Lansing?Michigan Republican Chairman Bobby Schostak won another two-year term, overcoming a challenge from attorney Todd Courser who had argued the party needs to take its core conservative principles to young people and minorities who heavily supported President Barack Obama.
Schostak had the backing of Gov. Rick Snyder, who made a convention speech celebrating the Michigan's GOP's successes in the face of Obama's strong showing in the state and across the country. He characterized the gathering of Republicans in the Lansing Center as more unified than the strident battle for control of the state Democratic Party going on at the same time in Detroit.
Republicans will head into the 2014 election with an advantage because Democrats "are fighting with each other," Snyder said.
Courser had maintained that Republicans trail Democrats in connecting with voters it needs, particularly youth on college campuses and minorities, because it lacks the kind of sophisticated technology used by the Obama campaign.
His argument was that GOP candidates don't have to abandon conservative stances that appeared to hurt them last year, but must use data-mining techniques and tailored messaging to connect with real people who share those views.
The race for chairmanship, while not as divisive as the Democrats' battle, mirrored the struggle among national party leaders about how to respond to Obama's victory?particularly his showing among demographics such as Latinos, youth, African Americans and working women ? that are key to future elections success.
Courser, a Lapeer attorney who describes himself as a constitutional conservative, maintained the party needs to sharpen is message but not move toward the center. Schostak bridged whatever divide there is between those with such views, such as the various local tea party groups around the state, and more-moderate Republicans who've been the party's base.
Courser maintained the that GOP did too much losing last year: 16 electoral votes to Obama, the U.S. Senate race to incumbent Debbie Stabenow, five state House seats and an array of state university board seats. Schostak and Snyder noted that Obama's victory didn't keep Michigan from holding onto a state House majority, nine of 14 congressional seats and a State Supreme Court conservative majority.
Peter Konetchy of Roscommon, who was a GOP primary candidate for the U.S. Senate last year, was at the convention promoting his political action committee to support candidates for the state legislature who'd push for state's rights legislation to counter federal gun laws, educational standards and the Affordable Care Act.
Konetchy wouldn't say whether he wanted a new chairman, but he's clearly disillusioned with the direction of the state party. He believes it's swinging moderate when it should be heading toward more conservatism.
"I don't think Washington, D.C., will be ever be able to restrain itself," Konetchy said. "But I believe the state can."
Phil Sawinski of Detroit said he had no preference in the chairmanship race. He was more interested in the effect the convention might have on Snyder.
"If it has the result of informing the governor to oppose Obamacare and sign the anti-gun-free-zone bill when it comes up in the legislature, that will put a smile on my face," said Sawinski, who was carrying a sign advertising a "Vote Biblically" web site.
Snyder, of course, unsuccessfully tried to persuade lawmakers to approve a state-created health insurance exchange under the federal Affordable Care Act, usually dubbed Obamacare. He's now pushing for legislative approval to accept a $31-million federal grant to make Michigan the seventh state creating an exchange cooperatively with the federal government.
And Snyder last year vetoed a bill that would have permitted concealed handguns in gun-free zones, such as libraries, public schools and churches. He objected to weapons in schools after a young gunman killed 20 children and six adults at a Connecticut elementary school. Similar legislations has been reintroduced but tweaked to require permission from a school board or superintendent for concealed weapons in schools.
gheinlein@detroitnews.com
Source: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130223/POLITICS02/302230375/1361/rss41
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