Is Rep. Lund eyeing VP spot in 2016 on the Walker ticket?

It’s not often that state lawmakers issue a press release about election results in another state, but Scott Walker’s big recall election victory apparently inspired state Rep. Pete Lund to take pen to paper and wax eloquently about the mighty GOP. The result was a lot of gushing about Walker as a party standardbearer.

Lund, a Shelby Township Republican, essentially declared that the GOP appeals to the voters, the “true voice of democracy,” not like those nasty party bosses and special interest groups who back extremist Democratic candidates.

The headline on the press release read: “Walker win adds to momentum – Wisconsin governor’s victory is the crest to the wave for responsible government.”

As chairman of the House Republican Campaign Committee, it’s Lund’s job to act as GOP cheerleader. But I wonder how much of the vitriol within the release was aimed at Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer, who recently tried to personally indict Lund for alleged involvement in the “scandal” of a state representative who switched parties and arranged a breeze of an election in 2012.

Here’s Lund’s release:

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's blowout victory this week sends a crushing message to Democrats that the people, not party bosses or government union special interests, are the true voice of democracy.

"Having the courage to make bold, necessary reforms to save the economy is a virtue, not a liability," said state Rep. Pete Lund.  "Voters are seeing the results that come from these tough decisions, and they appreciate the peace of mind that comes from having someone who's willing to fight for them. 

"I know this firsthand.  We've been fighting for hard-working taxpayers in Michigan, and the results for our economy have been even better than Wisconsin's."

After making tough decisions and taking on special interests, Walker was targeted by government union bosses.  Despite their negative attacks and efforts at halting reform, Walker won the recall election by seven points.  In the Republican wave year of 2010, Walker won election by only six points.

The political results in Michigan have also mirrored the national mood.  In the last election cycle, (Republican) Mike Nofs won a special election to the Michigan Senate in a blowout, which was followed by (Republican) Sen. Scott Brown's famous upset victory in Massachusetts.  This year, Republican Joe Graves won a special election for the state House before Gov. Walker won his recall election.

"Democrats want people to believe this year is different -- because they have to hope it is -- but it's not," Lund said.  "Michigan's once-powerful government unions want people to believe this year will be different, so they're going too far and trying to force voters to go backwards in time to give them everything.  But voters in this country are done being pushed around.

"The results in Wisconsin show the truth -- the American people are saying no. They will not be bullied, and they will not be extorted by these special interests anymore.  The era of corrupt political power and mob rule is over.  This is what democracy looks like."

A wave of recall petitions, signature drives and political attacks made its way through Michigan, too.  After all the negative press, Democrat maneuvering, and unprecedented recall efforts, the Republican caucus in the state House increased to 64 members (in the 2010 elections), a number not met for nearly half a century. 

"Democrats have become so extreme their candidates can't win in Wisconsin, and Democrat party leadership in Michigan is actually kicking elected officials out of the party," Lund said.  "Mark Brewer is going to get dizzy spinning how this loss isn't about the hard-working taxpayers standing up to government union bosses and saying 'enough is enough.'"