“I will praise the LORD while I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
Do not trust in princes, In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation.”
MY KNEE JERK REACTION WAS TO JOIN THE CHORUS, DEMANDING COURSER AND GAMRAT RESIGN.
MY DEMANDING THAT TODD AND CINDY RESIGN WOULD BE SELF SERVING, an attempt to push the blame away from myself, and on to others, for trusting the wrong people. I accept my share of the blame, as I hope others will. I will not defend them, I will Dust myself off, and prepare for the next battle.
The only people who have the right to demand a RESIGNATION are first, their FAMILY, second their CONSTITUENTS, and POSSIBLY THEIR PEERS. (Their peers doing so would be in the case of many, extremely hypocritical, knowing the similar affairs of so many others over the last few years). I am Praying for the Families, Praying for Healing, and moving forward.
Some of the calls for resignation I believe come from the right place, although misguided. Others I suspect are SELF-SERVING, LOOK AT ME PLOYS, people attempting to prop themselves or their organizations up to fill the “Vacuum of Leadership” that they perceive this scandal leaves. I have no interest in hearing myself on the radio, or pushing out press releases with my opinion. Let the enemy dance, giggle, and shout to the heavens “I told you so.” This is not about “Cleaning up our mess”, the shame is on those who committed the acts, not those who misplaced their trust. Many of those who are trying to use this scandal as a springboard, had nothing to do with ever helping Cindy or Todd in the first place. Their self serving flagellation is no different than the oppositions attempt to lay blame on the Conservative movement.
I will pray for their Families, Pray for Healing, and Pray that they will eventually repent and seek forgiveness.
If anyone deserves a say, and a share of the BLAME, some might say it was me (Many are doing so, there is a full fledged attack from the usual suspects, Progressive media, dethroned Power brokers, and the usual establishment heines, all working to rewrite History, and tear down anyone who was in any way linked to Cindy and Todd, some conveniently forgetting their own ties). Do I feel Betrayed? Of course. Might I be justified in anger? possibly, but to what end. It is not my place to make any demands. There will be fallout to the movement, the media coverage is a circus. The movement has survived many betrayals in the past, establishment attempts to co-opt, The “Alliance” with the establishment status quo, the Fiscal Only-Faith opposed Lie, the Media attacks, infiltration by activists, the Calley the Ally purge. We are in a Spiritual, Cultural, and moral battle of ideologies. The toughest battles we face will be those with their own self interests. This is not the first time the Sharks have sensed blood in the water. In the end, Cindy and Todd will make their Choices, possibly attempts at apologies to others, and the battle will start anew. The naysayers will go back to their jockeying for relevance, while the Movers and shakers will forge forward.
Admittedly from the beginning, I was Cindy’s biggest defender, helping to squelch the ankle biters who came out of the woodwork to undermine MI4CS because it threatened their perceived power, and exposing the Establishment cronies who were trying to steer everyone to the MIGOP approved “Grassroots for Hoekstra” was a daily battle. Some were so worried they would lose their place as the “Face of the Movement” that any action not suggested by them first, was verboten. Many of the establishment leg-humpers and crumb sweepers are again recycling the same dis-proven attacks, despite the truth being so much worse. Most of the attacks were based on “Wish I had thought of it First-ism. Others had genuine honest Loyalty to whom they perceived as the best candidate. A few made honest attempts to argue against the process, (while siding with another group that eventually joined the effort, then attempted to undermine from within). Most adopted the tactic below. A favorite of the establishment GOP and others.
Alinsky’s rule 12: Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.” Cut off the support network and isolate the target from sympathy. Go after people and not institutions; people hurt faster than institutions. (This is cruel, but very effective. Direct, personalized criticism and ridicule works.)
