Well I think it says that clearly there's probably as strong a sentiment opposing her as there is supporting her.  I mean, the reality is this.  You look at Hillary Clinton and you see that almost half the country says definitively they cannot and they will not support her.  And they won't support her because they see someone, and Democrats in particular see someone who doesn't tell the truth.

Someone who doesn't tell them where they stand on issues.  Someone who is incapable of being straightforward and upfront.  She doesn't deem social security a crisis.  She doesn't have a plan to move forward and then she whispers to a voter that she could increase the cap on taxes.  

Someone who says that drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants, illegal aliens, makes a lot of sense then comes out against it.  Someone who says that--she looks our military leaders in the eye and says if you need any resources, if there's anything that you need, come back and let us know.  Then she votes against funding for the troops.  Someone who says taking care of veterans is critically important then votes against troop funding that includes veterans funding as well.  Someone who says that she understands the threat posed by Saddam Hussein, votes for a bill who's title is "Authorization of Force" and then says she has always been against the war.  

Someone who says that she believes in fiscal responsibility and wants to put money in people's pockets but proposes over 800 million dollars in additional spending without an explanation that passes the laugh test on how she's going to pay for it which includes massive tax increases.  

You know, on issue after issue Hillary Clinton has proven to be incapable of being honest with the American people and her message is not just being rejected by independents and republicans, it's being rejected by Democrats.  

Of course, she refused to come to Michigan.  She signed one of those pledges and said she wouldn't come to MI and she wouldn't come to FL because we moved our primaries up and sure enough, she kept that promise and wouldn't come to MI although now she's headed to Florida and breaking that promise.  Was that a tactical mistake?  Not coming to Michigan?  Could it come back to bite her in November?

I just think it's this, "the rules don't apply to us" attitude.  Whether it's attacking opponents for essentially supporting the same position that she does, whether it's being on the ballot but not being on the ballot, whether it's scenario after scenario it's this attitude that they believe they can not just get close to the line but they can cross the line and that the rules that apply to everyone else don't apply to them.  And then when questioned about circumventing the truth they play the victim.  You see it time and again and the reality is this, the American people have seen this show before.  They've seen this act.  And we find it hard to believe that they're going to sign up for another four years of it.  Which is why we're incredibly confident that whether it's Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama we're going to compete and we're going to compete successfully and we're going to maintain control of the White House.

Speaking of Senator Obama, you have someone who hasn't--doesn't have the experience to lead our country in a time of war.  Someone who is a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, hasn't shown up to all of their meetings and hearings.  Someone who is a subcommittee chair and hasn't convened meetings or hearings.  You know, someone who is a couple years removed from being in the State Senate.  And when you look at his record it's not one of great accomplishment or distinction so I think as we go through this process their records, their comments and their stances will be looked at and when you say, when they go out and talk about change, the question has to be asked what kind of change are they talking about?  And I think we can argue vociferously and very effectively that their change is the wrong kind of change.  The change that they're arguing for would hurt America and the change has been rejected time and again by the vast majority of the American people and it will be rejected again in 08.  

Michigan is usually thought of as a battleground State but we've trended blue in the last few elections.  We have a Democrat governor and a Democrat controlled House.  Does the national party still view this as a battleground?  Is it winnable?

Definitely.  Michigan serves as an example of why the failed policies that are being espoused by Senator Clinton and Senator Obama are failures, why they won't work, why those policies simply are not conducive to move the country forward.  Michigan essentially serves as a case study of why Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama shouldn't be the President of the United States.

Why do I say that?  Because what they are proposing has already been enacted by Jennifer Granholm and what has it produced?  Unemployment rates through the roof.  It has produced a repressed economy in the State.  So the reality is that we will make an incredibly aggressive forward looking argument in Michigan and Michigan will serve as an example as to why Democrat policies have failed in the past and should not be used moving forward.

I agree with you 1,000 percent so I've gotta put you on the spot a little bit here.  Now that we've gone through our primary and we've selected our delegates is there any way on Earth that the RNC will actually NOT seat every one of Michigan's delegates to the national convention?

