Trump, Obama, Kavanaugh, Ginsburg are single words that create either inspiration or anger. They either make you happy or aggressive.

Those were comments by the Democratic candidate for the 1st Congressional District seat from Kansas, Alan LaPolice, during a forum in Junction City on Saturday. “They make you left or they make you right, and I want to stop that.”

LaPolice told the small forum audience at the C.L. Hoover Opera House that those single words “create too much emotion in the American electorate. They create too much division in the American electorate.” He added, ” We shouldn’t have a visceral reaction other than inspiration when we hear the names of our presidents and potential justices on our independent judiciary, on our Supreme Court.”

LaPolice said a man will be sworn who he believed is unfit. “The fact is that our Supreme Court was the last independent pillar of democracy.”  LaPolice said now there is no one in this country who believes Kavanaugh will be part of an independent judiciary.

LaPolice said legislatures are supposed to lead but can’t because of hyper partisanship. “The divide is killing us folks, the divide. He said the left is the only side protecting the minority, the underdog. LaPolice said he is now on the side of justice, and the underdog.

“I’m going to fight for the underdog, but what I can’t do exclusively from the left. I cannot fight as a Democrat. I need you to understand that. And I also want you to understand the reality that there are maybe two dozen of you here, and you’re not going to win races with just the two dozen of you who are active. You are only going to win races if you can bridge that divide and you can go out to the other side, the non voters especially. Inspire them to vote.”

LaPolice added justice needs to prevail and the Legislature needs to lead.

Other candidates or their representatives who attended the forum, ranged from those seeking the state treasurer’s post to insurance commissioner, attorney general and state board of education.