Analysis — 'Up North' Grass Roots v. MI GOP Establishment: Echoes of 1992 in Stupak Seat Race

Michigan Capitol Confidential ^ | 4-15-10 | Jack McHugh

[Darren McCarty]

In 1992, incumbent Republican Congressman Bob Davis chose not to run for re-election in the Michigan 1st District because he was one of the top five politicians implicated in the House “check kiting“ scandal. Davis had represented the district covering the northern Lower Peninsula and the entire Upper Peninsula since 1978. Poor decisions made then by a state Republican establishment alienated many of the district's grass roots "true believers," opening the door for a former one-term Democrat state Representative, who won and went on to an 18-year Congressional career.

Fast forward to 2010: The 1st District seat has once again become open due to a misstep by the incumbent, that once little-known Democrat who won the seat in 1992. His name, of course, is Bart Stupak, and the misstep was his vote in favor of President Barack Obama’s health care bill. And once again, members of the Republican establishment are making moves that could diminish grass roots support for the party’s eventual candidate in the November general election, potentially leading to the ascension of yet another Democrat "dynasty" in the 1st District.

Even after Stupak became viewed as vulnerable following this health care vote, until he announced his retirement no establishment Republican politician had shown any interest in challenging him. They knew that over the years, Stupak had assembled a powerful political machine, and any challenge would still be considered a long shot.

Grass roots stalwarts in the district identifying with the Tea Party movement were deeply interested in a challenge, however. They have mostly been coalescing around the candidacy of Dr. Daniel Benishek of Crystal Falls. According to U.P. blogger Carole "CJ" Williams, within a week of Stupak’s health care vote, Benishek had accumulated 21,000 “friends” on his Facebook page. He was the subject of a...........

[Darren McCarty]

This is one of the best reads I've seen on this district. I recommend reading the whole thing at the Mackinac Center. It's long, but tells a lot about the dynamics involved here.

[samtheman]

I knew nothing of this story until reading it just now here, in the posted article, an article that is extremely well-written and absolutely believable.

And I know I’m going to draw the wrath of many on my head for this post, but I don’t care:

The big story isn’t what’s happening in this single district, though that individual story is extremely interesting and I am going to continue to pay close attention to it (and maybe end up sending a contribution) in the coming months.

The big story here is what this shows to be the incredible weakness of the Republican Party, their historic inability (with some few important exceptions, like Reagan and like the holding together of the Republicans recently against Obamacare) to really understand what it is they are supposed to do for our Republic and who exactly they are supposed to represent.

With that in mind, and with the story of Stupak’s district in mind, it becomes doubly, triply tragic to consider what Palin is doing in Arizona. The number one goal of ANY conservative should be: take back the Republican Party first, then take back the country.

But Palin, in backing McCain, is backing the worst of the Republican Party, as illustrated in this article. If Obama succeeds in creating a Commie-Muslim EuroState on the land between the Atlantic and the Pacific, it won’t be primarily because he tried to do it, it will be because the Republicans (with Palin at least somewhat leading the way) let him do it.

OK. I’m ready. Open fire.

[Darren McCarty]

It's the age old fight between DC or Lansing consultants, and the grass roots who can't be controlled. It happens in both parties.

As far as districts go, each district has its own character, and it's imperative that the DC/Lansing consultants sit down and really understand each district before throwing their weight around behind the scenes. Some are easy to understand. Some aren't. Usually the larger the district, the more tricky it is.

The 1st district here is the largest or 2nd largest district east of the Mississippi. It is rural, independent, populist, and has a democrat heritage, but does not like liberals. If a candidate has a company line reputation, he's going to lose here.

[samtheman]

Thanks for the background, Darren. As I said, I’m going to be watching this one closely and possibly sending money to the doctor.

[cripplecreek]

I look at the NRCC tossing Walberg over in the 7th district in the last election. They called him a lost cause but he only lost by about 2% of the vote leaving us to suffer with that marxist idiot Schauer for 2 years.

If 2% isn’t enough to fight for, I pity any conservative in a close race.

[ksmnet]

Well said! I couldn’t agree more. It’s the same as when George Bush went and campaigned for Spector in Pennsylvania. Look at what the result was.

I may be alone here, but I haven’t seen any enthusiasm in ANY of the Republican candidates for 1st Congressional District, nor do I have confidence that they will get in and truly make a difference. The only candidate’s website that gets me going somewhat is that of Linda Goldthorpe, but she’s a big Ron Paul supporter, which makes her a strict Libertarian and not a Republican. She’s running on the Republican ticket, but people really need to know who she is. She’s not getting my vote.
I’m not impressed by any of the candidates. I’ve seen Benishek on shows like Hannity, and he doesn’t have much to say for himself. We need a candidate out there that is going to be unpopular, and do what is RIGHT for not only Michigan, but for the country.
Just because an elected representative brings home money from the Fed, doesn’t mean that’s a reason to keep them in office. Where’s the money coming from (TARP? Earmarks?)?
We need someone who is going to be energetically working to get back to the grass roots of our Constitution, not bow to special interests, and work to restore the many freedoms we have lost.