Gov. candidates weigh in on AG race controversy

The Democratic and Republican candidates for governor waded into the controversy over antisemitic and anti-gay comments in the race for Attorney General.

Democratic nominee for governor Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero issued a press statement Tuesday afternoon calling on GOP nominee Rick Snyder to press Republicans to withdraw ads featuring mother Debbie McIntosh. McIntosh is featured in an ad being run by AG Republican nominee Bill Schuette, in which she alleged Democratic AG nominee David Leyton promised that a plea deal would lead to additional convictions in the 2006 murder of her son.

She has since become a flash point in the campaign when she posted anti-Semitic comments on the Flint Journal’s website and Facebook page. Michigan Messenger also uncovered anti-gay comments posted by her on YouTube.

Bernero condemned the antisemitic comments from McIntosh in his statement Tuesday:

“Divisive and unfounded attacks on people based on religion and ethnicity have no place in our public debate and must be denounced whenever and wherever they appear. As the current leader of his party, Rick Snyder should call on his fellow Republicans to pull down ads featuring a person who uses derogatory language seeking to divide people on the basis of religious beliefs. This simply can’t be tolerated in a country founded on religious freedom and a belief that all are created equally. For Rick Snyder and the Republican party to try to benefit from advertising featuring a person who voices divisive hate speech, whatever the justification, just doesn’t represent the values of the people of our state.”

Messenger emailed Bernero spokesman Cullen Scwarz about the anti-gay comments, and he added to Bernero’s statement:

“First it was derogatory statements about Jewish people, now it’s come out she’s directing hate speech at gay people as well. If Rick Snyder and other Republican leaders don’t put a stop to ads featuring this person they are guilty of condoning truly awful prejudice.”

For his part, Snyder responded to the call for his intervention by saying he wasn’t the head of the GOP.

“Ron Weiser is the head of the Michigan Republican Party,” wrote Bill Nowling, Snyder spokesperson, in an email to Michigan Messenger Tuesday night. “Those intolerant comments have no place in the public discourse. But Rick will not pander to voters by trying to make an issue of a separate campaign an issue in his [campaign].”

Schwarz responded to Nowling’s statement by writing:

“Whether it’s Gateway outsourcing, his company Handylab closing the Michigan office and laying off all its people, his party putting bigots on TV or anything else, Mr. Snyder does not want to take responsibility or be held accountable for anything. He’s a real courageous leader isn’t he?”

Meanwhile, Republicans have defended McIntosh, claiming she is being victimized by Democrats. And for her part, McIntosh issued an apology on the Flint Journal saying her anti-Semitic comments never meant to offend any of her “Jewish family.”