DETRIOT -- Michigan Democrats celebrated their decisive victory last November on Saturday in Cobo Hall at the state convention, and they also took the time to honor the longest serving U.S. Congressman in U.S. history.
On Feb. 11, U.S. Rep. John Dingell, Jr., D-Dearborn, became the longest serving Congressman in history. He was first elected on Dec. 13, 1955; succeeding his father, a New Deal Democrat elected to Congress in 1932.
The entire Michigan Congressional delegation was on the stage to at Cobo Hall to honor Dingell.
“With John Dingell, it’s not just the length of his service, it’s the quality of service year after year,” said U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Detroit. “We Michigan Dems are very proud to call John Dingell one of our own.”
Dingell has served with 11 Presidents, and that comes out to a quarter of all Presidents in U.S. history.
“No one will ever break that record, because as each day goes by he breaks the record everyday he serves; he is the record,” said U.S. Rep. Dale Kildee, D-Flint. “America is a better place because of John Dingell.”
Dingell is one of the most productive and influential members to ever serve in the U.S. House, and he is extremely passionate about health care. He helped pass the Medicaid Act in 1965, and he is a strong advocate for universal health care.
“We have continually re-elected the dean of the House, and every working day he has led the fight for health care and justice,” Levin said. “Every session he has introduced a bill for universal health care, just like his father before him.
“He hasn’t given up the fight, and we will not give up the fight until every American has health care,” he said.
Carl Levin’s brother, U.S. Rep. Sander Levin, D-Southfield, said the Dingell and Levin family have always been close, and the first candidate he ever campaigned for was John Dingell, Sr.
“John Dingell has never represented special interests, only interests that are special,” he said.
Not only is John Dingell the longest serving Congressman in history, the unanimous election of Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer to his seventh term keeps his record intact as the longest serving Michigan Democratic Chair since the 1950's and the senior Democratic state party chair in the country.
“We are not here just to elect a party chair, we are here to tell the rest of Michigan that help is on the way with the stimulus; we are here to tell the rest of Michigan that Gov. Jennifer Granholm is diversifying the economy,” said Sen. Buzz Thomas, D-Detroit, the chair of the convention. “We are also here to tell those knuckle head southern Senators that the auto industry will survive; we helped build America, and we will continue to build America.”
Brewer told the party faithful that Democrats won so big in November for a reason, and we need to remind them of that in 2010.
“The Republican Party is the party of the past,” Brewer said. “You just need to look at who they elected as their chair; a Bush supporter; so big he made him an ambassador.”
2 comments:
Buzz Thomas is supposed to work up the troops, so I don't find his comment about Ron Weiser surprising.
But don't forget that Weiser did a great job as ambassador to Slovakia. He's also an example of a man of great achievement; starting in 1968 with a $300 loan and building a large company that created many jobs.
He's a worthy foe.
It's nice to see that Buzz found time to show up, considering how many votes he missed. Apparently the party's work is more vital to him than doing the work he was elected to do.
Yes, Sen. Buzz Thomas is supposed to work up the troops, but nothing he said was wrong or inaccurate. If it is, I challenge you to point it out. Second, Sen. Thomas didn’t say anything about Weiser, Mark Brewer did, and nothing Mark said is inaccurate, and I also challenge you to find something inaccurate.
I’m sure you are right about what Weiser did as ambassador to Slovakia. Any overseas ambassadorship under a President so hated around the world couldn’t have been that fun. But it must have been easy for someone with so much diplomatic, government and political background. Wait, he has none of that. His main qualification was the amount of money he gave Bush. But the fact is he is a fundraiser and supporter of anti-Michigan politicians like George Bush, Dick DeVos, Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham and Eric Cantor.
Funny, you talk up Weiser’s alleged humble beginnings, but you attack, smear and slime a man like George Soros who overcame even more humble beginnings and obstacles to achieve far greater success than Weiser.
This is a man who escaped the Holocaust with the clothes on his back to build a $9 billion fortune, and I would venture a guess his philanthropy has far outdistanced Weiser’s.
A short summary includes efforts to promote non-violent democratization in the post-Soviet states. As of 2003, PBS estimated that he had given away a total of $4 billion in that effort. Other notable projects have included aid to scientists and universities throughout Central and Eastern Europe, help to civilians during the siege of Sarajevo and Transparency International. He also provided funds to help black students attend the University of Cape Town in apartheid South Africa, and he also began funding dissident movements behind the iron curtain. What an evil man.
Weiser grew up in poor St. Joseph, Michigan where his parents owned a clothing store. Wait, the poor city is across the St. Joseph River; his hometown is the affluent one.
You are correct about the missed votes. Something needs to be done about that. But still, you failed to mention he missed fewer votes than one of your AG candidates.
Post a Comment