Black Eyes and Bruised Egos (Picking Fights, pt 3)

On August 23rd 2009 Chris Steineger displayed shocking behavior unbecoming a serious candidate for public office.

Fueled by too much alcohol, a heated debate about healthcare reform exploded into a barfight at Briet’s, a popular bar in Kansas City Kansas.

The following Monday Senator Steineger unabashedly arrived at committee meetings and offered creatively inconsistent explanations for his shiner. He description of his black eye varied from the product of “a gardening accident” to “an assault.”

Later, it was confirmed that he was the chief instigator of a bar fight,and that Steineger invited this bruising upon himself.

Related:

Steineger speaks about about the shiner

Lawyer’s response

Steineger Instigated barfight

The Joe Lieberman of Kansas; the Mark Gilstrap saga (Picking Fights, pt 2)

In a 2008 primary Steineger waged a public fight against Governor Kathleen Sebelius.

Following his divisive and foolhardy foray into the Kansas City Mayors race (see “Picking a Fight, pt. 1") Chris Steineger took sides in another contest between Democrats.

This time, he came out on the losing side of a fight made more acrimonious by his foolishly unnecessary behavior. True to form, Chris Steineger released another letter:

State Sen. Mark Gilstrap, a 12-year incumbent from Wyandotte County, is a conservative Catholic Democrat who is staunchly opposed to abortion and tax hikes. His voting record demonstrates his personal beliefs on these issues and, having been elected three times, he is clearly supported by the people he represents.

In 2006, Mark Gilstrap chose to support the re-election of former Attorney General Phill Kline, a choice that did not sit well with the Sebelius or Hensley. They have adopted the tactics of conservative Republicans by supporting Gilstrap's opponent in the Democrat primary. While I personally disagree with Mark's choice of Kline, I adamantly support his right to associate and vote for whom he wants.