Day 1 of the Michigan GOP Leadership Conference was an appeal to party traditionalists to create a much more diverse conservative base.
The three day political gathering on beautiful and historic Mackinac Island kicked off an upbeat welcoming speech from Michigan’s top advocate of “relentless positive action!” Even though he was preaching to the choir, Governor Rick Snyder stressed his dashboard successes; more job creation, tax cuts, lower unemployment and the “re-invention” of the Great Lakes State and the Motor City. To be sure, Snyder had a 5-year laundry list of achievements he was able to tick off. And, if conference attendees flew to the island instead of dodging potholes and orange construction barrels as they drove north, they might have thought our chief executive’s record was perfect. A tough road repair plan negotiation awaits him back in Lansing but for this weekend Michigan’s success stories are center stage.
A refreshing highlight of the first day was a thoughtful and diverse discussion billed as “The Growth of Conservatism”, moderated by Lt. Governor Brian Calley. It included Detroiter Wayne Bradley, Jr. (Michigan GOP Director of African American Engagement) and Sharon Day (Co-Chairman of the Republican National Committee). The visual backdrop was a huge photo of the late U.S. President Ronald Reagan and his quote: “Government’s first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.”
For the past couple of years, Bradley, Jr. has set up shop on Detroit’s Livernois Avenue, trying on a grassroots level to recruit young African Americans into the GOP Party. He and his political colleagues around the nation are more apt to talk about former U.S. Health & Human Services Secretary Dr. Louis Sullivan, former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and historic Black press publishers Robert L. Vann, Robert S. Abbott and W.O. Walker to prove the benefits and history of African American conservatism. The panelists insisted that the growth of the GOP Party depended on “adding people of color, not dividing them.” They welcomed “friendly discussion and arguments” but said “respect must be a two-way street.” But GOP leader Day made clear who was her party’s political enemy when she said, “Even Democrats don’t think this president is taking our country in the right direction.” Hmmm, I wonder which Democrats she’s been talking to.
The day wrapped up with State Attorney Bill Schuette introducing – and praising – West Michigan Republican entrepreneur and political powerbroker Peter Secchia. The proud MSU grad, who announced he is funding and making a movie about former U.S. President Gerald Ford. Then he introduced GOP presidential candidate Jeb Bush as only Secchia can, with off-the-cuff humor!
Bush, not having to spar on the island with campaign frontrunner Donald Trump, touted an energetic conservative message; be fiscally responsible, change America’s tax code, beef up military spending, embrace charter schools and civility.
Day #2 of the “Michigan: Foundation for the Future” will feature GOP presidential candidates Ted Cruz, Scott Walker, John Kasich, Carly Fiorina, Rand Paul and a Grand Hotel Theatre panel discussion on the “Revitalization of Detroit.” News wise, you can bet that State GOP Party Chair Ronna Romney-McDaniel is hoping her well-planned conference won’t have to compete another day against more political flaks punching each other in Mackinac bars or embattled former State Representatives Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat generating more headlines and lead stories.
Can Michigan lead the nation’s diverse political conservatism?
