?

Former Flack for Obama’s Lawyer Called up to Chicago

As the election heats up, President Obama has little to run on. Obamacare has been a debacle, debt and deficits have skyrocketed, energy costs are outrageous and the President’s administration has declared war on religious liberty. To win, Obama needs some first class practitioners in the art of spin. He needs folks who can tell you up is down and the sky is orange with a straight face. He needs people who can spit on you and tell you it’s raining. Is there a system out there that can supply the Obama administration’s bazaar of balderdash with an army of talented tellers of half truths and bald-face baloney?

Obama’s Lawyer, Chris Koster was head coach of just such a farm team. Danny Kanner was once the communications director for Missouri’s Attorney General. Kanner left the Double-A farm team of Chris Koster’s office to the Triple-A job in New York, acting as press secretary for state attorney.

Kanner has lots of experience with politicians who lack loyalty to party or principle. The onetime flack for party-switcher Chris Koster also worked for Charlie Christ, another man who left his party, demonstrating that he stood for little more than his own career.

Obama’s crack team of fantasists must have been impressed with the level of talent on display by Chris Koster’s former employee. Called up to the “big show” Kanner is taking a post on team Obama.

What does it tell Missourians about Obama’s Lawyer Chris Koster that his former communications director is on his way to Chicago to take on the major league task of trying to make the last four years look like something of which we want four more years. What does it tell us we can expect from Chris Koster?

Chris Koster Sides with Obama; AWOL on Fight to Protect our Border

Not only is Chris Koster on the wrong side of the Obamacare argument, he is AWOL in the fight to stem the tide of illegal immigration.  This time, instead of standing by while the Federal Government oversteps it’s authority by forcing Missourians to buy a product, he is standing idly by while the Feds refuse to do what they are supposed to be doing.

Arizona is fighting a crisis on their southern border with Mexico.  Many illegal immigrants are simply looking for a better life, but the
process to become a legalized United States citizen, has to be
protected and enforces in order to ensure the safety and well-being of
our citizens. Moreover, the mayhem from the war among drug gangs in Mexico is spilling across the border. American citizens have been advised to stay out of some parts of America!

After passing SB 1070 empowering Arizona law enforcement to cope with the problems being ignored by Washington DC, Obama’s justice department filed suit to block Arizona’s efforts to protect its citizens.  Sixteen states have field “friend of the court” briefs.  Many of these agree with Obama that Arizona should just live with the negligence of the Federal Government.

Where does Chris Koster stand?  Nowhere. Chris Koster has had over two years to consider a principled position and take a stand against Federal negligence. Rather than defend Missouri’s prerogatives Obama’s Lawyer Chris Koster is busy picking out new carpet for his office.

Missourians deserve a leader who will take a stand on both Federal overreach and negligence. We need a fighter on these big issues if we are to regain control over our sovereignty and that of our states.

Obamas Lawyer Flashback – Koster the Imposter

Obama’s lawyer Chris Koster forgot the important rule that if you try to please everyone you will please no one.  The Editorial Board of the St. Louis Post Dispatch saw through Koster’s attempt to have Obamacare both ways.

In April of 2011, the St. Louis Post Dispatch wrote of Chris Koster:

Mr. Koster, a Republican until he switched parties in 2007, rejoins his former GOP colleagues in arguing that the act’s individual mandate to purchase health insurance violates the U.S. Constitution’s commerce clause.

But his arguments — combined with when and how they were delivered — offer convincing evidence that his legal brief is less about the law and more about Mr. Koster trying to be all things to all people.

In arguing that Congress overstepped its authority by seeking to regulate the purchase — or non-purchase — of health care, Mr. Koster ignores nearly two centuries of legal precedent that gives Congress wide latitude in regulating interstate commerce, which most certainly includes health care. Mr. Koster also ignores the concise ruling issued by U.S. District Judge George Steeh of Michigan defending the individual mandate.