I mean, they were party rules, you know?  And there was a process in place and Michigan went outside of that process.  And we, we have uh, you know, we have followed through on the rules.

You know, Michigan knew and understood what the ramifications of their actions were as did Wyoming, New Hampshire, Florida and South Carolina but we're still partners with our friends at the State Party.  We still have an incredibly important role to play and that partnership does this year, in carrying the State of Michigan and delivering it's electoral votes to the Republican nominee and that's what we plan on doing.  

I think we are very very excited about the prospect of going into Michigan and talking about creative policies that put money back in the hands of the decision makers.  The people.  Not the bureaucrats.  Letting them make the decisions of what to do with that money.  Making sure the small businesses can buy equipment, can hire new workers, can expand services and are rewarded for the critically important role they play in the economy and there's only one party that has a proven track record of doing that and there's only one party that will continue doing that.  And it's the Republican Party.  And we're going to make a very aggressive argument for that in the Great Lakes State.  

You're right, the GOP is typically considered the party of individual rights and states rights.  Can you give me any insight into the thinking behind the attempt by the RNC to take away a State's right to self determination with regards to primary voting dates?

We're also a party of rules and regulations and, frankly, a country of laws and rules. Those rules and regulations have been in place and they've been in place for a number of years.  Everybody at the State level and the national level understood the rules and understood the ramifications of going outside of them and they made a decision to do so.  The Party acted accordingly and appropriately.  

Ultimately we need to look forward and we need to move forward.  The important thing here is ensuring that the message of hope, of optimism, a message that we can make the kind of change, the right kind of change that's going to create progress for the American people and particularly the citizens of Michigan is delivered.  And is delivered aggressively and vociferously and that's exactly what we expect to do this year.  And I think there's such a real difference between our Party and our candidates and their Party and their candidates.  

They are, Democrats are campaigning on a failed America.  At every point there's an excuse and there's a criticism and there's blame assigned.  Whether it's with regard to the economy, with regard to the war on terror, with regard to Iraq, whatever it may be.  The fact that you hear Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama talk about the war and they assign credit on progress to the 06 elections in Obama's case, to the upcoming elections in Clinton's case and never once do they utter the words "men and women in uniform."  They never assign credit to those who are fighting and are winning and are exterminating the vast majority of al Qaeda and terrorist cells that are in the country.  

It's that kind of stark difference, it's that very very real difference between the parties and their views.  FISA is coming up before the Congress and it's going to expire.  Are we or are we not going to monitor terrorist phone calls and emails that are made into our country while they plan and plot to kill our families?  Yes or no?  We believe that we should.  They believe we should not.  

These kinds of differences is what this election will be based upon.  We are confident once effectively communicated to the American people they will side with the party that has their interests, their safety and their pocket books at heart.

You, sir, are on message.  Let me ask you one more here and I'll let you go.   Barack Obama seems to be attempting to appeal to conservatives these last couple of days with his statements praising Ronald Reagan.  Saying Ronald Reagan was a better President than Bill Clinton.  Any chance he's a closeted conservative?

(Laughter) You know what, there are a few instances where we agree with Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.  I think conservatives would clearly agree with Ronald Reagan's place in history.  And the reality is that you know, our party was sent a message in 06.  Message received.  We've gotta get back to smaller government, strong defense, the entrepreneurial independence that has made America great and that has made the conservative movement and the Republican party clearly the lead-alternative for this country.  

And that's what we're going about doing.  I think you're seeing that at every level in the Party.  It's something we're incredibly focused on and you hear our candidates repeat it over and over again.  Do more with less.  Give people back the money that they earn.  Government needs to be more effective.  We need to focus on fighting this 21st century war against terrorism and focus on this country's national security interests.  I think you're hearing it at every level of government.  At every level of the Party.  We were sent a message, we received the message and we've obviously seen in many ways and we're focusing on undoing mistakes that the American people expect from our party.

Appreciate the time, boss.  Thanks!