NEWS FROM THE MICHIGAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY

From the MDP   POSTED 7/6/08

POSTED 6/24/08 MOVED 7/13/08

University of Chicago Study Rates Michigan Supreme Court Worst in Nation

Lawyers Rate Taylor Worst Justice on Court

Taylor’s “worst of the worst” status will help defeat him this fall 

LANSING— Cliff Taylor sits on the worst state Supreme Court in the country, according to a May study by the University of Chicago Law School.  

“The University of Chicago Law School is hardly a bastion of liberal bias,” said Mark Brewer, Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party. “For them to rate the Michigan Supreme Court this poorly is a serious blow to Chief Justice Cliff Taylor and his activist court.” 

The Chicago study ranked the Michigan Supreme Court 42nd opinion quality, 40th in productivity, and dead last in partisan independence. Michigan lawyers rate Taylor as the worst justice on the Michigan Supreme Court. 

“Michigan voters will have the opportunity this fall to begin to improve the Michigan Supreme Court by removing its worst justice—Cliff Taylor,” said Brewer. 

To read the complete University of Chicago study, visit www.law.uchicago.edu/Lawecon.index.html. 

For a full version of the survey of lawyers, go to www.milawyersweekly.com. 

 From the MDP

Opponents of Dillon Recall Applaud Secretary of State’s Findings

Secretary of State finds recall effort lacked minimum number of signatures; first forgery complaints to be filed 

LANSING – Opponents of the effort to recall House Speaker Andy Dillon today applauded the Secretary of State’s preliminary determination that the recall sponsors have failed to submit a sufficient number of valid signatures. Meanwhile, recall opponents also said that they are filing additional challenges regarding thousands of forged signatures. 

“We have said all along that the people behind this recall effort did not have grassroots support – and now we know for a fact that they don’t,” Michigan Democratic Party spokesperson Liz Kerr said. “We applaud the Secretary of State’s ruling, which is a victory for the people of Redford Township, Dearborn Heights and Livonia.” 

The Secretary of State released preliminary findings today which show that nearly half of the signatures submitted by the sponsor attempting to recall Dillon were invalid and will be thrown out. Of the 15,700 signatures submitted by Leon Drolet's group, over 7,500 were rejected for various defects. The investigation revealed many petition circulators who did not even live in Dillon's district. 

Thousands of signatures were excluded because the supposed signers were not registered voters. In fact, it turned out that eight of the alleged signers were actually dead, and it appears that these are only a few of the thousands of signatures which were clearly forged. Challenges regarding these forgeries are being filed today. 

“This desperate recall effort relied on deception, fraud, forgery and even dead people to achieve its goal,” said Mark Fisk, partner at Byrum & Fisk Advocacy Communications, which is the lead consultant in opposing the recall. “The extremist, partisan group behind the recall had no support inside the community – so they went outside the community and outside the law. They used fraud to try to silence the voice of the people, they used forgery, they lied, they engaged in all kinds of illegal tactics and they must be held accountable.” 

Mary Ellen Gurewitz, of Sachs Waldman, attorneys for the recall opponents, echoed this call, saying that criminal actions need to be brought against the petition sponsors and circulators who engaged in such blatant criminal conduct.

From MDP Website 

POSTED 5/4/08

Your help Needed to Stop GOP Recalls

Yesterday, Republicans filed petitions to recall Democratic Speaker of the House Andy Dillon. Thiseffort is financed by out-of-state extremists seeking to undo the results of the 2006 election when Democrats won control of the State House.

We will fight this recall effort every step of the way and we need your contribution of $10, $20 or more to help make sure Democrats retain control of the State House. Please click here to contribute now.

These recall petitions are the product of illegal conduct. We have evidence of forged signatures, the use of fraud and deceit to collect signatures, and other illegal activity.

We cannot allow a recall election based on illegal conduct to risk our control of the State House. We need your contribution of $10, $20 or more so we have the resources to prove fraud, deceit and forgery. Please click here to contribute now.

The out-of-state company hired to collect these signatures has a long history of signature fraud in Michigan and throughout the country. The company was part of the fraudulent effort to put Proposal 2 on the ballot in 2006.

We must expose this company and its illegal conduct. But we need your contribution of $10, $20 or more to prove it. Please click here to contribute now.

Your support will enable us to defeat this illegal, out-of-state effort to steal our 2006 victory. Thank you for making a contribution today.

