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In and outs of the political campaigns, focusing on Michigan and Lansing, Tim Skubick will report regularly throughout the primary and then general election campaigns.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Into the Lion's Den


     The Michigan Education Association, which promotes itself as a bi-partisan group, is really known in town to have a decidedly democratic tilt.
     Which is why when two republicans showed up at an MEA event last week, some eyebrows were raised and some cue dos were in order.
     Remember, even though the MEA calls itself an association, the dirty little secret is it is actually…come closer so it can be whispered, it is really a labor union.
     Thus into the lion's den marched Paul Scott and Pete Hoekstra, GOP candidates for Secretary of State and governor respectively.
     Both worked the room of 250 or so teachers and later during a gettng-to-know-you Q and A, the joint got suddenly quiet with Genesee County state Rep. Scott concluded his remarks by adding,"I'm a republican."
     The surprise revealation sort of laid there for a moment and then everyone laughed.
     Hoesktra laid out his party affiliation early on but took the edge off it by proudly announcing that as a Republican he had voted against the "No Child Left Behind" law pushed by former GOP President "W".  The crowd went nuts since the MEA is loathed to back anything with a "W" stamped on it.
     The forum in enemy terrority was perfect for Hoekstra who is pushing his maverick image of breaking with Bush along with his desire to be a bi-partisan governor if he is elected.
     Frankly his message ressonated.  At one point he was blunt. Asked what he would do about changing Proposal A which revamped the way schools are funded, Hoekstra observed:  If the MEA comes up with a plan for the ballot, it will fail.  If the other side comes up with a plan, it will fail too.  What we need to do is bring all sides together to draft a plan that can pass.
      Scott was also quite moderate in his words invoking his mother as his life long mentor and saying nothing that would leave the impression that he was off center.  Hence he left out his stuff about being against trans-gender folks getting any help from the Secretary of State.  Maybe he forgot to add that?
      At any rate, it was a gutsy move by both guys and they deserve a pat o the head for showing up.

4 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

"...some cue does were in order"
What the heck is a cue doe?

February 12, 2010 at 10:03 PM 
Anonymous The Great Artiste said...

BOLD Leadership for Michigan!

Kissing up to the education union. Real innovative.

Next.

February 14, 2010 at 9:02 AM 
Blogger archiebird said...

Again--Another Kudos to Repubs....Dems bad... articles "Skoop's blog." Does anybody notice this seriously, bad trend? I wonder who Skoop is taking money from? Electing Hoekestra would be TWO STEPS BACKWARD for Michigan. Yes, he's (HOoekestra) is claiming bipartisianship, but as we have all seen with the current administration, Candidate Hoekestra and Governor Hoekestra will be TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT ENTITIES!! Why doesn't Tim talk about how Hoekestra gave away troop coordinates with his tweets, or how he put the Health care reform bill in jeopordy with his REGRESSIVE women legislation? Skoops blog has NO CREDIBILITY. Tim Skubick can not be taken seriously for his biased one-sided opinion on politics.

February 15, 2010 at 4:51 AM 
Anonymous The Great Artiste said...

You're a damned idiot.

February 15, 2010 at 12:55 PM 

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