McMillin Defeats VanRaaphorst for 45th District House Seat

Rochester Hills Mom November 7, 2012 at 03:31 pm

"And RHM... the second posting here specifically implied that a majority of our neighbors are "neanderthal(s)". If you don't think that is intended as an insult... then please elaborate."
Wow, I will not insult you or anyone else to make a point, nor did I use the word "neanderthal(s)" Please don't speak for me as I won't assume to know why you feel it's necessary to be divisive in order to have a civil conversation.

Steve Clarke November 7, 2012 at 04:04 pm

I am going to get the torches and pitchforks and assemble the villagers,in the meantime continue to call names,make excuses. We'll get to the bottom of this or start running these people that don't vote like us right out of town !

Scot Beaton November 7, 2012 at 04:18 pm

"America, I believe we can build on the progress we've made and continue to fight for new jobs and new opportunity and new security for the middle class. I believe we can keep the promise of our founders, the idea that if you're willing to work hard, it doesn't matter who you are or where you come from or what you look like or where you love. It doesn't matter whether you're black or white or Hispanic or Asian or Native American or young or old or rich or poor, able, disabled, gay or straight, you can make it here in America if you're willing to try.
I believe we can seize this future together because we are not as divided as our politics suggests. We're not as cynical as the pundits believe. We are greater than the sum of our individual ambitions, and we remain more than a collection of red states and blue states. We are and forever will be the United States of America. And together with your help and God's grace we will continue our journey forward and remind the world just why it is that we live in the greatest nation on Earth. Thank you, America. God bless you. God bless these United States." -- Barack Obama It's time to move forward... this is the direction our country will take these next 4 years. If Tom McMillin and the Republican Party choose to endorse these principles then they have a fantastic opportunity for success in America's future.

Mike Reno November 7, 2012 at 04:22 pm

If you read my post, you'll see that I wasn't suggesting that YOU said it. I noted that it was the second post, and here it is: "Anita:
6:51 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012: Sad that Neanderthal thinking continues to prevail in Rochester." We have sat and listened to the patchies here insult, berate, and bully Tom (and his supporters) for several months leading up to this election. And look at where this has gone... we can't accept that a majority voted for Tom. Instead, the only way some people can get their heads around this is to conclude that it was straight party, or ignorant people, or whatever. Why should we "turn the other cheek" on insults like that? Nobody said anything like that about JVR. Aside from the MEA and other donations, (and disregarding a few random sarcastic entries) nobody questioned her sincerity or motivation. Comments about her were largely civil. Complete opposite about Tom. So as far as divisiveness... my posts tend to be rebuttals to the nasty things that are said about my political party or my friends. This thread wasn't a half-hour old before someone tossed out an insult.

Anita November 7, 2012 at 04:58 pm

Well excuse me but I do feel that the Republican attack on women and those that support those attacks are Neanderthal in their thinking or maybe you can explain to me where a phrase such as "legitimate rape" fits into this century or any for that matter?

doug November 7, 2012 at 05:08 pm

Scot: I dont normally comment on national politics, but I will say this. The next 90 days will give everyone a sign of whether President Obama will learn from his new buddy President Clinton and move a bit toward the opposing party or will he double down on his "my way or the highway approach"
If he stays on the current course, they will muddle their way through the fiscal cliff issues and set up several more years of gridlock battling just like we have seen the past several years. I do believe it is his choice....words are meaningless, lets see what actually transpires. As an american, I hope he takes a lesson from President Clinton, but I am not optimistic. Without a bi-partisian change in course, this economy and hiring are in for a long long recovery.

David Gutknecht November 7, 2012 at 05:15 pm

Dano, I agree with what you said. I was interested in voting for JV until talking to her in person. She single-handedly lost my vote. While I do not agree with McMillin on everything, I agree with him more than JV and I think that is why he won this election.

Daryl Patrishkoff November 7, 2012 at 05:17 pm

Here are some of my observations from various posts and comments on this race. It is an interesting analysis; you might not agree with the numbers, if you did the analysis using your filter, you still would see a high percentage of negatives.
Here is some data from the past few postings about this race: 2 Different Approaches: 226 comments with 47% negative Candidate Questionnaire Form: 46 comments with 37% negative McMillin Defeats VanRaaphorst: 42 comments with 51% negative Of course it is my opinion of what I think is negative. Do your own analysis and I expect you will still see a high percentage of negatives. What does that say about us?

Joshua Raymond November 7, 2012 at 05:26 pm

I agree with Anita. Neanderthal man had a larger cranial capacity than modern man and may have been more advanced. Anthropologists say Neanderthals “were highly intelligent, able to adapt to a wide variety of ecologicalzones, and capable of developing highly functional tools to help them do so. They were quite accomplished.”
Anita has unknowingly complimented Republicans. Perhaps next she will call us Nimrods.