Looks like the liberal Post Dispatch is unhappy with Koster’s tepid criticism of the individual mandate.  Half-baked legal reasoning on a liberal editorial board, but Koster is an actual lawyer who has duties and responsibilities to the law and the people.

If you try to please everyone, you please no one.  Koster is stung by this final rejoinder from the Post Dispatch:

If Mr. Koster’s intent was to prove to Missouri voters that he’s not a typical Democrat, he succeeded. Mr. Koster is neither a Democrat nor a Republican, even though he’s claimed to be both.

He’s a pandering, political Opportunist, with a capital O.

Missouri deserves a principled Attorney General.

Chris Koster Runs Ads on Taxpayer Dime – Lucky He’s a Friend of Obama!

Former Democrat Treasurer Tim Cahill of Massachusetts ran for Governor of his state as an independent.  Democrat AG Martha Coakley has filed public corruption charges for ads Cahill ran for the Massachusetts Lottery.  Coakley alleges that Cahill used the ads to support his run for governor.  The lottery ads run by Cahill’s office featured neither Cahill’s name nor picture.

I’ll bet Cahill wishes he had stayed a Democrat like Obama’s Lawyer Chris Koster.  Koster has been using public money to take credit for the settlement secured by his office from mortgage companies.  Note how over a third of the ad is Koster’s mugshot, name and office.

Just like his client, President Obama, Chris Koster is dipping into the public purse to purchase campaign ads.  At least Obama slushes taxpayer money through corrupt corporations like Solyndra first.  Koster just has a check cut for his campaign ad from the state treasury.  It’s all legal!  Just ask our Attorney General!
Koster’s half-baked settlement is a gift that keeps on giving.  President Obama’s friends in the banking industry escape punishment for fraud, Koster gets money to redecorate his office AND he gets to send hardworking Missourians a bill for campaign ads.

Missouri deserves an Attorney General who respects the law, and respects propriety.  We need to fire Obama’s Lawyer Chris Koster.

Stacking MO Courts with Chris Kosters

Where do we go to find lawyers to serve as judges as out of touch as Obama’s Lawyer Chris Koster? Why the Missouri Plan commission of course!

The Missouri Plan is an idea only a trial lawyer could love. A commission of lawyers plus a few “civilians” choose a slate of lawyers from among their friends and pass it along to the Governor for appointment. That’s it! No election, no advice and consent. Nothing to see here folks!

Senator Jim Lembke is proposing reforms that would add more non-lawyers to the commission, and allow the Senate to reject a really bad nominee – like those chosen by Chris Koster’s client President Obama – by a two-thirds majority.

These and other reforms by Lembke are of course being opposed by the Missouri’s bar, particularly attorneys like Chris Koster who make their living from outrageous legal tactics. Unfortunately, being leaned on by the trial bar is a bi-partisan problem. GOP members in the Senate are bottling up these reforms in committee.

If Missourians want ordered liberty secured by constitutional governance, then we need to support these reforms that will lead to a better crop of judges populating our courts.

Koster’s Cronies on the Public Payroll – Just Like Obama

Do you think it’s OK for President Obama to use taxpayer money to reward his political friends?  His lawyer Chris Koster sure thinks so!

You can tell Chris Koster thinks the taxpayer is his own private slush fund by looking at a special “Worker’s Rights Division” he created for Jimmy Hoffa’s daughter Judge Barbara Crancer.

This special division paid out $200,000 over its existence to Crancer, who retired.  After her retirement, the division disappeared down the memory hole.  It was scrubbed from Koster’s website. Fortunately, Missouri has an online accountability portal championed by Ed Martin where Crancer’s six figure salary is recorded.

Did Judge Crancer actually accomplish anything for her $200,000?  Was Chris Koster just allowing a political ally to enjoy a cushy, six-figure state job to bump up her state-funded pension?  That would certainly follow the pattern.  Apparently, in an election year, worker’s rights are not that big of a deal now that his crony is retiring.