Sincerely,

Mark Brewer

P.S. To keep control of the State House, we must defeat this recall. Please help make sure we have the resources to win.

POSTED 11/9/07

Photo ID Law Improperly Administered All Across Michigan

LANSING –. Yesterday the Michigan Democratic Party received numerous complaints from around the state, including Wayne, Oakland, Genesee and Ingham counties, from voters who were incorrectly told by election workers that they would be unable to vote without photo identification and from voters who were not offered an affidavit if they did not have photo ID. Some polling sites had large signs stating that voters could not vote without photo ID.

“The photo ID law was administered incorrectly all across Michigan yesterday. Voters need to know that if they do not have an ID with them at the polls they can still sign an affidavit and cast a regular ballot,” Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer said. “Part of the problem was that Secretary of State Land’s office did not adequately publicize the photo ID requirement and they did a poor job preparing election workers for the new law. We will fight vigorously to make sure that in 2008 Michigan voters know they have the right to cast a ballot if they go to the polls without a photo ID.”

Gongwer reported Friday that Land’s office said that, “No major debriefing and assessment of the voter ID requirements are planned at this point.”

MIGOP Kowtows to New Hampshire

MIGOP Chair Anuzis Endorses New Hampshire Monopoly

LANSING- Today Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer sharply criticized the MIGOP for selling out Michigan by endorsing New Hampshire’s monopolistic stronghold on hosting the first presidential primary.

“When is a Michigan Republican going to stand up for Michigan?” asked Brewer. “First, they meekly allow President Bush to ignore the Big Three. Then Dick DeVos ships Michigan jobs to China. Now, Saul Anuzis says it is okay for New Hampshire to continue to unfairly control the presidential nominating process at the expense of Michigan.”

In an article written by John Distaso in the New Hampshire Union Leader on October 20, 2007 Anuzis is quoted as saying “We have no issue with New Hampshire (being the first primary) at all.”

“Time and again, Michigan Republicans fail to defend Michigan’s interests,” observed Brewer. “Just like Dick DeVos is better suited to run for governor in China than in Michigan, Saul Anuzis has shown he is well-qualified to be chairman of the New Hampshire GOP.”

 POSTED 10/27/07

POSTED 10/17/07

DEVOS/AMWAY TRAMPLE ON FREE SPEECH

Amway, owned in part by Dick DeVos, files lawsuit against bloggers critical of the company

LANSING- Today the Michigan Democratic Party (MDP) criticized Dick DeVos, failed Republican candidate for Governor, for allowing Amway to trample on the First Amendment rights of thirty bloggers by filing lawsuits against them (http://blog.mlive.com:80/grpress/2007/10/amway_sues_to_id_source_of_neg.html) for criticizing the company.

“First, Republican State Senator Mike Bishop tried to block access to a critical website and now DeVos’ Amway is filing lawsuits against critical bloggers,” said MDP Chair Mark Brewer.  “It is clear that Republicans in Michigan do not believe the American right of free speech.”

“Last election DeVos made it abundantly clear, in ad after ad, that he is Amway,” Brewer stated.  “DeVos’ Amway is now trying to use intimidation lawsuits to shut down those who dare to criticize how the company operates.”

“I call on the newspapers of Michigan to join me in opposing the DeVos/Amway attack on free speech,” Brewer added.

“What’s next?” asked Brewer. “Will DeVos try to hide his connections to the Blackwater scandal?”

This past August, State Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop blocked  BloggingForMichigan.com, a liberal blog, because of what his office called “questionable” political content. Asked why they did not block other blogs such as Michiganliberal.com by Michigan Information and Research Service, Bishop's spokesperson replied: "Michiganliberal.com doesn't matter. They don't say bad things about us." After a large public backlash, Sen. Bishop restored access to all blogs.

POSTED 10/22/07

Mark Brewer’s Statement on Ramadan

As the holy month of Ramadan begins, Michigan Democratic Party (MDP) Chair Mark Brewer wished Michigan’s Muslim community a healthy and happy Ramadan. “As the holy month Ramadan begins, Muslims around the world celebrate the revelation of the Quran to Muhammad and observe a special time of prayer, fasting, self-accountability and charity,” stated Brewer. “Michigan’s large Muslim population is a testament to Michigan’s vibrant diversity. The Michigan Democratic Party and I heartily wish the Muslim community in Michigan Ramadan mubarak.”

