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| Walker |
Dennis Lennox, columnist for our sister paper, the Mount
Pleasant Morning Sun, unloaded on the tea party insurgents in the wake of last
weekend’s Michigan Republican Party soirée on Mackinac Island.
Pleasant Morning Sun, unloaded on the tea party insurgents in the wake of last
weekend’s Michigan Republican Party soirée on Mackinac Island.
In his column, Lennox, a GOP activist, reflects on the
Mackinac buzz about state Sen. Howard Walker, who just days before the island
get-together responded to one of the most irritating right-wing tea partiers in
a way that had some longtime Republicans cheering.
Mackinac buzz about state Sen. Howard Walker, who just days before the island
get-together responded to one of the most irritating right-wing tea partiers in
a way that had some longtime Republicans cheering.
 |
| Sommerfield |
“Screw you,” was Walker’s on-camera response after being
taunted by Brian Sommerfield. A two-time loser in his runs for Petoskey mayor,
Sommerfield co-hosts a talk-radio show
taunted by Brian Sommerfield. A two-time loser in his runs for Petoskey mayor,
Sommerfield co-hosts a talk-radio show
with the infamous “Trucker Randy” Bishop
(a two-time felon) and he is buddies with another far-right radio host, Doug
Sedenquist (who is preparing to plead guilty in a Wisconsin incident in which he
allegedly engaged police in a standoff while armed with a rifle).
(a two-time felon) and he is buddies with another far-right radio host, Doug
Sedenquist (who is preparing to plead guilty in a Wisconsin incident in which he
allegedly engaged police in a standoff while armed with a rifle).
Walker, from Traverse City, said what a lot of mainstream
Republicans wish they could say to this kooky tea party trio. At a Saturday
breakfast event on the island, Lennox noted, former Michigan GOP Chairman Saul
Anuzis asserted that the true RINOs (Republicans In Name Only) are these new
insurgents who want to take their ball and go home after losing in the
primaries. Failing to vote in November for the party’s nominees, Anuzis said, means
that you don’t deserve to wear the Republican label.
Republicans wish they could say to this kooky tea party trio. At a Saturday
breakfast event on the island, Lennox noted, former Michigan GOP Chairman Saul
Anuzis asserted that the true RINOs (Republicans In Name Only) are these new
insurgents who want to take their ball and go home after losing in the
primaries. Failing to vote in November for the party’s nominees, Anuzis said, means
that you don’t deserve to wear the Republican label.
Here’s a
portion of Lennox’s column:
portion of Lennox’s column:
“Walker’s
rebuke of Sommerfield may have been inappropriate, but it needed to be said.
rebuke of Sommerfield may have been inappropriate, but it needed to be said.
“While he has
occasionally voted in ways that some conservatives find ideologically
objectionable (particularly his vote for Medicaid expansion), he is hardly
deserving of the despicable attacks levied upon him often for the entire three
hours of Sommerfield and Bishop’s daily radio show.
occasionally voted in ways that some conservatives find ideologically
objectionable (particularly his vote for Medicaid expansion), he is hardly
deserving of the despicable attacks levied upon him often for the entire three
hours of Sommerfield and Bishop’s daily radio show.
“The issue at
hand isn’t a struggle between Republican grandees and the party’s grassroots,
though some want to cast that narrative.
hand isn’t a struggle between Republican grandees and the party’s grassroots,
though some want to cast that narrative.
“… Rather, it’s
a tiny bunch of professional activists and thugs like Bishop, Sommerfield and
Sedenquist, who are more comfortable as Democratic mercenaries than
conservatives fighting the good fight.”
a tiny bunch of professional activists and thugs like Bishop, Sommerfield and
Sedenquist, who are more comfortable as Democratic mercenaries than
conservatives fighting the good fight.”
