Shafer

Does Macomb County have its own
Dave Agema in the form of Randell Shafer?
Shafer, a three-time loser at the
ballot box, is a conservative Republican from St. Clair Shores who came to the defense of Agema’s
homophobic and anti-Islamic rants on Facebook.
Agema, of course, is the controversial
Republican National Committeeman from western Michigan who over the weekend praised
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s anti-gay policies and claimed that Muslims
have never contributed anything to the “American way of life.”
His remarks ignited a prairie
fire of outrage among Michigan Republicans but no one seemed more incensed than
Joe Munem of Macomb County, a political pro known for his bare-knuckled
campaign tactics on behalf of GOP candidates.
Munem
On Monday, Munem took to Facebook
to counter Agema’s views by offering the example of his father, Mustafa
Munem, who heads the math department at Macomb Community College.
“Yes, Dave Agema, I can respond
to your query: ‘Have you ever seen a Muslim do anything that contributes
positively toward the American way of life?’ I have. My Muslim father, an
internationally published author, 52-year math professor, business owner and gentleman farmer has done far more to
contribute positively to the American way of life than you ever will. He has
educated countless engineers, doctors, scientists and even a few fighter
pilots. He came to this country with nothing and has become very successful,
far more than you. When is the Michigan Republican Party going to repudiate
your Klan-quoting, KGB strongman-loving a–?”
What followed was a long,
bizarre, rock-em, sock-em FB thread with Munem taunting Shafer and Shafer
repeatedly taking the bait. In a crude way, Shafer, 49, tried to defend Agema’s
penchant for bashing gays and Muslims (meaning anyone with ancestry that
extends to the Middle East).
DiSano
 Numerous outsiders following
this Macomb GOP food fight were astounded by Shafer’s name-calling and chimed
in.  “My
head hurts with the stupidity on display here,” said Joe DiSano, a Democratic
political consultant but also a Munem pal.
—–
Just to keep things straight,
the key players here are:
Joe Munem — Longtime GOP
political consultant, former Warren official, who is of Middle Eastern descent
– and a Presbyterian.
Randell Shafer — Republican
who lost two congressional races and came up far short of Mark Hackel in the
2010 election for Macomb County executive.
Simon Haddad – In a fairly
shocking result that some blamed on anti-Arabic views demonstrated by voters,
Haddad, a Christian of Middle Eastern heritage, lost to Shafer in the 2010
primary for county executive.
Bill Barnwell – A young
minister from Warren, a prolific FB commentator, who announced last month that
he will be running for the county Board of Commissioners.
Leon Drolet – Leader of an
anti-tax group, Republican with a libertarian streak, and a former state
representative and Macomb County commissioner.
—–
Here is a portion of the
thread, edited for space, but with typos and bad grammar left intact (we begin
with Shafer responding to Munem’s criticism of Agema):
Randell
Shafer
Mohammed Munem should know.
Joseph
Munem
By the way, silly little Randy, Algebra is an Arabic word. Are
you going to tell us how the Greeks actually invented it? While you are at it,
tell us how you actually won your last election.
Randell
Shafer
Mohammed Munem….i know you voted for your cousin Simon
Haddad….don‘t be mad at me that he lost….AlQuiada is an Arabic word…you
don’t know the difference between Arab and Muslim…you are the closed minded
bigot who lumps them together. I can tolerate your ignorance but you should
educate yourself.
Joseph
Munem
Silly little uneducated Randy just can’t help himself. He has
never passed on an opportunity to display his bigoted nonsense.
Joseph
Munem
Silly little Randy, the GOP nominee for Macomb County
Executive four years ago, hates both Arabs and Muslims. Simon Haddad (a
Christian, by the way) is both educated and a successful businessman, so Randy
hates on him (as he is neither). Silly little Randy and Dave Agema are scaring
off voters in droves. Well, at least the voters in Grandville actually elected
Agema to something, Randy was not as lucky.
Randell
Shafer
Being smarter than you Mohammed Munem….does not make me a
bigot.
Joseph
Munem
Silly little Randy has a persistent delusion that his IQ
exceeds 80.
Randell
Shafer
Mohammed Munem the politcal genius…could not help Simon
Haddad…is paid to obey…like a good little puppy.
Randell
Shafer
Look out…there is bigot behind every tree….Simon was
singing that same tune after his lose.
Joseph
Munem
Silly little Randy has trouble differentiating between words
like “lose” and “loss.”
Randell
Shafer
Mohammed Munem and Simon Haddad always have that default
card…you should be smart enough to figure out that people don’t like you
because you are you! You can change your name on Facebook but you remain you.
Randell
Shafer
.loss. Mohammed…joe…
Joseph
Munem
Silly little Randy’s delusional system includes the belief
that my name is something other than what is on my birth certificate and that
anybody knows who he is.
Randell
Shafer
Mohammed Munem. When you help Simon Haddad win anything then
you may comment on me.
Randell
Shafer
Mohammed Munem….you went from Haddad’s campaign to Hackel’s
campaign…motivated by money…people know you….and don’t like you.
Randell
Shafer
A Muslim? Your father? …named you Joseph?
Joseph
Munem
Since Dave Agema won’t come on Leon (Drolet’s) Facebook page
and spew his hatred, his far less accomplished acolyte silly little Randy gives
you all a taste of what the modern day bigot is all about.
Bill
Barnwell
Randell Shafer, so what if
his name was actually Mohammed? Why should anybody care?
Randell
Shafer
I think he is full of crap…from his name…to his fake
outrage for a guy being proud of what positive things the Catholic church
does…Dave (Agema) asked questions that were not answered…Mohammed Munem
started calling him names…and me names …ask him?
Randell
Shafer
…but Bill you might be called a bigot for asking
questions…
Bill
Barnwell
Randell, as somebody who got nearly 1/3 of the vote in the
general election a couple years back for Macomb County Executive, do you think
Macomb County and Michigan on a whole should take a more Putin-style approach
to the issue of homosexuals?
Joseph
Munem
Silly little Randy ran below the GOP base in Macomb County. I
guess he isn’t well liked.
Joseph
Munem
Silly little Randy will never be elected to any office!
Randell
Shafer
Liberals love to ask questions but never answer any with
serious conviction….Bill, if you want run for office feel free…if you want
to be homosexual be one,
Randell
Shafer
You too Mohammed…
Randell
Shafer
People are fearless on Facebook.
 