Leigh McFarland Sarfati November 7, 2012 at 05:39 pm

Thanks Daryl. I couldn't agree more. Too many folks seem to be regressing into petulant, shrill children who quit the game and run the other way when they run into someone with a differing opinion. It's AOK to disagree, but it is not okay to stonewall, obstruct, and/or sabotage our leaders. Like it or not, Rep. McMillan AND President Obama are both back in office. Let's see what they (and we) can do to make things better, NOT just further our own individual agendas.
I see whining and temper tantrums on both sides of the political spectrum today. These behaviors are embarrassing at best and destructive at worst.

Leigh McFarland Sarfati November 7, 2012 at 05:42 pm

Hadn't thought about it that way Anita. I used to be able to find both dems and reps that I could get behind, but the swing to the FAR right has made it difficult for me to find a Republican candidate I can support. I do think the tea party / religious right part of the party is dragging the entire group down in ways they won't be able to repair if they don't stop attacking the rights of people who don't think like they do.

Patricia J Kilby November 7, 2012 at 05:55 pm

This battle has ended but the war still rages. Those of us who would be more comfortable with a little more Democratic representation in our legislature in Lansing will continue to fight. We will watch what you do and make sure everyone knows what you do. We are not going away.

Meredith McCutcheon November 7, 2012 at 06:06 pm

Hmm. I spend a lot of time educating myself prior to every election, and I still voted straight ticket because I legitimately chose every candidate on that side. It would be great if we could have a thoughtful and respectful conversation on these election results without resorting to this kind of name-calling.

George McGrath November 7, 2012 at 06:15 pm

The analysis of the national race is clear: 90+ percent of blacks voted for Obama; 70% of Hispanics voted for Obama; 74% of Asians voted for Obama; and about 60% of women voted for Obama. Who voted for Romney in such numbers: only white men!
Voter suppression attempts in PA energized the black vote in Philadelphia so much that a greater percentage voted than last time; crazy talk on immigration lead Hispanics to flock to Obama (remember George Bush won 40%); crazy talk on rape and abortion and contraception drove women to Obama. And the demographics show that white men will be a minority by 2020. Unless the Republican party changes, they are in big trouble. (Oh, on Tom McMillan, two states VOTED to legalize same sex marriage....another group Republicans managed to alienate.) These are facts pure and simple and explain how Obama won.

Robert Gauthier November 7, 2012 at 07:20 pm

Same old names in this thread...same old BS.

Steve Clarke November 7, 2012 at 08:32 pm

I've only made 3 comments since this site has been up and running, am I guilty ? Please excuse me,OK ?

Eve Ts November 8, 2012 at 02:41 am

I voted for JV but hope that Tom uses this opportunity to be a better representative.

Robert Gauthier November 8, 2012 at 03:00 pm

It's not you, Steve.

Charlotte P November 8, 2012 at 07:38 pm

Observation: the women on this thread seem very angry even though their candidates did very well. Before you blame republicans for attacking you, know this: I am a woman and I feel that the democrats are the ones that disrespect women and promote the most insulting and demeaning policies to keep women and minorities from rising beyond sexual slavery and racism. Look at the focus on those things while republicans promote smart, strong women who are then demeaned and demonized by the left. No wonder dem women are angry - but you are pointing your weapons at the wrong targets.

Scot Beaton November 8, 2012 at 08:18 pm

Daryl... I think it would be wise to re-examine your approach -- "Come out of hiding, give your real name and background and it will force some civility. Let us have an adult conversation." --Daryl Patrishkoff
The Rochester Patch is not a place where we need to lecture others who choose privacy... and the constitutional right of freedom and expression! The Rochester Patch is where those choose to openly share information in a format where last names are not required... if you don't like the format...? suggestion type somewhere else.

Scot Beaton November 8, 2012 at 08:23 pm

Not the Same as Clinton ...
http://www.factcheck.org/2012/09/factchecking-obama-and-biden/ Obama said he proposed a return to the same tax rate on upper-income households that prevailed during the booming economy of the 1990s. But that’s not quite accurate. Obama: I want to reform the tax code so that it’s simple, fair, and asks the wealthiest households to pay higher taxes on incomes over $250,000 – the same rate we had when Bill Clinton was president; the same rate we had when our economy created nearly 23 million new jobs. Obama refers to his wish to allow the Bush tax cuts to expire for families with over $250,000 annual income, or for individuals with over $200,000. The top marginal income tax rate would return to 39.6 percent, where it was set by Clinton’s 1993 tax increase, up from 35 percent, where it has been since 2003.

