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Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Will RNC go far enough with Agema to satisfy Mich. GOP?
In the curious case of Dave Agema's stubborn refusal to resign, the question now becomes: Will the Republican National Committee go far enough to satisfy Michigan Republicans when a subcommittee meets today to pass an anti-Agema resolution -- or two?
Virginia GOP chairman Pat Mullins has proposed that the RNC pass a measure calling on Agema to resign and, if that brings no response from the infamous RNC member, then a second resolution should be approved that declares Agema ostracized from the party for his bigoted ways.
But Mullins sent his letter to the RNC members within hours of a second letter, sent to the RNC by GOP members of the Michigan Legislature. And therein lies the party's problem.
The legislators' letter put forth the argument, shared by many MIGOP activists (here's one example), that the RNC can expel Agema from all RNC activities. Mullins and others who are congregating today at the committee's winter meeting in San Diego aren't so sure. The RNC will hash this out at a subcommittee meeting today and a meeting of the full committee on Friday.
The voices from Michigan are loud and clear: parliamentary procedures, Roberts Rules of Order, a change in bylaws -- take your pick, RNC, but take action.
The Grand Rapids Press, the west Michigan paper that covers the area that Agema represented when he served in the state House, was blunt in an editorial about the situation:
"To those leading the charge, we say, don't miss your chance. Do not simply call for his resignation, get rid of him. He has utterly failed to be a representative for the party, for the state of Michigan and for West Michigan.
"As long as Agema holds his post, the GOP is allowing him to speak for the party and abuse the national platform to spread his hateful beliefs."
MLive is reporting that the 14th Congressional District Republicans, on Tuesday adopted a resolution urging the RNC to "repudiate Mr. Agema in the strictest of terms for his inappropriate conduct."
The resolution, approved unanimously with one member abstaining, calls on Agema to resign. And if he doesn't, it urges the state central committee or RNC to use their "authority to terminate his membership."
The text of the letter sent to the RNC by state lawmakers -- Sen. Mike Kowall of White Lake, Sen. Jim Marleau of Lake Orion and Rep. Jim Tedder of Clarkston -- is here:
13 January 2015
Dear Republican National Committee members,
As leaders of the Michigan Senate, we are writing to implore you to take all necessary action to end our party’s long nightmare involving your fellow RNC member Dave Agema.
Chairman Priebus summed up the view of most Michigan Republicans when he told Slate magazine: “I’ve previously called for Dave Agema to resign and my position remains the same, he should step aside. The tone and rhetoric from Agema is consistently offensive and has no place in politics or any rational conversation.”
While we applaud Chairman Priebus for his statement, the reality is Mr. Agema refuses to resign his seat on the RNC. Therefore, it is necessary for the RNC to declare Mr. Agema persona non grata.
The RNC has the authority to do so either on a temporary basis at each of its meetings or permanently under parliamentary procedure.
While we are disappointed it has come down to this, we believe this course of action is the only way to stop Mr. Agema’s hateful rhetoric from further tarnishing our party. We urge RNC members, our colleagues and like-minded Michiganders to join us in stepping up and acknowledging that enough is enough.
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