Barnwell
Bill
Barnwell
Why not answer my questions? They are serious questions.
Why does it matter what his legal name is (assuming for the sake of argument
that you’re right and that his birth certificate says something other than
“Joseph”), and is Putin right with his policy towards gays?

It’s not a “liberal gotcha” game. They are serious questions. You’ve
repeatedly brought up the name Mohammed. I’m asking why it matters. And on a
more important, broader policy level, I’m asking you whether or not you agree
with Dave Agema on Putin’s policy towards homosexuals? You seem like a bold
enough individual who isn’t scared to state his opinion one way or the other.

Randell
Shafer
Mohammed. I will wager you $10, more people like me more than
you, including Mark Hackel.
Randell
Shafer
Putin and Agema and Shafer tolerate homosexuals. we do not
have to accept homosexuality. Did i hurt your feelings?
Bill
Barnwell
How is Putin “tolerating” them, exactly?

Is anyone who asks you such questions secretly gay themselves?

Randell
Shafer
.letting them play in the games…do you keep up with his
policy change
Randell
Shafer
I don’t know if they are…are you? I really do not care…do
you have an opinion or just try to be politically correct …people are free to
accept and believe what they want.the people of Michigan did vote on this issue
a few years ago…you remember my numbers but do not want to accept the majority
votes in that ?
Randell
Shafer
Muslims hate homosexuals. I do not hate anyone for being
homosexual.
Bill
Barnwell
Trying to get you to specifically answer questions has
nothing to do with political correctness. You had some strong words here so I
wanted to see exactly where you stood. I do remember the statewide vote you
refer to, but I also know that these numbers would not be the same today as
attitudes have shifted a bit. The results wouldn’t be overturned quite yet in a
Michigan popular vote, but comparing today to ten years ago electorally is not
a good comparison.

But my questions had nothing to do with marriage rights anyway. We were talking
about Dave Agema and his support for Russia’s policy towards gay
“propaganda”, so your raising the issue of marriage is not even
directly on point.

And now we are back to Muslims. So, let’s go that route since you seem to be
pretty fixated on Muslims.

Do you agree with Agema’s Facebook chain post regarding Muslims that he
apparently endorses?

Randell
Shafer
You did not answer my questions.
Bill
Barnwell
Yes or no. Don’t be all politically correct and dodge the
issue. You’re the former Republican nominee for the most powerful post in
Macomb County . A defender of the family who is not afraid to stand up to the
liberal establishment. Certainly you can tell us whether or not you agree with
the Facebook post regarding Muslims, and if not, why.

What question? Whether I accept the results of the 2004 state constitutional
amendment? I happened to have voted for it. I”ve also, like many people,
since changed my mind on the issue.