POSTED 9/16/077/07

MDP Response to VP Cheney’s Speech in Grand Rapids

Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer issued the following statement responding to Vice President Dick Cheney’s speech today on Iraq:

 “Dick Cheney’s speech in Grand Rapids only continues his administration’s use of fear to keep the United States endlessly engaged in Iraq at the cost of billions of dollars and the lives of thousands of soldiers with no objective in sight. The people of Michigan understand that Cheney’s policy is essentially ‘stay the course’ on a road to nowhere. There is no solution to getting our troops out of a civil war and Osama bin Laden is still at large six years after 9/11. Cheney is directly responsible entangling the United States in a civil war in Iraq and not on the capture of Osama bin Laden.”

POSTED 9/16/07

POSTED 9/13/07

Latest MDP e-mail update prominently mentions the South County's Blue Tigers -- WAY TO GO!

As you may remember, while meeting with the leaders of the other state Party organizations this past November, I announced that Michigan would be the first state Party in the nation to officially adopt the principles of the Blue Tiger Democrats organization and make those principles a permanent part and priority of the Michigan Democratic Party (MDP).

Those principles include reinvigorating the Party through empowering local Democratic leaders to communicate their vision and values through engaging people in their community through service and year-round civic engagement activities.

I'm happy to report that after our second summer of crafting and implementing Blue Tiger Democrat projects, civic engagement has become a central part of the MDP.

Highlights this summer include:

• Launching of a new Michigan Blue Tiger Democrats website, where activists and the Party leaders can highlight the service projects, volunteers and commitment Democrats have shown through civic engagement activities.  Please visit www.michiganbluetigerdems.com and share with us your stories of service that local Democrats are providing their communities by highlighting past or current projects, upcoming events and great local Democrats.
• The Michigan Democratic Party in its newest Youtube video discusses Blue Tiger Democrats. MDP Chair Mark Brewer discusses in detail Michigan Democrats civic engagement programs. Watch it now and share with your friends.

• The South County Democratic Club is collecting goods to support Resident Services of Southwest Michigan in their efforts to provide our homeless veterans in Berrien County with basic necessities and support. 

• In Oakland County, Democrats are conducting a charity drive for VA Hospitals.  Activities have resulted in roughly 3 truckloads of items that will be turned in this September.  Members of the Royal Oak Area Democratic Club plan on this being an ongoing priority for the club and will begin doing door-to-door education about the project (coupled with Party ID) in the upcoming weeks.

I've seen firsthand the commitment Democrats are making across the State to civic engagement through Blue Tiger Democrats resulting in real enthusiasm for the Party.  I truly believe this is the beginning of a fundamental change in how our Party can build, organize and mobilize our base for years to come.

In order to ensure this program continues to grow, I'm asking you today to support the Michigan Blue Tiger Democrats Program today by taking two small steps personally:

• Participate in a local Party organization's Blue Tiger Democrat service project this year; and

• Join Michigan Blue Tiger Democrats as a member with a financial contribution at www.michiganbluetigerdems.com.  By joining you are giving us the political and financial support to legitimately say we as Democrats define our values in the public through more than thirty second TV spots.  Also, money we raise locally in Michigan helps us build self-sustaining programs that really help communities across the state.

Also, if you are the leader of a Party organization, please pass the resolution of support for Michigan Blue Tiger Democrats and send the approved resolution to the MDP office at 606 Townsend st., Lansing, MI 48933.

Please contact Frank Houston fhouston@bluetigerdems.com, Pam Faris pfaris@bluetigerdems.com - the project coordinators - or me for more information about Michigan Blue Tiger Democrats.

Thank you for your continued support in building the Michigan Democratic Party.

Sincerely,

Mark Brewer
Chair

MDP Response to VP Cheney’s Speech in Grand Rapids

Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer issued the following statement responding to Vice President Dick Cheney’s speech today on Iraq:

 “Dick Cheney’s speech in Grand Rapids only continues his administration’s use of fear to keep the United States endlessly engaged in Iraq at the cost of billions of dollars and the lives of thousands of soldiers with no objective in sight. The people of Michigan understand that Cheney’s policy is essentially ‘stay the course’ on a road to nowhere. There is no solution to getting our troops out of a civil war and Osama bin Laden is still at large six years after 9/11. Cheney is directly responsible entangling the United States in a civil war in Iraq and not on the capture of Osama bin Laden.”

POSTED 9/16/07

RETURN TO HOME PAGE