Saul Escalating Rhetoric Against Obama

Just because Saul Anuzis has left the Michigan Republican Party doesn't mean that we can't still kick him around a little bit.

According to The New York Times for Monday (April 20, 2009), Republicans have given up calling President Obama a "liberal" or even a "socialist" because those names no longer sound bad enough. So he's switching to calling Obama a "fascist," not because Obama really is a fascist, but because Saul thinks it will make people think Obama is bad.

The story says:

"We've so overused the word 'socialism' that it no longer has the negative connotation it had 20 years ago, or even 10 years ago," Mr. Anuzis said. "Fascism — everybody still thinks that’s a bad thing."

Sure, Saul says he doesn't really mean that Obama is a "fascist," only that what he does is "fascism."

Either way, it's not a tactic that is likely to find much appeal with independent-minded voters.

Why Would Anybody Pick Saul for RNC Chair?

Saul Anuzis, the chair of the Michigan Republican Party, is seeking to become head of the Republican National Committee.

Apparently he is presenting himself as an alternative to Southern candidates, using the argument that the Republican Party should expand its appeal outside of the South.

I don't know what Anuzis' chances are since a whole bunch of people are interested in that job. But it seems to me, a candidate's track record should matter.

So in case the folks at the RNC haven't done their research yet, here's what Saul accomplished in the last election in Michigan:

--He lost Michigan (for a record-breaking fifth straight time) in the presidential race by 16 percentage points.

--He lost a U.S. Senate race by 29 percentage points.

--He lost two incumbent Republican members of Congress and thus lost control of the congressional delegation, which is now Democratic by an 8-7 margin.

--He lost nine Michigan House seats, leaving his party in a 67-43 minority position come January.

--He lost all eight education board races, meaning Democrats are in control of the U of M, MSU, and State Board of Education by a 6-2 margin, and the Wayne State Board by 7-1.

--He lost the Michigan Supreme Court race by 10 points, making it the first time an incumbent justice had lost in 24 years and the first time ever that an incumbent chief justice was defeated.

--He lost no seats in the Michigan State Senate, only because nobody in that chamber was up for re-election this year.

So he certainly would be my choice. But gosh, we'll miss him here in Michigan.

Not Sure I'm Believing This

Republican John McCain's surprise announcement that he is pulling resources out of Michigan to concentrate on defending territory elsewhere probably cheered a lot of Barack Obama supporters.

But I'm not completely buying it now that I've thought about it a little.

I wouldn't put it past Republicans to use this announcement as a voter suppression tactic, reasoning that sporadic voters or first-time voters might decide not to venture out to vote if the weather is bad on November 4.

Or they might believe that volunteers will take a few days off instead of feeling the pressure to knock on every possible door.

The tactic is especially suspicious in light of John McCain's announcement that he was "suspending" his campaign during congressional negotiations on the credit crisis bill. Turns out, he kept running ads during most of the time of this "suspension." And he had announced similar "suspensions" numerous times before in his political career.

Then comes a desperate email from Michigan Republican Party chair Saul Anuzis begging for donations to fill the gap in the GOP get-out-the-vote effort. He's seeking to raise $100,000 in the next week.

"...If we’re to remain competitive, if we’re to put the programs in place that Joe Knollenberg, Tim Walberg, Cliff Taylor and our other candidates need for victory, if we’re to show the nation that you can’t count Michigan out, your Michigan Republican Party needs to fill a significant hole."

Hmmm. Just $100,000? Seems like a small amount for helping all the candidates he listed. Either McCain wasn't spending much to begin with here or Republicans think they don't need to do much to get their vote out. And we know the nasty 527 ads are still running even if McCain's own ads are not.

Either way, it makes me think the pull-out is not as significant as they want us to believe.

Update at 1:15 p.m.

Saul's latest email asks for money once again and notes: "ALL of our victory centers were open this weekend—they’ve never closed."

In other words, Barack Obama supporters should not let up.

Republicans Paying 'Volunteers' to Fund-Raise for Them

How bad are things in the Michigan Republican Party?

So bad that now they need to pay their "volunteers."

Party Chair Saul Anuzis told GOP supporters in an email (forwarded to me by someone who wishes to remain anonymous) that helping Republicans raise money can actually be a money-making opportunity.

As he put it, "As a Michigan Republican Party eLeader, you will be able to help with a variety of fun and valuable activities, such as: raising money online, building and growing your own online political network and becoming an active and known advocate of the Michigan GOP. You can also send out invitations for events hosted by yourself or others.

"For any funds raised you can choose from a 10% commission or points ($1 = 5 points) to spend on Republican gear in our store!"

Is the Michigan Republican Party so bankrupt of ideas that the only way it can motivate its volunteers is to offer them a cut of the take? And will they be admitting to the people they contact that they are getting some of the money that contributors think is going to elect Republicans?

For our volunteers, getting Republicans out of office is its own reward.

State GOP Puts the 'Partisan' into 'Non-Partisan' School Board Race

School board races in Michigan are supposed to be non-partisan -- and for good reason. Michigan residents think the education of their children should not be subject to political machinations.

But the Michigan Republican Party is bragging about undermining that tradition in last week's Brighton school board election, in which Cheryl Leach and Jonathan Krause, who ran as team, defeated Winnie Garrett for the two open seats on the board.

In his regular email message (forwarded to me by a friend who doesn't wish to be named, for obvious reasons), Michigan Republican Party Chair Saul Anuzis brags:

"LIVINGSTON COUNTY GOP WIN SCHOOL BOARD RACES as Republicans and taxpayers groups teamed up to challenge the MEA backed candidate for the Brighton School Board, both non-MEA, non-partisan, candidates defeated the MEA, union backed candidate. Yes they used Voter Vault walking lists!!! Congratulations."

In other words, Leach and Krause used state Republican Party resources (that's what voter vault working lists are) in a non-partisan election.

That's not illegal, since no doubt those lists are used in other non-partisan races such as judicial contests. But it is a break with the past.

For example, when Joe Carney, former chair of the Livingston County Democratic Party, ran for the school board two years ago, he received no help from the party -- state or local. He did not use party lists, but purchased his own voter list.

So the question now is, who are Leach and Krause responsible to -- local residents or the Michigan Republican Party, which helped elect them?