Notice that many of those who are suddenly patting each other on the back for their great insight as organizers and leaders, are doing so about their LACK OF ACTION and MOMENTUM. MI4CS, the Pow Wows, and MICPAC, are being trashed because of 2 people involved who fell from Grace. The Piling on and backslapping has joined the forces of the Far left Progressive Press, The Establishment GOP, The Anti-social agenda Liberaltarians, and the usual alliance of naysayers. Many will use this as an attempt to tear down God and the Faith community based on the actions of 2 who submitted to their sin. Those who do will not realize that the submission of 2 individuals to sin, does not justify the demands that we all submit to sin. Instead they will mock and ridicule all, to justify their own failures, and Libertine agenda.
I will accept part of the blame, but NO SHAME. I am PROUD of the @ 5 dozen groups, Hundreds of Leaders, Thousands of members, and thousands of Contacts made across the state and Nationwide Through MI4CS. We did not win the Senate. However, MI4CS taught many of us the Petition gathering, organizing and leadership skills needed for the battles that were to come. We forged the friendships and alliances that have helped build this Army. Contacts, Knowledge, and Skills learned were used in countless battles and helped pass Right to work, and have been used in countless other efforts.
I helped where I could on the Chair Challenge, mistakenly backing Sam Moore (the clear view of hindsight), then after he withdrew close to the wire, I helped convince Cindy to run with Todd, and jumped in to challenge the status quo. Some opposed Todd’s involvement for “Personal” reasons. The tired old lies from the past were again dredged up. Some past critics stood with Todd, Many others were the same detractors as in the past. Some had good reasons, HINDSIGHT IS ALWAYS 20/20. None would share any hard facts or evidence as to why we should not challenge the status quo. It is about the $$$$, was the prevalent argument. (as we know, we can never outspend Devos and Weiser). We came close to unseating Bobby Schostak, and winning the Party. Would it have proven a Wrong battle with a Courser win? heinesight is always 20/20.
Many of those past opponents are my Friends and allies today, (some past “Allies” were never my friends) we have gotten past the Differences of opinion on People, and focused on the commonalities of Principles. Others continue to try to make it about “problems with Individuals”, when the reality is the problem is with whether those individuals choose to stand with the establishment cronies, their own self interest, or put the movement and PRINCIPLES first.
The Pow Wows led to literally Hundreds of other Events spawned by the networking that resulted over the last 6 years. Delegates, Candidates, and activists recruited and inspired at these events have and are changing the face of the MIGOP, Have changed the agendas of the State Conventions, and ultimately have changed the appearance of the MI House and Senate. Tea Parties, 9/12’s, Along with MICPAC, and dozens of other groups, We have put the establishment MIGOP on defense. Many of The challenges to the status Quo, would not have occurred without the groundwork built at these events and gatherings. The exposing of the inside incestuous mess that is the MIGOP is another direct result of the contacts and shared information over the last 6 years.
I will not apologize for direct action rather than the cutting of deals for a seat at the table. Some sat back after 2010 and wanted to fold the tent, and wait for the next election. Some thought it was a waste of time to hold meetings on a regular basis, it was time to relax, and start up again in 2014. Others continued to meet, even in the off years, and strengthened and grew their groups. We learned that this battle is never ending, we can move forward on the wins of the past, but we can never rest on our laurels. Past achievements and battles are great fodder for After battle breaking of bread discussions, but it takes momentum to make gains.
While not always winning, we at least ignored the cowards way out of “Do not fight a battle you might Lose..” in politics, there is rarely a battle where even in Losing something is not gained.
We do not all always get along, we even criticize each other at times, but If I had to choose a Team, a band of Brothers, to go into battle with Tomorrow, the List would be propagated with those who were in the Arena with me, not the naysayers who criticized every attempt to organize, threw out excuses rather than action, made demands for relevance, rather than earned it through participation.
DAVID L WELLS
(9)Nuh Uh.
