The ‘family values’ lawmakers: Courser, Gamrat.
 (Detroit News photos)

It’s been a rough two years for the Michigan Republican
Party, with a steady stream of criminals, ex-cons and right-wing extremists
gradually emerging in key positions within the GOP. But nothing can top the
drama of the newest GOP Bad Boy – and Bad Girl – who got nailed for exhibiting
their own special brand of brash behavior.

For those who enjoy a good political soap opera, the revelations
about the Michigan Republicans’ two top tea partiers, state Reps. Todd Courser
and Cindy Gamrat, has it all: adultery, chicanery, a preposterous attempt at a
cover-up, hypocrisy — and audio and text-message evidence to prove all of it.
Oh, and did I mention that Courser, who wears his religion on his sleeve,
suggests that, instead of his resignation, perhaps a crucifixion is in the
works?

Kudos to Chad
Livengood of The Detroit News for
finally uncorking the details about this story, and for writing it up in such a
professional manner.
I won’t go into the specifics here, other than to say that
the Courser/Gamrat duo concocted a bizarre plot to hide their apparent
adulterous relationship by creating a rumor that a drug-addicted Courser
engages in sex with male prostitutes in public places. They tried to engage
their House aides in this elaborate, “false flag” diversion, so this sleazy
story also includes some basic misuse of tax dollars.  
While Courser and Gamrat face no charges and they are not criminals – if they
were, their kooky brand of incompetence probably would have put them behind bars years
ago – they certainly deserve a spot near the top of the GOP’s list of shame.

That roster, well documented by this blog numerous times,
includes quite a cast of characters with a lot skeletons in their closets.

We have William Rauwerdink, the GOP’s $285 million con
man, who was a member of the Republican State Committee until he recently
stepped aside. Even when it was revealed that he spent four years in prison on
a 16-count indictment for cooking the books of his former employer, there was
no outcry within the GOP for his resignation.

We also have Darwin Jiles, elected in February to a GOP
vice chair position though he has been twice charged with violent gun crimes
and in both instances pled guilty to lesser offenses.  He has now emerged as a leader of the homophobe/Islamophobe
wing of the party.

Doug Sedenquist of Escanaba, who was an obnoxious  tea party talk-radio commentator, certainly earned
a spot on this roster. I say “was” because Sedenquist is currently serving
three years in prison for terrorizing his ex-wife.

Sedenquist’s oafish sidekick, two-time felon “Trucker
Randy” Bishop, Antrim County Republican Party chair, is a member in good stead
of the GOP Bad Boys.  Long before this
tea party favorite declared war on the Republican Party establishment he
declared bankruptcy in Macomb County. He lost his builder’s license, was
accused of not paying his federal and state taxes, fraudulently claimed in
writing that he had never been convicted of a felony, lost his real estate
broker’s license and was chastised by a judge, not surprisingly, for his “lack
of good moral character.”

This list could not be complete without Jiles’ mentor and
hero, Republican National Committeeman Dave Agema, who’s best known for posting
racist, homophobic and Islamophobic commentaries online that have made him the
scourge of Republicans nationwide. Even as he refuses to resign from the RNC,
he continued this week to peddle his claims that the “homosexual agenda” pushes
a perverted, “filthy” lifestyle.

Yet, the Courser/Gamrat duo is different. Many
Republicans grinning uncontrollably at the news today of their apparent demise understand
that it’s doubtful Lansing has ever seen such a pair of self-righteous,
sanctimonious characters who routinely claimed they were in battle, fighting
for God and Christianity and morality.

In a Bridge Magazine profile piece earlier this year,
Courser and his family virtually portrayed themselves as the modern-day
Waltons. Perhaps worst of all, Courser and Gamrat repeatedly claimed that the
greatest threat to the sanctity of marriage was the legalization of same-sex
marriage.

Comeuppance. Schadenfraude. Choose your words. Tragic,
though, should not be one of them.

As House Speaker Kevin Cotter launches an investigation
of the shady dealings by this duo (in particular Courser), and Congresswoman
Candice Miller becomes no doubt the first of many Republican leaders calling for Courser’s resignation, it’s become clear that the freshman lawmaker from Lapeer is headed
for infamy, not martyrdom.

There will be no crucifixion. But, make no mistake – Todd
Courser got nailed.

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