Minority party reduced to fake outrage

LANSING – It must really be tough being a Republican these days.

The good news for the Republican Party, however, is that is has fit into its role as the minority party quite nicely. President Barack Obama has an approval rating of 68 percent in the first 100 days, so the GOP is reduced to criticizing him because he uses a teleprompter, he shook the hand of an elected leader of a country the right hates or the First Lady shows her arms too much. The biggest debate in the RNC is what false smear to use against Democrats. The front runner appears to falsely labeling Democrats as “socialists.”

But here in Michigan the GOP will not be outdone for pettiness and grasping for straws. The guy who runs the official, unofficial GOP blog, “Right” Michigan, is taking Lt. Gov. John Cherry to task for hosting a fundraiser for Sen. Hansen Clark on Thursday at the Michigan Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association that has an open bar. Really, is this all you got?

His fake outrage is that it’s a lunch fundraiser and there is an open bar at the Michigan Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association. I’m sure people in Lansing will be shocked. It’s kind of funny because this guy claims he was once a House staffer, so I’m surprised at his false outrage.

When the House is in session you can rest assured there will be luncheons, fundraisers. lobby days and demonstrations to get the attention of lawmakers or draw attention to thier issue. On any given day you can see a giant duck on the lawn of the Capitol to some nut hauling around a giant pink fiberglass pig.

Unfortunately, money helps people win elections, and fundraisers are common in Lansing. Usually, they are held in a few venues in Lansing, such as the Governor's Room at Karoub Associates and the Michigan Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association. In fact, there are four scheduled this week at the Wholesalers Association, and both parties take advantage of the excellent service they provide.

I have been to a few of those, and I will be at one this week. There is a small bar there – as the photo shows, and I have never paid for a drink there. Granted, I have always ordered a Coke, but I am assuming if you want a Budweiser it will not cost you anything. However, to be honest, I have never tested this theory because I am not much of a drinker.

He is making a big deal of the fact that it is being billed as a "Mid-Day Fun-Raiser,” and they are urging people to Support a "two hour moratorium on dry political fundraisers.” The fact is all fundraisers try and find a theme to draw people and to standout from the numerous other fundraisers and invitations that cross the desks of lawmakers.

Then he claims, “The event is scheduled to begin thirty minutes after the Michigan Senate is gaveled into session this Thursday.” That is a complete lie, but not uncommon for this guy. Senate sessions always begin at 10 a.m., and the fundraiser is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.