Stick To The Issues

Category: Chronicle Archives Published on Tuesday, 11 July 2006 20:00 Written by Michigan Chronicle

In very strong terms, gubernatorial challenger Dick DeVos distanced himself from the ad and denounced it. He later criticized the Granholm campaign for issuing “talking points” that included referring to the advertisement as the AdolphMongo/Dick DeVos ad, a strategy obviously intended to connect DeVos to negative campaigning. Neither incident has anything to do with the candidates engaging in timely public debate and critical analysis of the state's problems.

It is important to note that Dick DeVos did not pay for the ad. It was paid for by the  Voice the Vote organization.

An allegation that the DeVos campaign has offered to pay the Detroit Council of Baptist Pastors $1 million for its endorsement is also dominating political discourse. The Michigan Chronicle has learned that while DeVos has met with the powerful ministerial alliance, there is no truth to the rumor that he has attempted to buy the council's vote.

Extraneous issues about campaign ads and political payoffs rob voters of the information they need to make sound decisions. Granholm and DeVos should be telling us in simple terms how they plan to provide the means for poor, working and middle-class families and communities to become part of the state's transformation and enrichment.

Michigan has a new opportunity and great potential for progress if the campaign for the governor is not allowed to drift into inconsequential drivel.