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RightMichigan Exclusive: An Interview with Mike Cox

By Nick, Section News
Posted on Tue Jun 09, 2009 at 08:51:57 AM EST
Tags: Exclusive, interview, Cox, Cherry, Mackinac, constitutional convention, tax hike, term limits, debate, 2010 (all tags)

Attorney General and 2010 gubernatorial candidate Mike Cox recently sat down with RightMichigan to speak with conservative activists and the Right Roots about his bid to become the state's next chief executive. Just a few of the highlights include-

RightMichigan: On the decision of other GOP candidates to oppose a no-new-taxes pledge:

Cox: "I'm very disappointed that I'm the only Republican... you know, I expect some Democrats might be against a no-tax pledge, but I don't think that the problem is we're sending too little money to Lansing..."

RightMichigan: On a new constitutional convention?

Cox: "I'm afraid of mischief... I like the amendment process much better... I don't like these stealth projects like we saw last year with RMGN."

RightMichigan: Cherry's decision to duck the candidate debate on Mackinac Island?

Cox: He ducked us. Absolutely. Isn't that telling? Part of that is, if I were him, I don't know what I could say. We are last place in employment, third from worst in business taxes, we increased income taxes and he was the final vote a year and a half ago. He's been wrong on all of the issues so I can understand why he doesn't want to talk about them."

And much more...

< Tuesday in the Sphere: June 9 | Holy Macaroni! >

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RightMichigan Exclusive: An Interview with Mike Cox | 19 comments (19 topical, 0 hidden)

Nice catch! (none / 0) (#1)
by The Wizard of Laws on Tue Jun 09, 2009 at 09:52:58 AM EST

Good job, Nick. These exclusive interviews are very informative and ahead of the curve.

Very nice, Nick! (none / 0) (#2)
by Grammy Cracker on Tue Jun 09, 2009 at 09:59:52 AM EST

Congratulations and well done, Nick. I agree with Mike: why are other GOP candidates dodging the no-new-tax pledge? Hummmm?

Leaning towards Cox (none / 0) (#4)
by silverfox1945 on Tue Jun 09, 2009 at 01:13:50 PM EST

When the candidates for governor first started to announce, Cox wasn't my favorite. I have to say I am starting to lean towards him. He really seems like a straight shooter. Props to him for taking the no tax pledge! So far he is the only candidate with any real backbone.

Good sound bites, but... (none / 0) (#5)
by rdww on Tue Jun 09, 2009 at 01:37:38 PM EST

...Cox won't get my support until he apologizes to all the hard-working single dads out there he smeared with his stupid billboard campaign. Once he admits to doing something incredibly dumb just for the Fox News/reactionary value, I might listen.

Remember, by maidintheus, 06/11/2009 10:53:57 AM EST (5.00 / 0)

Nice interview. (none / 0) (#6)
by thejmfc on Tue Jun 09, 2009 at 02:27:41 PM EST

I could easily vote for Cox in the general election. The primary? That's going to be a tough decision.

Tax pledge aside, there doesn't seem to be much difference between Cox and Hoekstra. I don't put too much weight on the tax pledge, because in my mind, it depends on how you interpret it. If you understand the pledge to mean that no tax can be raised, that's a tough thing to sign. If like Cox, you understand it to mean that taxes as a whole can't be raised, then it's a no-brainer. I didn't see any actual wording though, so I could be wrong.

Unless I missed it (which is possible since I'm also watching my 2-year-old), I didn't see any mention of making Michigan a "right to work" state. That is one area that I think I disagree with Hoekstra on, though I understand his reasons for taking that position could be political. Still, I think it's an important issue to look at. Becoming a "right to work" state would definitely be attractive to business, and would seemingly fit in well with a general overhaul of Michigan's business tax/regulatory climate.

The tax pledge is VERY clear by leondrolet, 06/10/2009 08:25:50 AM EST (none / 0)

Thanks, Leon. by thejmfc, 06/10/2009 01:26:28 PM EST (none / 0)

I Am Glad... (none / 0) (#7)
by kenmatesevac on Tue Jun 09, 2009 at 03:06:01 PM EST

...that at the very least, we have a good overall crop of gubernatorial candidates. I'm sure we'll all have time to nail down their thoughts on the no-tax-pledge before the primary.