Scot Beaton November 8, 2012 at 08:27 pm

Not the Same as Clinton ...
http://www.factcheck.org/2012/09/factchecking-obama-and-biden/ But that’s not the whole story. Obama has signed some new taxes to help finance the Affordable Care Act, increasing the burden on those upper-income taxpayers. Starting Jan. 1 next year, they will pay an additional 0.9 percent of wages for Medicare payroll taxes. And they will also be subject to a 3.8 percent tax on investment income from such things as stocks, bonds and sale of real estate. Those are taxes that didn’t exist when Clinton was president. If Obama succeeds in raising the top income tax rates to Clinton-era levels, total taxes on those making over $250,000 family income are thus likely to be higher than they were under Clinton. (They’ll still benefit from the Bush cuts on their income below $250,000, because Obama wouldn’t restore those lower-bracket rates to Clinton levels. So some upper-income taxpayers could still end up paying less federal tax than they paid under Clinton, depending.) doug.. I don't think Obama is going to budge... so will see in the next few months if the Republican Party blinks; if not we're going over the fiscal cliff -- Obama in a second term has nothing to lose. doug... Thanks for your response.

Dee Kay November 8, 2012 at 09:34 pm

Why do you only demand that the JVR supporters remove their signs? Shouldn't BOTH sides supporters make sure to remove ALL signs? Why the personal dig about the being in the back pocket of anyone unless you are going to make that statement about both parties and their supporters? We have enough hatred and name calling already in this country, why try to add even more to it?
Remember that both sides are in need of being called out and being held accountable to the citizens, not just their supporters or their personal ideologies. The politicians won't do what is in the best interests of the citizens unless they are forced to. Time to get past the partisan attacks and demand that the politicians do what is in the best interest of the citizens over that of their party or their own ideology. Demand accountability from ALL politicians, whether they are in your party or not.

Patricia J Kilby November 8, 2012 at 11:02 pm

Hush ! Hush! Sweet Charlotte. I am a Dem Woman and I am not angry at all. So, you think Democrats disrespect women and promote demeaning policies? Which policies are those? Be specific. Are you talking about the policy that a woman would get the same pay for doing the same job as a man? Or, maybe you are talking about the proposed idea to close Planned Parenthood where so many women get mammograms and Pap Tests at low or no cost? Maybe you are referring to the legislation that required a woman to have an un needed invasive proceedure that the GOVERNMENT required before she could have a legal abortion? Perhaps you refer to the suggestion that some rapes are not really rapes or that a woman can't get pregnant after being raped? Maybe you find it morally correct that a raped woman would be required by law to carry a fetus to term that resulted from a rape? Or from Incest? Sweet Charlotte, you are confused. All these ideas are REPUBLICAN IDIOCIES not the posoitions of Democrats. No anger here. I just get exasperated at how uninformed some people are.

Steve Clarke November 8, 2012 at 11:36 pm

I cannot tell you how "Spot on" you are. I wish more women,GOP & Dems, could see this. Best to you.

Leigh McFarland Sarfati November 9, 2012 at 02:18 am

http://www.lillyledbetter.com/
President Obama nominated two women to the Supreme Court. “No, you can't deny women their basic rights and pretend it's about your 'religious freedom'. If you don't like birth control, don't use it. Religious freedom doesn't mean you can force others to live by your own beliefs.” -President Obama Shall I continue?

Charlotte P November 9, 2012 at 02:32 am

Well Patricia you have certainly presumed to attach assumptions and answers to a question posed to me. Since you provide your own answers that are designed to slander and belittle any possible reply I could give it is clear that there is no hope for a respectful exchange. I refer to none of the things you list yet you assign the most outrageous labels to me because I dare to assert a counter perspective. The irony of your patronizing "Sweet Charlotte" greeting is the bitter tone you choose. I will move on to discussions with tolerant and open-minded people who are willing to exchange ideas. That is what our community and country need.

Charlotte P November 9, 2012 at 03:04 am

Please research McMillin's record. He has worked with and received praise from colleagues across the aisle as well as across the idealogical spectrum. I was surprised to see how well respected he is by those who have previously been very critical of his positions. This says a great deal about why he was re-elected.

Richard Happening November 9, 2012 at 04:03 am

I would say that Pat doesn't sound like a lot of fun. She may be, but judging solely from her post, she doesn't seem like somebody with whom I'd like to party.

Patricia J Kilby November 9, 2012 at 11:53 am

Charlotte, come on now. First you say women are angry and now I am "bitter. I assure you, I am neither. "Slander" is a tough word. Where is the slander? I simply asked you to be specific when you say that Democrats "disrespect women". How so? Where? When? I specifically pointed out the instances where Republicans try to demean women . I thought perhaps you might have been confused that these policies were suggested by Democrats.When you say "there is no hope of a respectful exchange", I am going to conclude then that you are not able to name any specific ways that Democrats "disrespect" women and thus, I agree. We need to move on. I have proved my point.