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The Michigan Messenger going forward

By Staff Report | 11.16.11

I am writing today to announce the closure of the Michigan Messenger. After four years of operation in Michigan, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news into a single site, The American Independent at Americanindependent.com. This is part of a shift in strategy, towards new forms [...]

Colorado-based abstinence program provided false and misleading information to Michigan students

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By Todd A. Heywood | 11.16.11

An abstinence-only presentation provided to numerous school districts in Calhoun and Eaton Counties in October of this year provided false and misleading information to students about HIV, experts allege.

Class action lawsuit filed against MERS over unpaid taxes

foreclosure
By Todd A. Heywood | 11.15.11

Two county registers of deeds filed a class action lawsuit Monday on behalf of Michigan’s 83 counties alleging that the Mortgage Electronic Registration Services owes millions of dollars in property title transfer taxes.

Schuette fights important mercury regulations

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By Eartha Jane Melzer | 11.14.11

Despite evidence of the impact of mercury on children and public health, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette last month joined with 24 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to scuttle new EPA regulations that would reduce mercury emissions from power plants.

Kent County GOP releases YouTube video attack on Obama

By Todd A. Heywood | 05.14.08 | 11:22 am

[COMMENTARY] The Kent County GOP, in preparation for Illinois Sen. Barack Obama’s first visit to Michigan, have released a YouTube video attacking the Democratic presidential candidate. The video starts with a flag waving in the wind and talks about how America is prosperous. It then changes tone and attacks Obama as an elitist who has been endorsed by Hamas.

This, from the GOP that is run by Saul Anuzis who has openly endorsed Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) leader Kyle Bristow as the “kind of kid we want,” and that, after YAF was listed as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Kent County is also home to a branch of the National Socialist Movement, a neo-Nazi group.

Meantime, back in the real world, Grand Rapids police are estimating Van Andel Arena in downtown Grand Rapids will be filled to its 12,700-plus capacity, and officials say the arena has already set up sound systems outside for those who cannot get into the arena to hear the senator speak.

Hat tip to Mark Ambinder at The Atlantic for finding this.

Comments

  • bemf

    Some problems… The video was added to YouTube on May 4, long before Obama’s Grand Rapids visit was planned. This article gives the impression that the two are directly related.

    Moreover, I don’t see how Kent County being home to a branch of the National Socialist Movement (NSM) is relevant.

    Sure, the video is ridiculous, but I think the tie to the Grand Rapids visit and the GOP’s supposed connection to racist groups are way overplayed.

  • Todd Spencer

    Ha ha ha…! Wow,

    Thanks, Todd, for the belly laugh.

    Love how this drags on and on, and how the music changes to sinister when they finally finish talking about how awesome America is and start talking about Osama…, wait, it’s Obama the Democrat who hates our freedom.

    “From his ‘elite’ point of view…”  wow.

    I’m sure that since Obama doesn’t wear a flag pin very much that he is totally against sending aid to foreign nations in crisis. Ha ha.

    This is some tired, tired McCarthyist propaganda. If it works in Kent County, I’d like to see the Dems roll out one questioning the patriotism of Bush and McCain. What, after all, is so darned patriotic about sending Americans to die and kill for oil, which McCain has already admitted? And then leaving the wounded and psychologically damaged by the wayside?

    That’s the ad I want to see from the Kent County Democrats.

  • misskitty64

    What country are these people living in? Cos I’m not sure I’m living in the same one?  Or maybe Kent County is some kind of paradise seperate from the rest of the United States.

    When they describe this utopian vision of the country,  they’ve got to be kidding themselves that americans will continue to be deluded.  Those days are long gone, my friends!  Now that the wheels have completely come off the economy, the environment, the occupation, the immigration situation, etc, regular people see this propoganda for what it is.

    Sadly, the Kent County GOP seem to not be living in the “reality based community” but in a reality of their own making.  So much the better for us, they’re going to be creamed in November.

  • bemf

    Some problems… The video was added to YouTube on May 4, long before Obama's Grand Rapids visit was planned. This article gives the impression that the two are directly related.

    Moreover, I don't see how Kent County being home to a branch of the National Socialist Movement (NSM) is relevant.

    Sure, the video is ridiculous, but I think the tie to the Grand Rapids visit and the GOP's supposed connection to racist groups are way overplayed.

  • LoRayne Apo-Joynt

    Why do you think the campaign chose GR? Just curious — why wouldn't the Obama campaign have launched its Michigan efforts in Ann Arbor, or Lansing?

