Michigan Senate and Governor’s Races

Two Republican candidates are vying to replace U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow: John James and Sandy Pensler. Click on their names to learn more. They are locked in a dead heat but neither is expected to replace her. This is probably due to incumbent inertia since neither has her name recognition or as large a campaign war chest, more than the two Republicans combined.

In my opinion Senator Stabenow has done little or nothing to help the people of Michigan. Along with eight other Senators, Stabenow tied for "Most Liberal Senator" in 2011. However, I wish her a well-deserved retirement, and do not begrudge her the generous Congressional pension.

Retiring and replacing her with a conservative who will help grow the economy, providing jobs for thousands of people is well worth what it costs the taxpayers. The economic growth of 4.1% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in the last quarter under President Trump is amazing. People will be comparing Trump’s economic performance with President Obama’s record.

Stabenow will receive $159,400 per year from her 22 years in Congress ($174,000 annual salary) and 15 years in the state legislature, including $30,000 in Social Security. Most people in private industry, salaried and hourly, would be happy to trade retirement plans, especially the working class and middle income families Democrats claim to represent. Most of us earn far less. Some politicians harp on income inequality while supporting policies like NAFTA and other trade agreements that encourage companies to outsource overseas.

Stabenow has received zero scores from free-market groups: 0% from Competitive Enterprise Institute, American Conservative Union, Americans for Prosperity, and high scores from fiscally liberal groups (92% from Progressive Punch and 91% from NETWORK, a Catholic social justice lobby).

Democrats sometimes campaign conservative but then vote liberal once in office. At other times they hide their big spending tendencies and just make campaign promises like free college for everyone without telling where the money is coming from.

Social Issues

In their televised debate, the candidates agreed on many topics and vied to appear the most conservative. James and Pensler sparred over some hot-button issues, however. Both candidates said they oppose marijuana legalization for recreational use (on the ballot in November), although Pensler hedged by saying he would leave it in the hands of the voters.

Both candidates said they are pro-life in their televised debate, but only John James is endorsed by Michigan Right to Life.

Four of the gubernatorial candidates have received RTL’s endorsement: Brian Calley, Patrick Colbeck, Jim Hines and Bill Schuette. Schuette and Calley are the two top Republicans in the polls. On the Democratic side, front-runner Gretchen Whitmer says she wants women to have access to contraception (which she doesn’t say includes abortifacient drugs like RU-486). She, like most Democrats, is pro-choice (“I am personally opposed to abortion but support every woman’s right to choose”) which is really pro-abortion since the baby has no choice in the matter. It’s a child, not a choice; no expectant mother refer to her baby as a fetus..

Abortion remains a divisive issue in America, with the 20/20/60 rule applying. Perhaps 20% are partisans on both sides and 60% are indifferent (the true percentages may vary). But pro-life means much more than anti-abortion.

Pro-life means defending the weakest at the beginning of life (which begins at conception), assisting mothers with assistance in raising their babies or in placing their child for adoption. It also means advocating for the elderly at the close of their lives regardless of their medical condition. Thankfully we don’t counsel Alzheimer’s patients to end their lives or allow assisted suicide here in Michigan. It means promoting family-friendly policies like adoption and a more wholesome atmosphere to raise children. In short, all lives matter.

The 2017 Women’s March on Washington contrasted with the annual March for Life showed the chasm between the two sides, with people holding vastly different views on the subject. If you are part of the 60% that thinks abortion doesn’t matter, please take three minutes to listen to President Ronald Reagan’s commentary on abortion after his experience as governor in California. Reagan also said “I've noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born.”

Can we at least agree that adoption is a loving option and make it easier? Several Catholic and other Christian adoption agencies have closed their doors rather than place children in homes without a mother and a father. States like Michigan allow mothers to choose which agency they will use as long as those with objections to placing children with gay couples refer the couple to other agencies which do so.

Campaign Financing – follow the money

According to the Detroit News, Stabenow raised $1.63 million and had about $8.8 million cash on hand at the end of March, more than Pensler and James combined. She is seeking a fourth six-year term after 15 years in the Michigan Legislature and a few years in Congress. Neither Republican has held public office, though Pensler has been active in Republican politics for many years.

At the end of March, James had $1.19 million in cash and quadrupled the number of individual donors since last quarter, while Pensler had nearly $4 million in cash reserves after loaning his campaign $5 million last year. Last quarter he raised only $80,000 compared to Pensler’s $1.17 million. Pensler received only a small fraction of his campaign contributions from individual donors, including $2700 from Matthew Maroun, whose family owns the Ambassador Bridge. James is likely to empty his campaign coffers in the primary battle with the better-funded Pensler.

Senator Stabenow will have a distinct advantage in November since the Republican Senatorial Committee may decide to spend their money in other races with a larger chance of success. But in the end, the voters will choose their candidate. President Trump won his primaries and defeated Hillary Clinton when no one thought he could.

A HUGE Endorsement

President Trump has endorsed James: “I recently endorsed John’s conservative outsider campaign for Senate.

John is a fighter. He truly is spectacular, and I could not be happier to offer him my endorsement. We need more leaders like John Draining the Swamp in Washington.

Since my first day in the White House, we have been Making America Great Again. Our economy is surging, we are being respected around the world again, and we are protecting and defending our beautiful Constitution.””

And of course his famous tweets:

“@JohnJamesMI, who is running in the Republican Primary in the great state of Michigan, is SPECTACULAR! Vote on August 7th. Rarely have I seen a candidate with such great potential. West Point graduate, successful businessman and a African American leader…”

and “… John is strong on crime and borders, loves our Military, our Vets and our Second Amendment. He will be a star. He has my full and total Endorsement!”

Which candidate will you support after reading this Detroit News article about their televised debate? Or will you take a bye and support Debbie Stabenow in November.

I support John James for the above reasons (pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, all of the reasons for his endorsement cited by the President, his campaign financing and endorsements) plus his age might help him defeat the 68 year old Stabenow. She would be 74 at the end of her next term if re-elected. James would draw more of the black vote than Pensler; African-Americans reliably vote ~90% Democrat.

John James could well be the next Tim Scott or J.C. Watts, staunch conservatives who happen to be black. I encourage you to join me in voting for him.

Photo credit: Dale Murrish photo of the U.S. Capitol

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In previous blog posts, I began telling the story of my brain tumor and the depression which followed it. The second article in the series described my faith in God which sustained me through both trials.

Having recently started a word-by-word translation of Martin Luther's Bible from German to English, I introduced the project and published Matthew Chapter 1 . Later I wrote commentary on it; my church background and theological training is in my USA Melting Pot bio.