Very nice, Nick! (none / 0) (#8)
by INtoMIGOP on Tue Jun 09, 2009 at 04:38:30 PM EST

Thanks for these great interviews, Nick. I just moved to Michigan from Indiana (no thanks to Michigan's outrageous taxes and failing businesses - family situation) and have been looking to learn more about the candidates and the RIGHT roots here. I'm glad Cox had the you-know-whats to sign the no tax pledge. We have to stand on our principles and do whats right, and if a candidate doesn't have the courage to sign a pledge and put their money where their mouth is, he probably also doesn't have the courage to be a real leader. Question - where did you interview Cox? Wondering if he took the time to invite the right roots to his office or if we had to go to him. Regardless, good work Nick and I'll be coming back here often.

For the record... I don't mind by Nick, 06/09/2009 05:09:11 PM EST (none / 0)

Worst state economy yet 3rd highest business tax (none / 0) (#10)
by woosters on Tue Jun 09, 2009 at 06:07:22 PM EST

Here we are, the state in the worst shape economically and yet our state has the 3rd highest business tax of all the states? How does that bring in new business? How does that even keep the existing businesses from leaving?

Nice interview Nick!

Great interview (none / 0) (#12)
by steve on Tue Jun 09, 2009 at 10:43:50 PM EST

Are you going to get an opportunity to sit down with Pete Hoekstra?

He already did. by thejmfc, 06/10/2009 01:18:18 AM EST (none / 0)

Tax Pledge (none / 0) (#15)
by leondrolet on Wed Jun 10, 2009 at 08:34:40 AM EST

Every GOP candidate should sign the tax pledge. The Americans for Tax Reform pledge does allow for tax shifts or tax restructuring. It simply is a promise to Michigan's taxpayers that the candidate will not support a net increase in the tax burden.

What WILL a Republican stand for, if not for taking a stand for taxpayers?

Democrats are not ashamed to make promises to their supporters. Democrat candidates promise more spending and more government "investments" to government employees and constituencies all the time.

Dems brashly promise big government to their supporters (and deliver!) - why do so many Republicans shy away from committing to limit government by opposing higher taxes?

Kudos to Mike Cox for unashamedly and directly letting taxpayers know exactly whose side he is on by pledging to oppose tax hikes.

Race preferences (none / 0) (#16)
by leondrolet on Wed Jun 10, 2009 at 08:42:08 AM EST

I am compelled to remind folks that Mike Cox was the ONE statewide GOP candidate in 2006 to publicly support the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative (MCRI) that banned government from using race preferences in hiring, contracting, and University admissions.

Most GOP leaders either supported government racial preference policies or sat silently by while citizens pushed the initiative for equality under the law.

Two other GOP prominent leaders did stand out as principled on this issue by supporting the MCRI - L. Brooks Patterson and former House Speaker Craig DeRoche.

Oh why? (none / 0) (#17)
by pageiv on Wed Jun 10, 2009 at 08:47:55 AM EST

Why do we have so many solid individuals running for the same office? I guess that's a good thing.

Eating My Words (none / 0) (#19)
by dsheill on Wed Jun 10, 2009 at 09:00:42 PM EST

I have to say that, although I have been extremely critical of this guy, this was probably the best presentation/interview I've seen him give. I appreciated the fact that he actually gave specifics on what he would cut (e.g. increase co-pays for state employees), because for a while there, I started to get skeptical about all of his boasting about his tax cuts pledge without any specifics.

The only point he really got hung up on was the fact that he really had no answer how his experience as AG made him qualified to be governor. Other than that, a very good interview for both parties involved.

Call me a "purist" but (none / 0) (#21)
by apackof2 on Thu Jun 11, 2009 at 09:42:42 AM EST

The only pledge is to the Constitution and the USA, not to some other piece of paper

RightMichigan Exclusive: An Interview with Mike Cox | 19 comments (19 topical, 0 hidden)

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