This is exactly the kind of state-funded corruption that is driving states all over the country into bankruptcy.  We need elected officials to be transparent in their dealings and not dip into the pockets of Missourians to pay off their political allies.  We have enough of that with the Obama Administration, we need to end it in Missouri, too by firing Obama’s Lawyer Chris Koster.

Obama’s Lawyer Chris Koster gets an “F” for Obamacare Brief

As Chris Koster’s main client President Obama gets a failing grade for his understanding of the role of the supreme court, Chris Koster turns in similarly shoddy work in his Obamacare legal brief.

It’s clear that politically, Chris Koster is trying to have it both ways.  Obamacare is very unpopular with Missourians, but is very popular with Koster and Obama’s far-left base.  In an attempt to thread the needle, Koster turned in a “Friend of the Court” brief to the Supreme Court, laying out what is supposedly the State of Missouri’s position on the law Missourians rejected.

Here is the analysis of University of Missouri Law Professor Josh Hawley:

Attorney General Chris Koster’s brief in the Eleventh Circuit was technically filed in support of the states opposing the Affordable Care Act, but his legal argument was so full of equivocation as to make it unclear what precisely Missouri’s position was.

There were two central issues before the Eleventh Circuit: whether the individual mandate was constitutional and if not, whether it was severable from the rest of the law. As to the first, Koster’s brief claimed that the individual mandate was constitutionally problematic only if explained as an exercise of Congress’ Commerce Clause authority. There might be no constitutional problem at all, the brief suggested, if the individual mandate was justified in some other way, such as an exercise of Congress’ power to tax.

As to whether the law could still be enforced even if the court found the individual mandate unconstitutional, Koster took a position at odds with the other states that were parties to the litigation. Koster’s brief insisted that the court could strike down the mandate but still enforce the rest of the law, including provisions related to Medicaid, Medicare, food labeling requirements and more. Indeed, Koster repeatedly praised the law as sound policy.

A court reading the brief would likely conclude that Missouri did not regard implementation of the Act as a constitutional problem.

Is Missouri’s position really unclear?  We said “NO” to Obamacare when voters supported Proposition C by over 70%!  Do we think implementing Obamacare is a constitutional problem?  Of course we do!  Missourians forbade implementing components of Obamacare specifically because we think it is unconstitutional!

Who benefits by making the Show-Me-State sound wishy-washy on Obamacare?  Chris Koster’s client, President Obama.  Koster, by providing sloppy work is doing what he can to support Obama’s seizure of our health care system and misrepresenting the will of Missourians.  We need an Attorney General who respects the constitution and will uphold the will of the people of Missouri.

Supreme Court Ruled on Obamacare in 1942

Chris Koster’s client, President Obama has some precedent for stomping on the right of Americans to be left alone.

In a landmark case in 1942, the Supreme Court gave congress permission to meddle in the lives of US citizens who were not engaged in commerce under the commerce clause.

As part of their inept management of the great depression, Big Government passed legislation giving the Agriculture Secretary power to regulate crop production, citing the nationwide nature of crop commodities as their rationale for invoking the interstate commerce clause.

Roscoe Filburn was given permission to plant 11.1 acres of wheat on his farm.  He planted 23 acres.  When the feds slapped a per-bushel fine on him, he argued that the wheat was grown for his family’s consumption and not for market.

Filburn won in lower courts, but Agriculture Secretary Claude Wickard decided to amass the entire power of the Federal Government against Mr. Filburn and took the case to the Supreme Court.

Facing a court freshly packed with Roosevelt’s progressive choices for justice, Filburn lost.  The court decided that even though Filburn was just minding his own business, growing wheat for his family and livestock, the Agriculture Secretary could demand he not grow wheat, or pay a penalty.

Sound familiar?

This is the kind of government intrusion that Chris Koster supports, as the other members of Obama’s legal team twist and distort the law, trying to convince the Supreme Court to go along with Obama’s power grab.  Missouri needs an attorney general who believes in limited government and will make that case.