Randell
Shafer
I have not changed my mind on it. and i think the results
would be the same. Putin does not accept homosexuality, yes, i think
homosexuals sometimes use propaganda to gain peoples’ acceptance. You can
accept whatever you want and Agema can have his opinion too.
Randell
Shafer
This post mentioned Muslims….i am not fixed on Muslims.
Joseph
Munem
Silly little Randy would have to have $10 in order to make a
$10 bet. He doesn’t understand such concepts anymore than he understands that
the name on my birth certificate is Joseph. Small wonder that even Republican
voters wouldn’t vote for him.
Randell
Shafer
Yes sure Mohammed Munem, i do not have $10…and if i run for
office no one will ever vote for me…your ignorance keeps you happy.
Joseph
Munem
Silly little Randy finally gets it right: no money and no support.
Randell
Shafer
….your ignorance keeps you happy…Mohammed.
Joseph
Munem
Which group is silly little Randy aiming his hatred towards
today? What does keep me happy is that his hate is in the complete obscurity
where pointless little men dwell. Nobody actually cares what silly little Randy
says. I’ve been drawing it out as an illustration that frustrated, lonely and
warped bigots will go on for days defending their obscene ignorance. Silly
little Randy has accomplished nothing else of note in his pathetic little life
and hopes that hate filled rants will serve as his legacy!
Randell
Shafer
Mohammed go pet your dog and philosophy to it. I had done
more and had seen more before i was 25 than you will your entire garbage
defending life. Go back to hiding in the bushes….you mental midget. One day
you will identify some principle to live by, hopefully you will be guided by
more than a $50 bill.
Joseph
Munem
Silly little Randy cannot tell you who is on the $50 bill.
Joseph
Munem
I’ll give a crisp $50 bill to whomever can tell me what this
means: “Mohammed go pet your dog and philosophy to it.”
Joseph
Munem
By age 25, silly little Randy certainly had not learned how to
express himself in writing. I don’t think he went in for all that fancy book
learning. “Mohammed go pet your dog and philosophy to it.”

(At this point in this bizarre conversation, Kathy
Hoekstra
, a conservative activist and commentator, chimed in. And
Munem, Drolet and Barnwell teamed up for a hilarious tongue-in-cheek attempt to
understand and appreciate Shafer’s writings.)

Kathy
Hoekstra
This thread has made my eyes bleed.

Joseph
Munem
Randell Shafer – the Dave Agema of Macomb County.
Leon
Drolet
Joseph,I think it is a
statement about ‘petting philosophy’. Randell is equating how many people treat
philosophy like it is their pet – their servant. He means that the search for
truth cannot be subjugated and leashed. We must let that search guide us, and
not try to own it or confine it. Randall may be hard to understand because
these thoughts are quite complex.
Joseph
Munem
I’m sure you get all excited about a “petting
philosophy” conversation…
Joseph
Munem
And here I’ve gone nearly fifty years without knowing that my
real name is actually Mohammed.
Leon
Drolet
Joseph, why try to
trivialize such a deep and profound statement? Randall has a lot to say about
our human condition, and how we fit into the universe as seekers of truth. He
just says it in unconventional ways. Randall is not trying to insult you, Joe –
what he is saying is that, deep down, we are ALL Mohammed. We are all Jesus. We
are all called to be our unique prophets as ambassadors for universal truth.
Joseph
Munem
“Mohammed go pet your dog and philosophy to it.”
That is certainly an unconventional way to express oneself. Here I thought it
was simply the incoherent rambling of a filthy, bigoted failure. Leon has given
me guidance. This is like a vision quest.
Bill
Barnwell
Joseph Munem, post your
long-form birth certificate and maybe I’ll believe you.

If you ask me, Munem is a RINO and Randell is just doing his part to help Take
Our Country Back from “those people” who are bringing this great
nation of ours down..

Leon
Drolet
Yes! See, Joseph – you can understand
Randall if you let yourself see transcendentally! Obviously, he does not intend
his words to be taken literally – they need to be interpreted like proverbs.
Each post has a meaning anchored to a deeper truth. Our challenge is to dig
within ourselves and peel back our prejudices to find that truth.
Joseph
Munem
Wait, is my first name Rhino or is it Mohammed?

(One of the Facebook users who were astounded and amused by the
thread asks, ‘In Macomb County, what does RHINO, with an ‘h,’ stand for?’)
Bill
Barnwell
Republican Hitler In Name Only. Not sufficiently Fascist
enough for my tastes.

I actually just made that up realizing I actually spelled the word correctly.

Joseph
Munem
Until Pastor Bill divines the meaning of “Mohammed go pet
your dog and philosophy to it,” he cannot be part of this conversation.
Leon
Drolet
A Rhino has a single horn, which symbolizes half the horns
that the Devil has. Hence, a Rhino symbolizes the devil half of all of us.
Randall refers to us being that half when we let our political concerns usurp
our spiritual path. Hence, we all need to “…pet our dog and philosophy
to it” in our own ways as we confront that part of our being.
Bill
Barnwell
I’ll take a crack at it.

Dogs are considered an unclean animal in Middle Eastern culture. So by saying
“go pet your dog” he’s outing Munem not only as a Muslim, but a
poorly devout one at that. Meaning he’s “double bad.” By petting
one’s philosophy, he is saying Munem must pet and face his poor religiosity and
just overall Muslim-ness. He must pet “to it” in that he must be
aggressive in facing his apostasy and by looking at the mirror at the tyrant
within.

In short: Joe is a bad person who isn’t really named Joe. He’s been outed. And
as for me, we learned above that I am probably gay. 

  

Leon
Drolet
Well, Randall knows that there is nothing left for him to
say. He has peeled back the false clothing that conceals our souls and exposed
them to a mirror. He knows we need time to ponder how we must re-shape
ourselves before reshaping the world. He has sent us on a journey that will
change our lives. It all begins by simply “petting our dog and philosophy
to it”. Such simple words for such a transformative challenge.
Leon
Drolet
The world is not yet ready for Randall.