Posted on 08/10/2015 1:53:30 PM PDT by cripplecreek
LANSING, MI Actress Melissa Gilbert, best known for her childhood role as Laura Ingalls Wilder on "Little House in the Prairie," is running for the U.S. House out of Michigan.
Gilbert, a Democrat who has lived in Livingston County since 2013, announced Monday that she is running for the 8th Congressional District seat currently held by Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop of Rochester.
"Here in Michigan, I know people are doing their best to make a good life for themselves and their families. When it comes down to it, I think that's what we all really want," Gilbert said in a statement distributed to reporters and posted online.
"I'm running for Congress to make life a little easier for all the families who feel they have fallen through the cracks in today's economy. I believe building a new economy is a team effort, and we need to bring fresh voices to the table to get the job done."
Gilbert, 51, was born in Los Angeles and is married to fellow actor Timothy Busfield.
She served as president of the Screen Actors Guild -- a labor union representing film and television performers -- from 2001 to 2005 and hit the campaign trail in 2014 as a supporter of Michigan gubernatorial candidate Mark Schauer.
Gilbert has had problems with the Internal Revenue Service, which filed a tax lien against her on February 3 claiming she failed to pay more than $360,000 in federal income taxes.
She attributed the unpaid taxes to a "perfect storm" involving the economic recession and a prior divorce, telling The Detroit News she had negotiated a repayment plan with the IRS.
The Michigan Republican Party, pointing to the tax dispute, questioned whether voters should trust Gilbert on the economy. Stu Sandler, a spokesman for the Bishop campaign, said Gilbert's values are "out of whack" with voters in the district.
"It's amazing that a woman who owes hundreds of thousands of dollars, who moved here from Hollywood and has a dog stylist but won't pay her taxes, is considering running for Congress to get a government pay check," Sandler said.
Bishop won the 8th District seat last year, defeating Democrat Eric Schertzing to replace outgoing Republican Rep. Mike Rogers, who did not seek re-election.
Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Brandon Dillon last week noted that Bishop has been added to the National Republican Congressional Committee's "patriot program," which is designed to help protect vulnerable incumbents.
Bishop's "career of out of touch statements and votes to hurt his constituents are finally catching up to him," Dillon said Thursday.
She served as president of the Screen Actors Guild -- a labor union representing film and television performers -- from 2001 to 2005 and hit the campaign trail in 2014 as a supporter of Michigan gubernatorial candidate Mark Schauer. Gilbert has had problems with the Internal Revenue Service, which filed a tax lien against her on February 3 claiming she failed to pay more than $360,000 in federal income taxes. She attributed the unpaid taxes to a "perfect storm" involving the economic recession and a prior divorce, telling The Detroit News she had negotiated a repayment plan with the IRS.Thanks cripplecreek.
Couldn't get past Laura's buck teeth and Mary's prissiness.
. . . and to think, Laura Ingals daughter, the libertarian Rose Wilder Lane, is credited with being either the actual author of the series nominally by Laura Ingals Wilder, or at least an important editor of her mothers writing.
Rose Wilder Lane was associated with Ayn Rand. per Wikipedia
Her husband was working as recently as last year playing Ben Franklin on the Sleepy Hollow series.
Only 2 years in the district? That'll go well there.
One of my good friends lives in that district. He just sent me an email about her anti-gun stance and said that's going to kill her in that district.
Livingston County and that part of Oakland County isn't going to vote for her but the district has Lansing and MSU so it's not exactly a safe district for Bishop.
Other than Ronald Reagan, name me any other actor or athlete turned politician who did any good?
I think she has a sister
Um, no. Donald Trump.
Nothing amazing about it. She's special because she's a Democrat. Normal rules do not apply.
Melissa Francis, who had a part on the show, is now on Fox News and Fox Business.
She also seems to have been less messed-up than some of the other actors.
Google a little: it seems like everybody who was a child actor in the Sixties or Seventies had major problems later on in life.
Um, yes. For every Donald Trump in politics there are a thousand Melissa Gilberts.
Gopher from the Love Boat?
She sure grew up good!
Kulp was also a Lesbian. Not out of the closet at the time, but I think most voters figured it out.
Twilight Zone
The Munsters
The Honeymooners
Colombo
Suspense (on radio)
Sherlock Holmes
My kids are not allowed to watch entertainment on TV. Only NewsmaxTV and sometimes FoxNews. They only know old time radio. Perhaps when they reach 13 I'll let them watch televised versions of The Jack Benny Show, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Burns and Allen and maybe some of the newer stuff like Gilligans Island and Hazel
Your comment is concise and right on target.
LOL
She was blind from what I remember, so that give me a leg up!
Oh, yeah the character on the show was blind. I meant Gilbert's real sister.
I sure am glad nothing's wrong with my childhood crush. I wonder where Kristy McNickle is today
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.