(22)
A long time ago a successful ruler got himself in trouble first by lusting after then seducing a married neighbor women. She gets pregnant, then this ruler arranges to have her husband killed. Eventually through the help and spiritual advice of a man of god, this wayward ruler, King David of Israel, repents. His words of "against you and you alone oh God, have I sinned", are a reminder of the path back to God. The object of all true believers is restoration and renewal of those who have fallen. All too often many shoot their spirit wounded brothers and sisters. What God requires of all of this is this, "Do justly, LOVE MERCY, (emphasis mine), and walk humbly with our God. Love Mercy because that was given to us when we walked in unrighteousness. When those around Jesus were disgusted that He let a common whore wash his feet, He said that the women who was washing his feet with her tears and drying them with her hair loved much because she had been forgiven much. It's time for all of us to go and do likewise.
Matt, the key difference here is that King David confessed and repented at the moment that he was confronted by the prophet Nathan (I'm also capable of reading 2 Samuel 12), whereas Todd and Cindy have been remarkably silent this weekend. Forgiveness, and the mercy that follows, is predicated upon repentance (and the Scriptural examples of that concept are legion, Jesus included). Now, I quite get that I don't have to personally hear the confession of either of these adulterers, but given the nature of this scandal, and the boneheaded stunt contrived to cover it up, there follows a reasonable expectation that there ought to be some public statement, and that it ought to be dominated by undiluted contrition.
King David's sins didn't stop at adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. If you'll read 2 Samuel 11, you'll note that, in order to cover up the affair (and the resulting pregnancy), David ordered his field commander, Joab, to execute a foolish battlefield tactic that resulted in the death of not only Uriah, but also the soldiers under his command. In one stroke, David not only killed Bathsheba's husband, not only killed the husbands of several other wives, but he also undermined Joab's reputation as a military leader. The resulting coverup also significantly undermined David's administration as the divinely-appointed King of Israel. By doing all this in the context of his royal office, David also publicly undermined the Lord's reputation, giving both the Israelites and their enemies cause to treat God with contempt, and bringing a great deal of fallout down on his own head.
Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat have made a point of putting themselves forward as tea party gladiators, as well as regularly invoking their Christianity in their correspondence with supporters, press releases, and legislative discussions. Do you think for one second that their misbehavior doesn't bring both the Lord and the movement into disrepute? Do you not think that their now-public conduct gives the enemies of Christ just cause to mock and ridicule His followers? Courser and Gamrat are on record as sponsors of significant pro-life legislation, firearms freedom legislation, and election reform legislation. All of these proposals are now effectively dead-in-committee because those two knuckleheads couldn't keep their nether parts in their pants, and then insisted on a #controlledburn in order to #inocculatetheherd against the inevitable. (Yeah, those two phrases are now popular Twitter hashtags . . . thanks for nothing, Turd.) Setting aside the firearms and elections, how many more babies will be sacrificed on the altar of "choice" because the personhood initiative is now unlikely to see a floor vote? Do you think that lightly dismissed?
As long as these two lawmakers gone wild insist on covering their keisters, instead of honestly 'fessing up to all of the damage (direct and collateral) that their own behavior has caused, mercy will be denied them. This isn't because I say so, but rather because the Lord himself says so. I have no interest in their destruction, but will happily do whatever it takes to inspire them to repent . . . because that's the only way this ends constructively.
excellent commentary!
Many of us were novices to the world of politics. Regardless of their intent, Todd and Cindy's efforts served to prepare hundreds for the ugly power struggles that is today's politics. I never imagined I'd agree with them on every vote but i never doubted their heart was with the people.. They were stronger than I ever imagined i would be: now we are now realizing they were not as strong as we thought and toll they paid for it. It is always a sad day to see christians fall, it is especially hard when leaders do. I wonder if we were stronger, maybe they wouldn't have had to lean so much on each other. What ever they do from here, I will be praying for them and forever thank them for their efforts to stand in the gap.
Well said Tony.
Religion aside - these two need to apologize, resign and go heal their families. And we also need to start looking at part time legislators. We, the taxpayers, are getting mighty PO'd at stories like this that happen on both sides of the isle. They are being paid to do a job - not play hanky panky, lie, shoot at their wives and abuse the generosity of the taxpayers. Enough Already!
