This race in our local community for Michigan State Representative has been highly emotionally charged. My last post was an attempt to state what each candidate had posted on their website and comments from an interview in a local paper. I asked people to read this information and post who and why they choose their candidate in a positive message. At the end of the post I stated my opinion based on the information I had.
Well, that did not seem to go as planned. It turned into a negative attack on one candidate with no positive reasons to vote for the other. Then it expanded into many other subjects with the spin doctors and targeted tag lines to cause confusion to push hidden agendas. I thought it would be simple; state your opinion without bashing the other candidate, I was wrong.
Then I decided to create this Candidate Questionnaire Form and ask both candidates to fill it out to give us a better vision of their background, vision and plan for the State of Michigan. I appreciated both candidates trust and information in filling out the form so I can post it on the Patch. We also involved Kristin Bull in the process to ensure it is a fair process and the information submitted to me was accurately posted. I also gave both candidates the opportunity to read both forms prior to the posting to ensure they agreed my document is accurate and see the other candidates form.
Now all that is done and all parties; Tom, Joanna and Kristin agree these documents are accurate and what they submitted to me.
The Challenge:
"If you cannot say something nice, don't say it!"
Read both forms, make a personal assessment of each candidate and comment on why you are choosing your candidate in a POSITIVE way without bashing the other. Let us all hear the various POSITIVE reasons why we are choosing one candidate. I believe this will help the person with an open mind make a rational choice.
I also ask the NEGATIVE comments to not be posted. I guess I am the optimist and hope people will take this serious and not push their hidden agendas. I am not stupid, I understand this will happen, so let us all just ignore these comments and they will get the message that they are just meaningless noise.
Based on this information, who and why would you choose one candidate?
I respect your right to support your candidate. You articulate the reasons why in a very positive fashion. I have to take exception to one comment. JoAnne represents a set of ideas and supporters (MEA) that don't represent People of all parties. I consider myself a right leaning independent. In no way does Tom represent my social views. That said, Joanne doesn't represent my fiscal views. That is OK. I am voting very reluctantly for Tom, because I believe the Republicam majority in the House has the best chance of bringing the Michigan economy. I can't afford to vote for Joanne with the voting so close for that majority. A quick comment on names. Ideas presented on these posts should stand on their own merit. Having someone's full name offers no additional context unless the writer is well known, which would offer context. W
Please respect the posting, read the idea behind this. It is not a bashing, we are asking for people to give POSITIVE comments only on why they are supporting a particular candidate without bashing the other. Read the info they provided and give us your POSITIVE thoughts, not a bashing. Thanks,
I believe McMillin mostly represents the views of the majority of our district socially and economically. (There are some where I don't believe he does.) I believe his pro-business philosophy will help Michigan come back by bringing more jobs to the state, which is desperately needed. I am strongly pro-life and I am glad that he is too. I believe his transparency-in-government bills are important to be educated citizens. I strongly support Rochester Community Schools, but I don't believe traditional public schools meet the needs of all students. I believe the parents that want to send their children to charter schools and cyber schools are taxpayers too and should not be penalized financially if they seek something different for their children. There are problems with every school system and the correct answer is to address the problems instead of removing the education option. I believe McMillin is closer to my view on this. Perhaps you could provide details on these two issues as to why you support Ms. VanRaaphorst. She deserves to have supporters who tell of her good traits.
Whatever mix of executives, judges, and legislators we elect to each branch and level of government, they will all be charged to represent the People's Will in making one critical choice — the choice between democratic government and corporate government. That is a choice that affects every other — from education, the environment, equality of opportunity and protection under the law, to public safety, public service, and whether we even continue to have a meaningful public sector in the future. As far as education goes, it is clear that all of us and all of our elected officials need to become better informed about the consequences of the paths we choose — the very viability of our democracy is at stake. The necessary conversation is not a new one, but it seems necessary to renew it from time to time, and this is certainly one of those times. One of the places the needed conversation is occurring with rather more light than heat these days would have to be on the following site. • http://dianeravitch.net/ I recommend it to you all. If we don't become better educated about education, I fear we are doomed.
Speaking of divisive, it seems the local Democrats are the ones being divisive. Tom doesn't talk about gays or these fake "divisive" issues until asked by Bruce Fealk or his merry band of agitators. I like how JV quotes County Exec Patterson on her literature against Tom McMillin. But why does Brooks Patterson support McMillin over JV? It's funny reading some of the quotes about ol' JV. She knows what's best for business. She knows what's best for our schools. She knows what's best for parents in our district, and charter schools aren't one of them. Euripides said "One can judge a man by the company he keeps." If JV is such a business maven, how come she hasn't been endorsed by NFIB or any chambers of commerce? If JV is able to cross the aisle and work with both sides, how come she hasn't been endorsed by any conservative groups? I think the reality of JV being a moderate is as fake as the controversy over Tom McMillin.
