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 [...]
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.
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.
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.
Congressman Pete Hoekstra (R-Holland) has once again tapped his right wing ties for endorsements.
Over the weekend, Hoekstra stumped in Lenawee county in southern Michigan with Iowa Congressman Steve King in tow, reports the Adrian Daily Telegram. King is no stranger to outrageous comments and controversy.
In June the conservative from Iowa was embroiled in controversy when he alleged President Barack Obama “favors” blacks over whites.
According to Politics Daily, King told convicted Watergate burglar G. Gordon Liddy the following:
“The president has demonstrated that he has a default mechanism in him that breaks down . . . on the side that favors the black person.”
And our sibling site the Iowa Independent reported in April that King warned allowing marriage equality for same sex couples would lead to the dissolution of society.
“I will tell you that I first came into this political arena with the belief innocent human life was the most important thing that I could be involved in,” said King, a Kiron Republican who represents the 5th Congressional District in western Iowa. “I still believe that is the most important value. But I also recognize that if we don’t save marriage, we can’t remain pro-life.
“The values we have we pour through marriage into our children and into the next generation. Our religious values. Our values of faith. Our values. Our work ethic. Our entire culture comes through a man and a woman joined in holy matrimony, being blessed with children and pouring those values into the children and then living vicariously through them as they go off and we are blessed with grandchildren.”
Hoekstra is anti-abortion, as is King, and while in Congress has consistently received the Right to Life endorsements. He has also voted against marriage equality for same-sex couples. But Michigan Right to Life endorsed gubernatorial opponent and Attorney General Mike Cox in the GOP primary.
For those keepings score you can add King to a growing list of right wing extremists who have stumped for Hoekstra. Last month, Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina was in Michigan for Hoekstra, and earlier this year he hosted events with Newt Gingrich. He also held a fundraising event with Michael Farris founder of Patrick Henry College and the Home School Legal Defense Fund. James Dobson of Focus on the Family has also been running radio ads praising Hoekstra’s conservative values.
Hoekstra has also admitted deep ties to the secretive Christian group The Family.
Hoekstra and Cox will face Ann Arbor businessman Rick Snyder, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard and State Sen. Tom George in the Aug. 3 primary. The winner of that contest will face the winner of the Democratic primary, which features Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero and Michigan House Speaker Andy Dillon.
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