Tag: endorsement (page 2)

Everyone who's familiar with me is well aware that I'm a big fan of Mike Huckabee.  This is for multiple reasons.  The guy's a solid conservative and was - in my opinion - a better choice than John McCain for the Republican presidential ticket in 2008.  Most importantly, as far as I'm concerned, is the fact that Governor Huckabee is an open proponent of the National FairTax Initiative.  (Yes, he's also an open supporter of the Michigan FairTax Proposal.)

With that in mind, I fully expected that Governor Huckabee would, if he endorsed anyone in the Michigan Gubernatorial race, be endorsing Pete Hoekstra (who has openly endorsed both the national initiative and the state proposal).  Congressman Hoekstra has also actively and constructively engaged the Michigan TEA Party Movement, and I recall well that grassroots engagement was what kept Huckabee in the Republican primary race as long as he was.  I also know for a fact that HuckPAC will not endorse, support, or otherwise back any candidate who doesn't support the FairTax initiative.

So you can imagine my surprise when, around 8:30 this morning, I received a phone call from a close friend who just happens to be an insider to the Mike Cox gubernatorial campaign.

The endorsement list includes the names of well known Party leaders, former legislators, current state Representative Paul Scott, Snyder campaign staff and a handful of paid staffers from the Michigan Republican Party.  

The only problem?  Tollis and others reached today by RightMichigan claim they never endorsed Snyder and are angry their names are being used to promote his campaign.

"I'm agitated," Tollis told RightMichigan.  "I am not endorsing anybody right now.  (Last weekend) I spent more time talking to Tom George than Rick Snyder.  Frankly, I'm disappointed in Snyder.  You've got to have a little more integrity than that."

Tollis claims he's received fifteen phone calls in the last day from puzzled friends and associates who received the Snyder email claiming his endorsement.

Last weekend the Michigan Republican State Committee held a regular meeting in Battle Creek.  According to several attendees Snyder and an entourage of campaign staffers joined committee members at a social function following the conclusion of business and actively circulated clipboards with forms which asked for names and email addresses.

14th District State Committee member Darlyn Vigh met Snyder and was asked by one of his staff members to sign a form.  "I know nothing about the man.  (The form) was to get our information for contacts," said Vigh.  "I asked at the time if this was an endorsement and they said "no.""

She was surprised several days later to read an email from Rick Snyder himself apparently claiming she'd endorsed him.  

"Yes, it did look like an endorsement," Vigh continued.  "Most people are going to take it as an endorsement.  I never said he was a good candidate.  That is deceiving!"

Jim Duistermars, a longtime State Committee member from the 9th Congressional District expressed confusion at the inclusion of his name as well. "I don't know why they would do that," he said.

The announcement of allegedly false endorsements obtained from Michigan Republican Party staff members Larry Ward, former Representative Tom Casperson and three MRP interns prompted the state Party to issue the following statement:

"The Michigan Republican Party and members of its full-time staff, have not and will not endorse candidates in the August 2010 Primary Election for Michigan's Governor.  We regret any misunderstanding that led to the publication of Mr. Tom Casperson or Mr. Larry Ward's support for a specific candidate.  Michigan Republicans stand united and ready for the energetic battle of ideas we are blessed with, unlike our opposition."

The names of State Representative Paul Scott and legislative staffer Kristin Fair also appear on the Snyder "endorsement list" but according to both, they've yet to throw their weight behind a candidate and did not intend to do so last weekend.

"If I endorse someone I'll send out a press release about it," said Scott.

Others were less magnanimous.  

"When are we going to learn as Republicans we need to be straight up?" asked Tollis.