How about a recommendation on your candidate without bashing the other? That is the idea of this posting, POSITIVE comment without the attacks and spin. Did you actually read both Candidate Questionnaire forms? Did you analyze them and make a decision based on facts? Take the attacks out of it, it is meaningless noise and sheep love to follow the spin doctors. Sheep do not look at the facts and data they just follow, an informed voter is not a sheep.
Tell us in a POSITIVE way why you support McMillin, that is the idea of this posting. Both sides throw lots of mud, it does not help the conversation and becomes meaningless noise.
McMillinWatch.com
Pre-General: http://bit.ly/Xejelw Pre-Primary: http://bit.ly/WriMBh Late Contribution: http://miboecfr.nictusa.com/cfr/idr/365059.html $5000 from the MEA Political Action Council? So... the MEA owns JV five times as much as Moroun owns McMillin? Or $2000 from the Carpenters' Union? $1000 from the UAW? How about the $500 from DTE? Is JV now committed to putting Smart meters on everyone's homes because she's bought and paid for? Or $500 from Domenic Moceri? How does a big developer like Moceri compare to Moroun? Or $500 from the Rochester Democrat club? Is she going to be more dedicated to the Democrat club than to the constituents? These accusations cut both ways, my friend.
It is a tough one. On the one hand, the local decision seems easy. However that could mean a political agenda in Lansing more along the lines of what Virg was offering when he ran against Snyder. Have you considered that possibility?
L. Brooks Patterson supports the inclusion of sexual orientation in state hate crime laws. "We don't kill young gay guys just because they're gay. Maybe McMillin's brand of Christianity accepts that. Mine does not," Patterson was quoted as saying in the Oakland Press L. Brooks Patterson said McMillin hailed from the "Taliban wing of the Party," after McMillin used robocalls against the Oakland County executive that said he embraced the homosexual agenda. Patterson also said that McMillin wasn't a member of the Christian Coalition because, in fact, he embarrasses the Christian Coalition. Oakland Press "Republicans did less mischief at their convention, mainly because all the top spots were already determined. They get the award, however, for picking the absolutely worst candidate for any job. That would be Tom McMillan, the former Auburn Hills mayor who became famous for his hatred of gay people. He was so over-the-top that L. Brooks Patterson called him a member of the Taliban, and once famously gave him a kiss to make fun of his obsession." Jack Lessonberry
"Republican state Representative Tom McMillin has proposed a law that would forbid civil rights protections that are more expansive than Michigan’s civil rights law. The measure would apply to local governments, school districts and state agencies. Its aim is to block ordinances that offer legal protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Right now at least 18 Michigan communities have such laws on the books." http://www.anonymoses.dailykos.com/story/2011/10/10/1025007/-New-Mich-GOP-law-will-override-local-laws-roll-back-LGBT-protections-the-lie-of-Small-Government
My big question regarding this political race... who's the radical, looks like to me Joanna supports basic human rights issues -- Tom McMillin represents some kind of authoritarian type rule. Daryl Patrishkoff... please explain to Patch readers when you click on the big document at the top of your post all you get is a Tom McMillin questionnaire and you have to dig and go to the bottom to find Joanna VanRaaphorst questionnaire?
I'm voting for Joanna VanRaaphorst because she believes that children are better off in a home with 2 people who love them than in the system.
How quickly you want to forget about Anne Heche. She makes a big deal about being gay, gets into a monogamous relationship with Ellen Degeneres, breaks up with her - and suddenly she's straight and gets married. Or maybe she's bisexual. Who knows. For some being gay is a choice. We could find other examples like Anne Heche. Nothing McMillen said was wrong, but it provides a political opportunity and the vocal minority won't miss an opportunity to pounce. I think it's a mistake targeting her campaign this way. It's a fake issue that didn't need a champion. JV tried to make a big deal about the Gay Rights Ordinance to the CIty Council and failed because nobody's civil rights are being impacted. In all of these articles that you post links to, nobody has been discriminated against by Tom McMillin. We'll see for sure, one way or another, in 24 hours.
Voted for McMillin in his last run, but because of votes he cast and comments he makes, I was open for a better option. Joanna Vanraaphorst will get my vote this election. Met Joanna at a coffee hosted by neighbors, whose integrity and character I truly respect. Any candidate this couple chooses to support has, in essence, already been ethically vetted. I really wanted to meet the candidate they felt so strongly about. After listening to Joanna and watching her interact with people, I came away knowing that she is a VERY POSITIVE, ENERGETIC, HARD-WORKING person who really CARES and LISTENS to her future constituents. Vanraaphorst’s ENTHUSIASM and DETERMINATION are off the charts. Voting for Joanna is something I am looking forward to doing! I hope she wins!