  • Todd Spencer

    Ha ha ha…! Wow,

    Thanks, Todd, for the belly laugh.

    Love how this drags on and on, and how the music changes to sinister when they finally finish talking about how awesome America is and start talking about Osama…, wait, it's Obama the Democrat who hates our freedom.

    “From his 'elite' point of view…”  wow.

    I'm sure that since Obama doesn't wear a flag pin very much that he is totally against sending aid to foreign nations in crisis. Ha ha.

    This is some tired, tired McCarthyist propaganda. If it works in Kent County, I'd like to see the Dems roll out one questioning the patriotism of Bush and McCain. What, after all, is so darned patriotic about sending Americans to die and kill for oil, which McCain has already admitted? And then leaving the wounded and psychologically damaged by the wayside?

    That's the ad I want to see from the Kent County Democrats.

  • misskitty64

    What country are these people living in? Cos I'm not sure I'm living in the same one?  Or maybe Kent County is some kind of paradise seperate from the rest of the United States.

    When they describe this utopian vision of the country,  they've got to be kidding themselves that americans will continue to be deluded.  Those days are long gone, my friends!  Now that the wheels have completely come off the economy, the environment, the occupation, the immigration situation, etc, regular people see this propoganda for what it is.

    Sadly, the Kent County GOP seem to not be living in the “reality based community” but in a reality of their own making.  So much the better for us, they're going to be creamed in November.

  • Todd A. Heywood

    Nazis and others You know funny you should point out the alleged absurdity of linking the “hate groups” to the Kent County GOP. If you note in the photo blog, who showed up but neo-Nazis and Justin Zatkoff, head of the Michigan Federation of College Republicans and a former leader of the Young Americans for Freedom U of M chapter. But silly me for knowing who is who…

  • bemf

    … The point is that there is no connection between the Kent County GOP and the National Socialist Movement (NSM) and the video was produced well before Obama's visit was announced, your article overplays both of those. Just because two neo-nazis showed up, it doesn't mean there is a link between them and the GOP. In fact, if you look at the NSM's ideology, it would preclude them from working with the GOP. Also, unless you had information beforehand, I'd say it is just chance that those folks showed up and that they appear to lend legitimacy to your claim.

    It is important to study and follow the right–especially the racist right–but if we don't do it accurately and with nuanced analysis it is going to make it harder for the left to respond intelligently and appropriately.

  • LoRayne Apo-Joynt

    Have you seen a disclaimer? Any disavowals of either NSM or CR folks by Kent County GOP?

    Just curious.

  • bemf

    ? What are they going to disavow? I'm sure the NSM would pretty clearly state that they do not support the Kent County GOP. The NSM usually runs its own candidate for president. Similarly, there is no proof that I have seen that the Kent County GOP had anything to do with either the College Republicans protest (which were members from the GVSU chapter primarily).

  • LoRayne Apo-Joynt

    Why do you think the campaign chose GR? Just curious — why wouldn’t the Obama campaign have launched its Michigan efforts in Ann Arbor, or Lansing?

  • Todd A. Heywood

    Nazis and others You know funny you should point out the alleged absurdity of linking the “hate groups” to the Kent County GOP. If you note in the photo blog, who showed up but neo-Nazis and Justin Zatkoff, head of the Michigan Federation of College Republicans and a former leader of the Young Americans for Freedom U of M chapter. But silly me for knowing who is who…

  • bemf

    … The point is that there is no connection between the Kent County GOP and the National Socialist Movement (NSM) and the video was produced well before Obama’s visit was announced, your article overplays both of those. Just because two neo-nazis showed up, it doesn’t mean there is a link between them and the GOP. In fact, if you look at the NSM’s ideology, it would preclude them from working with the GOP. Also, unless you had information beforehand, I’d say it is just chance that those folks showed up and that they appear to lend legitimacy to your claim.

    It is important to study and follow the right–especially the racist right–but if we don’t do it accurately and with nuanced analysis it is going to make it harder for the left to respond intelligently and appropriately.

  • LoRayne Apo-Joynt

    Have you seen a disclaimer? Any disavowals of either NSM or CR folks by Kent County GOP?

    Just curious.

  • bemf

    ? What are they going to disavow? I’m sure the NSM would pretty clearly state that they do not support the Kent County GOP. The NSM usually runs its own candidate for president. Similarly, there is no proof that I have seen that the Kent County GOP had anything to do with either the College Republicans protest (which were members from the GVSU chapter primarily).

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