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Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Lon Johnson has taken the unusual step of sending a detailed letter to his Republican counterpart, Ronna Romney McDaniel, explaining two different ways that the GOP can legally remove Dave Agema from his post as a Republican National Committee member.
Johnson goes one step further, scolding Romney McDaniel for falsely claiming that the party's hands are tied and Agema cannot be disciplined for his repeated offensive and bigoted posts online.
"Clearly, it’s not that the Michigan GOP can’t discipline Committeeman Agema -- it’s that they don’t want to do so,"Johson wrote. "Agema’s comments on multiple occasions have been offensive and ridiculous, each time sparking more condemnations from more Republicans. It’s past time for Republican leaders to do the right thing and discipline Agema for his behavior."
Johnson's letter came in response to Romney McDaniel's remarks on WKAR's "Off The Record" TV news program that aired on Friday across the state. Romney McDaniel, who has largely dodged the Agema controversy, said on the show that the state GOP has "exhausted all legal options" and found that Agema is essentially untouchable. The broadcast can be viewed here.
Here is the full text of Johnson's letter the GOP's new party chair:
Chair McDaniel,As an organization that also uses Robert’s Rules of Order to govern questions of procedure, the Michigan Democratic Party is seeking to clear up an apparent misconception regarding the availability of a procedure for the removal of a member or officer under Robert’s Rules.
Michigan GOP leaders have repeatedly made the inaccurate statement that Republican National Committeeman Dave Agema cannot possibly be expelled without committing a felony. But Robert’s Rules do provide them a way out of this situation, described by former Chair Schostak as “very unfortunate and very offensive.”
As you may know, Robert’s Rules plainly delineates a process by which any member of a body can be expelled. Further, this is clearly the responsibility of the Michigan Republican Party, as the Republican National Committee voted to adopt a resolution in January 2015 “…urging the Michigan GOP and their voters to explore options to discipline Agema for his actions.”
Under Robert’s Rules, the Michigan Republican State Central Committee has the authority to take a wide range of disciplinary actions in response to Mr. Agema’s behavior, including demanding an apology, censuring him, suspending his rights for a period of time, or expelling him from the organization.
Further, if the Michigan GOP refuses to recognize this procedure, they could still simply amend their own bylaws to provide for a process for discipline or expulsion.
As has been said previously, every organization can vote to determine the rules by which they enforce their own rules and uphold ethical and honorable conduct. If the Michigan GOP refuses to take action in this instance, what behavior short of a felony would warrant discipline? If we are to believe the words of Republican leaders, there is next to nothing any of their leaders could do to warrant prompt action from the Michigan GOP. Voters have the right to expect better from one of Michigan’s major political parties.
Sincerely,
Lon Johnson
Chair, Michigan Democratic Party
*****
Agema gained national attention again this past week for calling President Barack Obama "Arabic" and only "6,26% black" [sic]. He also said Obama came from a slave-owning family. Agema has previously re-posted an essay from a white supremacist magazine, saying: “blacks are different by almost any measure to all other people. They cannot reason as well. They cannot communicate as well. They cannot control their impulses as well. They are a threat to all who cross their paths, black and non-black alike.” Agema has also accused President Obama of being a practicing Muslim who secretly sired a bastard; he’s insisted Muslims have never made positive contributions to the fabric of American life and society; he’s largely endorsed Vladimir Putin’s autocratic policies toward the LGBT community in Russia; and he’s said gays and lesbians are responsible for the majority of murders in the United States.
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