What has this episode taught us? ANS: That ya all need some lessons in how to read and digest mainstream media before reacting. Lesson 1. A person interviewed doing business close to Todd, didn't even know he was her Rep. How was her opinion valuable for print? It's like hearing "sources close to the White House"--When it's really a guy sitting on a park bench near the WH. Lesson 2. Calls for resignations--consider the sources--consider that it was gut/hysterical reactions to hearing "sound bites". Lesson 3. Blackmail was involved--this doesn't have whistleblower status--an ex employee who got fired but remained nameless in initial reports has been exposed in "Detroit News" today. Good luck to him finding employment in the future. Lesson 4. The recordings used as the basis for exposing this garbage, were illegally made, and only shared after the blackmailer was fired as reported "without reason". Really????? Reason seems clear cut to me! All the above was gleaned from published reports.
Lastly, the news is stale--who really cares--the only thing I want is the blackmailer prosecuted for the criminal he is. And, I hope he signed a non-disclosure. And, it would be too juicy if he was paid by the media thereby adding fraud to his criminal acts.
Again with the MIC4L talking points, “Sue”? Other than Todd’s say-so (which is now not credible) we have no evidence that there’s any actual blackmail in play. What we have is an alleged blackmail conspiracy, to distract from a false flag sex scandal, to cover up an actual extramarital affair. (And now we have #lansingmafia to add to the hashtag collection of #controlledburn and #inoculatetheherd.)
As I pointed out in another discussion thread, according to Sullivan v. Gray (117 Mich. App. 476 (1982)), the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled that those personally participating in a private conversation need not obtain the consent of the other participants to record the conversation (commonly referred to as the "one-party consent rule"). Also, as the first Detroit News article on this mess made clear, House staffers are at-will employees; no reason for termination needs to be given. Why Graham and Allard waited roughly ten weeks after the meetings in question (including a little over three weeks after their terminations) to disclose these perfectly legal recordings to the media is anyone’s guess. However, it also really doesn’t matter.
Also, this is far from a stale story, as evidenced by today’s reports disclosing (1) the identity of a longtime friend and business associate of Courser’s who apparently sent the now-infamous false flag e-mail (not a nameless fired employee as you’ve suggested), (2) the response from Courser, (3) the seizing of electronic and hardcopy records from Courser’s and Gamrat’s offices by the House Business Office, and (4) the not-surprising revelation that Gamrat’s office hours meeting scheduled for this evening at Lee Township Hall has now been rescheduled to an undetermined date and time.
And this is what happens when you let your little head do your big head’s job.
I highly doubt the blackmailer story. If someone was threatening him all he had to do was contact the Michigan State Police. Why on earth would Courser want his name attached to an accusation of paid male on male sex in an alley somewhere to cover up an in office affair with a fellow legislator??? It does not make sense. They just have to stop digging a deeper hole. And me thinks that the holy roller apology is proof positive that he is nothing but a snake in the grass. Both of them need to slither away and stop making fool's of themselves.
And, the hits just keep coming...
http://westmipolitics.blogspot.com/2015/08/breakingcourser-accused-himself-of.html
http://westmipolitics.blogspot.com/2015/08/breaking-courser-claims-graham-allard.html
If only Keith, Ben, and Josh, would've been at the Raddisson to hold Cindy's legs shut all this could've been avoided.
Cindy and Todd probably needed time. I received a recorded verbal explanation this morning from Todd. The time he sent it was 4 A.M. I am extremely disappointed in both of them. It will take me time to assess my response to them. One thing I know, however. God is always loving, always accepting when we go to Him in Spirit and Truth. This I know experientially. Christ alone is our Shepherd. He will go find His lost sheep and bring them back into the fold. But the shame and humiliation belongs to the wayward sheep and those things are not easily overcome. The desire to go back again and again to plead forgiveness is like trying to erase the wrong we've done from our own minds, which we can't do, though it is remembered no more by Jesus. If you are willing to accept Him as your Teacher and rely upon Him instead of man, He will rebuke you, caution you, explain to you. And you will love Him for it.
