Netroots 2014, A Detroit Retrospective: MI GOP Governor Rick Snyder Could Lose To Democrat

 

mark schauer

 

Saturday, July 19, Day Three of NN14 began with keynote speeches by Democratic candidate for governor of Michigan Mark Schauer, and Michigan Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow (who is not up for election this year). Both reminded the audience that Michigan is a “purple” state, usually voting Democratic for president, but presently controlled by a Republican governor and legislature that have decimated voters’ rights, educational opportunities, and taxed the middle class and pensioners more heavily in our state, while giving larger tax breaks to businesses. The Koch Brothers have spent millions in my state trying to buy the election for their candidates, especially Terry Lynn Land, who is trying to win the seat being vacated by long-time Democratic Senator Carl Levin. The people of Michigan aren’t falling for it though because current Michigan Congressman Gary Peters is leading in the Senate race despite all of the constantly debunked false advertisements financed by the Kochs.

To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily.

In 2009, it was President Barack Obama and Michigan Senators Debbie Stabenow and (retiring) Carl Levin who led the automobile rescue for Chrysler and GM that saved the industry and helped all car companies, including those that are foreign-based. We all remember the infamous New York Times op-ed penned by Michigan native Mitt Romney entitled “Let Detroit Go Bankrupt”; one of the main reasons why the “Mittster” couldn’t even win his home state in the 2012 elections. Current Republican Governor Rick Snyder and current Secretary of State (and Koch Brothers-financed) candidate for U.S. Senate Terry Lynn Land have both stated that they would have voted against the auto industry rescue, but now they are trying to tell voters that they would bring more jobs to Michigan.

Now it appears  that Governor  Snyder and  Mark Schauer are in a statistical tie for the November general election; never good news for an incumbent.  Schauer has expressed his support for equal pay, marriage equality, women’s reproductive rights, a higher and living minimum wage, restoration of public education cuts, clean energy and climate change legislation, protection of union and pension rights, protecting veterans and seniors, and protecting our Great Lakes against pollution by companies owned and operated by the Koch Brothers. You can help Mr. Schauer’s campaign with donations here.

Let the sisters speak

I completed Day 3 by attending sessions on feminism, power, and women of color. “Ask a Sista: Black Women Muse on Politics and Policy…” was almost standing room only and featured online and community activists well-known to “Black Twitter” such as Feminista Jones, DrGoddess, and Cheryl Contee, one of the founders of YesWeCode, a new initiative in Silicon Valley partially funded by Prince (the “Purple One”).  Yes We Code is a national movement with the goal of training 10,000 low-income youth to become high-level computer programmers. During this session, we were again reminded of our power and urged to become active and stay active online, in our own communities, and nationally to ensure that we are heard commensurate with our numbers in American society. Only when we are included “at the table” can we ensure that the continuing stereotypes and negative images being portrayed about us in the media are addressed.

The last session I attended, “How Women of Color are Central to the Future of Feminist Activism,” was also very well-attended and included on the panel representatives from all groups of women of color as well as the LGBT community and national and international women’s rights organizations. We are strongest when we all work together; we have to work through and work past racial and class divisions among our own ranks by remembering that Sarah Palin, Phyllis Schafly, Nikki Haley, and Michelle Malkin, etc., do not speak for the majority of American women—especially women of color.

 

 


Copyright PoliticusUSA LLC 2008-2023