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Rita LaMoreaux
Republicans Question Hoekstra's Special Interest Ties and Lobbyist Past 1 message
MDP Press
HOEKSTRA v. THE GOP?
REPUBLICANS NOT EXACTLY LINING UP FOR REVOLVING DOOR PETE
REPUBLICANS QUESTION HOEKSTRA’S SPECIAL INTEREST TIES AND LOBBYIST PAST
Primary Opponent John McCulloch: Special Interests “Orchestrating” Hoekstra’s Run. Asked for his reaction to Hoekstra’s announcement, primary opponent and Oakland County Drain Commissioner John McCulloch said, “We’ve heard that for awhile so it doesn’t come as any surprise…I firmly believe special interests in Washington are orchestrating his return to the Senate race…Ultimately, what Michigan needs in terms of a senator isn’t someone who decided to get back in after he decided not to because Washington insiders urged him to.” [Daily Tribune, 7/21/2011]
Primary Opponent McCulloch First Raised Hoekstra’s Bernie Madoff Problem. Steve Mitchell, currently doing work for Oakland County Drain Commissioner and Senate candidate John McCulloch, “said Hoekstra will need to distance himself from his current working relationship with D.C. lobbying firm Dickstein Shapiro, whose attorneys, represented Ponzi scam artist Bernie Madoff.” [MIRS, 7/20/2011]
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Durant: Hoekstra Lobbyist Past Won’t Help Him. When asked if Hoekstra’s lobbyist position would hurt him, Durant responded, “It’s certainly a different life experience than I’ve had…I don’t think it’s helpful if you’re wanting to go down and change the conversation.” [“Off the Record,” 7/22/2011]
HOEKSTRA UNDER CONSERVATIVE FIRE FOR SUPPORT FOR WALL STREET BAILOUT AND RUBBERSTAMPING GEORGE W. BUSH’S OUT-OF-CONTROL SPENDING
Michigan Conservative Criticized Hoekstra’s Support for Wall Street Bailout. According to MIRS, “Another potential candidate, Gary Glenn from Campaign for Michigan Families, came out firing against Hoekstra on Monday, inviting him to a five-day ‘Economics for Leaders’ seminar at Hillsdale College since he ‘voted to spend $850 billion of our tax dollars at TARP to bail out Wall Street bankers. I'll save him a seat.’” [MIRS, 7/20/2011]
Hoekstra Criticized During GOP Primary For Bank Bailout Vote. During the Republican gubernatorial primary Hoekstra was criticized in ads “because of votes for the bank bailout.” [Kalamazoo Gazette, 3/17/2010]
Cox Criticized Hoekstra’s Bailout Vote. During a GOP primary debate in 2010, Attorney General Mike Cox “criticized Hoekstra for voting in favor of the bank bailout bill in Congress.” [Detroit News, 4/22/2010]
Cox Aired Television Ads Criticizing Hoekstra’s Spending Record in Congress. During the 2010 Republican gubernatorial primary, Attorney General Mike Cox “launched a campaign ad attacking Republican rival Rep. Pete Hoekstra’s spending record in Congress.” Cox’s ad “accuses the Holland congressman of voting for the $800 billion bank bailout, ‘pork barrel projects and wasteful government spending.’” [Associated Press, 5/11/2010]
Cox Criticized Hoekstra’s Votes for Debt Ceiling Raises and Earmarks. Attorney General Mike Cox also released ads criticizing Hoekstra’s “vote to raise the federal debt ceiling and his support for an appropriations bill that included $200,000 for a lobster institute in Maine.” [Detroit
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Free Press, 5/20/2010]
REPUBLICAN REACTION PROMISES HOEKSTRA WILL FACE FIGHT TO NOMINATION
The Hill: Hoekstra May “Face Tough GOP Senate Primary.” The Hill reported that Cornerstone Schools CEO Clark Durant “is seriously considering” a run and “could shake up the race…Durant’s base of support in Detroit's wealthy suburbs could match up favorably against Hoekstra's western Michigan base: If he can unite local Republicans around his candidacy, he could have the money to win the primary.” [The Hill, 7/20/2011]
Hoekstra Could Have “Very Intense Primary.” AP reporter Kathy Barks Hoffman said of Hoekstra, “There are candidates out there that the Tea Party would prefer. They weren’t very happy with Pete Hoekstra the last time around. They didn’t like his bailout for the banks, and you know, the things that Mike Cox hit him on. So, you know, I think that there’s a chance that you could have a very intense primary here…with a couple strong candidates, and the Tea Partiers going one way, the establishment Republicans the other. And, like you said, if Pete Hoekstra is not really that fired up about it, we’ll see what happens.” [“Off the Record, 7/22/2011]
Anuzis: GOP Nominee Will Have to “Earn It” and Pushed Durant, Rather Than Hoekstra. On his blog, former Michigan Republican Party Chair Saul Anuzis wrote of Hoekstra’s announcement, “I’ve never been a big fan of anyone ‘anointing’ any nominee for political office…I feel you should get it the old fashioned way, ‘earn it…’ I think we have some strong candidates in the race, but I’m encouraging Clark Durant to jump in as well. Durant can make a difference.” [Saul Anuzis Blog, 7/24/2011]
DeVos Endorsed Primary Opponent. In June, “Grand Rapids Republican Randy Hekman got a boost in his campaign for the U.S. Senate… when Amway co-founder Richard DeVos and his wife, Helen, endorsed his bid for the nomination.” [Grand Rapids Press, 6/26/2011]
McCulloch Dismissed Hoekstra’s Name Recognition Advantage, Noted His Sound Defeat in 2010 Gubernatorial Primary. “McCulloch “dismissed Hoekstra’s relatively higher name
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recognition,” saying, “I don’t think that’s always an advantage as the man ran unsuccessfully for governor.” [Daily Tribune, 7/21/2011]
HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF? GOP DIDN’T LINE UP FOR HOEKSTRA IN 2010 PRIMARY
Land Endorsed Bouchard in Republican Gubernatorial Primary. In 2009, former Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land endorsed Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard in the Republican gubernatorial primary over Pete Hoekstra. “Land said she thinks Bouchard…has the administrative and legislative experience necessary to serve as governor.” [Associated Press, 6/25/2009]
Michigan Chamber and DeVos Endorsed Cox Over Hoekstra. During the Republican gubernatorial primary in 2010, the Michigan Chamber of Commerce and Dick DeVos and his wife Betty DeVos endorsed Attorney General Mike Cox over Pete Hoekstra. “The endorsements by one of Michigan’s major business organizations and by two of the state’s leading GOP activists are likely to help Cox with fundraising and in garnering additional support…” [Associated Press, 6/8/2010]
Right to Life Endorsed Cox Over Hoekstra. In the 2010 Republican gubernatorial primary, Right to Life of Michigan endorsed Attorney General Mike Cox over Pete Hoekstra, with a spokesperson saying, “Our endorsement is based on who we think best meets our criteria and has the best opportunity to win.” [Associated Press, 6/12/2010]
Fellow Republican Congressmen Endorsed Cox Over Hoekstra. In 2010, fellow Republican Representatives Dave Camp and Thaddeus McCotter endorsed Attorney General Mike Cox “and not their congressional colleague Pete Hoekstra for Michigan governor.” [Associated Press, 6/15/2010]
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