This tirade is wrong on so many levels I do not know where to begin. Maybe with the standard "Let's pray for them" to appear more holier than his small audience.
The word for sin in the Greek language is “amartia” (ha-mar-tia). It means “to miss the mark. We all "miss the mark" We are all sinners.
However, what is our response when we do? Humble repentance and a new reliance on the Lord. Making amends to anyone we have harmed. If we fail to "miss the mark" in these things we continue a downhill path, injuring our relationship with the Lord, the ones we love and ourselves.
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise" Psalm 51:17
Which is exactly what Kevin was espousing and what anyone has yet to see from either guilty party.
However, the first point is that this rant really should be ignored instead of answered as the intellectual dishonesty is so astounding and the conclusions so untruthful it doesn't deserve any reasoned responses. I a bit surprised that Jason even published it as it just continues to perpetuate damage. RightMI is so much better than this.
Obviously I am wasting my time here too however my two cents doesn't cost me or anyone else a dime so....this poster is unwilling to accept that he was wrong,(we all are at time) apologize for those who were slandered for not worshiping the Cindy/Todd machine and instead chooses to continue a blame game with made up in his own mind of the wrongs done by others, running around the Internet pontificating these self righteous fantasy finger pointings.
The bottom line that only the mature will accept and acknowledge and those really desiring to "move on" is the lesson of NOT Trust AND Verify as not to do so leads the self serving to continue to self serve at the expense of good people. In this case, the families, spouses, Christian Conservatives and all the good meaning people that spend their time propelling these people into a position that has brought disgrace to all.
Besides that, this person's post is a perfect example of why the TP has lost ground and why despite the desire to work together, there are some that you just can't with work and in fact doing so only further damages any cause you seek to achieve.
I will accept part of the blame, is clearly included. Highlighted the text for those with poor eyesight or dim lighting in their basement. Keep holding the past jealousies, believing it was only about individuals. The rest of us will continue to take the slings and arrows.
Guess I will just have to stand with the 400+ who registered and attended the last Soaring Eagle event, despite record cold and 1/3rd of the state blocked off by an ice storm. The 45-50 groups represented may not be an approved Alliance, controlled by GOP staffers, properly vetted, or "Grassroots" approved, but I proudly stand with them.
A little tired of the "Can't Work with" Remember, MI4CS and candidate Gary Glenn chose to throw their support behind Clark Durant in the Primary, working with others. One Candidate that a small number of groups supported did not, others also stayed in Diluting the field. (All good candidates) and the Lauded Icauci vetting was won by the Alliance/Establishment backed Pete Hoekstra. (I said WON, Kevin, (who also supported Todd) I realize they found a loophole to avoid endorsement after the system failed). The truth is I and others do work together.
I will continue to be who I am. If someone from the East side of the state had been as straightforward as I, we might have known more from the start, and had more to base our vetting on then "Feelings of discernment". If that cuts the number of people willing to work with me, I will take that chance. Thus far it has just meant I am surrounded by Movers and Shakers, and in the midst of the battle. The only battles I regret, are the ones we did not attempt.
Great Biblical lesson Kevin. Heard even more about David and others whom God used to further his Kingdom, at multiple Transformation MI, God and Country speaking events across the state over the last month, with Speakers like Rick Joyner, William Wagner, and others. With your affinity for a strong biblical message, you should have attended one of the half dozen or so prayer rallies in Lansing so far this year, or came and listened to Lt Gen, Jerry Boykin, Kamaal Saleem, Massey Campos, Bradlee Dean, Coach Dave, others hosted by various MUC groups statewide, or even local speaker, Brian Klawiter.
Got to get back to posting events and Scheduling speakers.
Todd needs help. He's scrubbing his facebook page of conservatives who are asking him to resign.