Socialism for me, right-wingers for everyone else

By DAVID MARTIN

Olathe banker Don Bell contributes money to right-wing causes and politicians. But when his business stands to benefit, socialism begins to look pretty awesome.

The Kansas City Star reports today that Brittany Savings Corp., the parent company of Security Savings Bank, plans to apply for funds from the $700-billion bailout Congress approved in October.

Bell is the chairman of Brittany Savings. He’s seeking help from the Treasury Department in spite of his distrust of secular institutions. Bell has claimed that he got into the banking business on God’s orders and has given money to the campaigns of Phill Kline and Sam Brownback, heroes to Kansas conservatives.

But with his bank in the dumps, Bell is reaching out to godless Washington for a boost.