The Michigan Senate race to succeed Carl Levin has been a
rather sleepy affair until recent days, with Democratic Congressman Gary Peters
falling behind in five consecutive polls and Republican Terri Lynn Land suddenly getting
slammed by one of the nation’s most conservative publications.
rather sleepy affair until recent days, with Democratic Congressman Gary Peters
falling behind in five consecutive polls and Republican Terri Lynn Land suddenly getting
slammed by one of the nation’s most conservative publications.
After taking hits in hyperbolic ads, funded by the
infamous Koch Brothers, that portrayed Peters as a staunch liberal, the
congressman’s Senate campaign came back with a ratings system by the National
Journal that identified the West Bloomfield Township Democrat among the
moderates on Capitol Hill.
infamous Koch Brothers, that portrayed Peters as a staunch liberal, the
congressman’s Senate campaign came back with a ratings system by the National
Journal that identified the West Bloomfield Township Democrat among the
moderates on Capitol Hill.
Since first running for the House in 2008, Peters, a
former financial adviser and military man, has portrayed himself as somewhat of
a centrist.
former financial adviser and military man, has portrayed himself as somewhat of
a centrist.
But the National Journal ratings cited by his campaign actually
show that 67 House members – Democrats and Republicans – are more moderate than
Peters. Based on his votes on key issues, the candidate votes with the liberals
61 percent of the time and with the conservatives on 39 percent of his
congressional votes.
show that 67 House members – Democrats and Republicans – are more moderate than
Peters. Based on his votes on key issues, the candidate votes with the liberals
61 percent of the time and with the conservatives on 39 percent of his
congressional votes.
Meanwhile, the latest statewide poll, conducted by
Lansing-based EPIC-MRA, finds Land, the former Michigan secretary of state, with a three point lead over third-term lawmaker Peters.
Land’s campaign, which has been barely visible over its first eight months, has
demonstrated surprising strength in the polls and in fundraising.
Lansing-based EPIC-MRA, finds Land, the former Michigan secretary of state, with a three point lead over third-term lawmaker Peters.
Land’s campaign, which has been barely visible over its first eight months, has
demonstrated surprising strength in the polls and in fundraising.
But a story published in the right-leaning Washington
Examiner asserts that Michigan became a “hotbed” of fraud while Land was secretary of state.
Examiner asserts that Michigan became a “hotbed” of fraud while Land was secretary of state.
The Examiner found that in 2004 the federal government
pointed to Michigan as “an epicenter” of identification fraud nationwide and
approached Land’s administration with the problem.
pointed to Michigan as “an epicenter” of identification fraud nationwide and
approached Land’s administration with the problem.
An Associated Press story from that timeframe reported
that Land’s staff “had no idea of the seriousness of the problem until a meeting
with Justice Department officials in October” of 2004.
that Land’s staff “had no idea of the seriousness of the problem until a meeting
with Justice Department officials in October” of 2004.
Here’s where the Examiner picks up the story:
“The loophole was closed that December. Not soon enough,
however, to prevent Michigan from becoming ‘one of the easiest places’ to obtain
a fraudulent I.D., Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Brian Moskowitz
said at the time.
however, to prevent Michigan from becoming ‘one of the easiest places’ to obtain
a fraudulent I.D., Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Brian Moskowitz
said at the time.
“‘We saw an alarming amount
of … cases where groups were bringing criminals or illegal aliens to Michigan
for the sole purpose of obtaining a Michigan driver’s license,’ Moskowitz was
quoted as saying.
of … cases where groups were bringing criminals or illegal aliens to Michigan
for the sole purpose of obtaining a Michigan driver’s license,’ Moskowitz was
quoted as saying.
“The flaws in the system
ran so deep that a few Michigan state employees had been exploiting them
further, and for profit, according to court documents obtained by the Examiner — and the crimes were committed apparently unbeknownst to
Land’s administration.”
ran so deep that a few Michigan state employees had been exploiting them
further, and for profit, according to court documents obtained by the Examiner — and the crimes were committed apparently unbeknownst to
Land’s administration.”
The Examiner reported that two
clerks who were employed by the secretary of state’s office prior to and during
Land’s tenure, Kimberly Murray and Barbara Wilkey, were arrested in 2005 for
accepting bribes in exchange for Michigan I.D.s.
clerks who were employed by the secretary of state’s office prior to and during
Land’s tenure, Kimberly Murray and Barbara Wilkey, were arrested in 2005 for
accepting bribes in exchange for Michigan I.D.s.
From 2003 to 2005, Wilkey “received
regular payments via cash, entertainment, or repayment of gambling debts,”
according to a federal government press release from the time.
regular payments via cash, entertainment, or repayment of gambling debts,”
according to a federal government press release from the time.
Federal investigators said she supplied undocumented
immigrants with I.D.s — even though she knew, according to court filings, that
they were in the country illegally and had traveled to Michigan for the sole
purpose of obtaining Michigan I.D.s.
immigrants with I.D.s — even though she knew, according to court filings, that
they were in the country illegally and had traveled to Michigan for the sole
purpose of obtaining Michigan I.D.s.
No other media outlets have chased the story and Land has not
commented yet on the Examiner’s published report. But this is potentially bombshell
stuff, and she would be wise to offer an explanation sooner rather than later.
commented yet on the Examiner’s published report. But this is potentially bombshell
stuff, and she would be wise to offer an explanation sooner rather than later.
And thanks to Democratic
Party instigators, Land could also face another political problem – one with a
possible Macomb County smoking gun.
Party instigators, Land could also face another political problem – one with a
possible Macomb County smoking gun.
The Kent County Republican
has received support from conservative Super PACs that can accept unlimited
amounts of corporate dollar but are not required to unveil their donors. Land
has insisted that this so-called “dark money” assisting her campaign was not
drummed up by her, as the law prevents a congressional candidate from working
in concert with Super PACs.
has received support from conservative Super PACs that can accept unlimited
amounts of corporate dollar but are not required to unveil their donors. Land
has insisted that this so-called “dark money” assisting her campaign was not
drummed up by her, as the law prevents a congressional candidate from working
in concert with Super PACs.
But Land’s promotional
material, in particular a video
of her at the Macomb County Republicans’ Lincoln Dinner event in July , seems to show
her trumpeting her campaign’s strength by telling GOP loyalists that she has
had contact with “a lot” of Super PACs.
material, in particular a video
of her at the Macomb County Republicans’ Lincoln Dinner event in July , seems to show
her trumpeting her campaign’s strength by telling GOP loyalists that she has
had contact with “a lot” of Super PACs.
A Senate race that was being
written off as deadly dull by some pundits just a few months ago could get
really interesting real soon.
written off as deadly dull by some pundits just a few months ago could get
really interesting real soon.
