Richard Wolfe: Failed candidates are culture warriors, useful dogmatists

“‎The America I love still exists at the front desks of our public libraries.” ― Kurt Vonnegut

As recently as the 115^th Congress (2017-2019), Democrats held only four of 14 seats in the House of Representatives delegation. In the current 118^th Congress, Democrats hold seven of 13.

Both of Michigan’s senators are Democrats. Debbie Stabenow has announced she will not run for re-election in 2024, but there are several formidable Democrats waiting in the wings.

As to GOP challengers? Republicans might decide twice-defeated election denier John James should have another go.

James now represents Michigan’s 10^th Congressional District. In 2022, he prevailed over his Democrat opponent — former judge Carl Marlinga — by a scant margin of 1,600 votes, or half a percentage point, despite having a 6-1 advantage in campaign funds.

Clearly a formidable candidate.

Moreover, there’s little doubt James would abandon his Macomb County constituents in a heartbeat should the GOP come calling — the result being the near-certain flipping of yet another district from red to blue.

Or maybe the GOP will resurrect B movie actress and election denier Tudor Dixon from her 10.5 point drubbing for the governor’s office in 2022.

As a baseball manager might bemoan, this ain’t much of a bench.

All of which is federal. Closer to home …

From 2011 through 2018, the Republican Party held a "trifecta" of Michigan state office (the governorship, the Senate and the House). Since 1992, they’ve pulled that off 14 times.

In 2019, they lost the governor’s office to Democrat Gretchen Whitmer, but maintained control of both legislative houses.

In November 2022, the Democratic Party flipped the House and Senate and secured their own trifecta. First time ever, but likely not the last, because things look grim for the Republican state party, which is basically broke. In February, and for the first time ever, the Grand Old Party imposed a "registration fee" of $50 for all its convention attendees. What next? Bake sales?

So, why broke?

In a piece dated Jan. 13, Bridge Michigan cited a post-election memo written by Michigan GOP Chief of Staff Paul Cordes, "Donors, for the most part, decided against supporting Trump's hand-picked AG and SOS candidates [Matt DePerno and Kristina Karamo, respectively] from the April convention, and also withheld millions in traditional investment into the State Party …"

Oh. That’s why they're broke.

Even so, here in West Michigan, the Republicans continue to hold sway, even as the Michigan Republican Party writ large is hell-bent on continuing its descent into disrepute and bankruptcy.

To wit:

In West Michigan, GOP donor-repellant candidates are still in vogue. At the aforementioned convention, party leadership tapped none other than — tada! — election denier Kristina Karamo as their party chair. She of the "sex as the doorway for the devil" philosophy. She of the 14-point loss in her run for secretary of state.

Who nominated this exemplar of political prowess to lead Michigan’s Republicans (after, presumably, ponying up his 50 bones)? Joe Moss, founder of the far right-wing, Christian Nationalist group Ottawa Impact (OI), and current chair of the Ottawa County Commission.

The same visionary who spearheaded the backroom, covert hiring of John Gibbs — yet another election denier, and the inspiration for flipping MI-03 to blue (to Democrat Hillary Scholten) — as county administrator.

So, why Karamo and Gibbs?

Because failed candidates who are also culture warriors are useful dogmatists, with name recognition to boot.  Karamo and Gibbs are no longer accountable to voters, but they are, respectively, beholden to party apparatchiks and/or OI extremists. Beholden by virtue of their shiny new paychecks.

Unless they go rogue.

Chair Karamo is, now, promoting hateful myths regarding gun control in pre-WWII Germany. [FYI: The fact is the Nazi regime relaxed gun laws that were in place when they seized power in 1938.]

Oppose gun control if you will, but does any sane Republican think Karamo’s "leadership" here will inspire voters to the polls? Or prompt donors to pour money into Michigan?

Sooooo … are you on board with this, Mr. Moss? Are you standing firm with Chair Karamo?

Or do you regret your choice of nominee as much as Jacob Bonnema regrets signing a contract with Ottawa Impact?

— Community Columnist Richard Wolfe is a resident of Park Township. Contact him at wolf86681346@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Richard Wolfe: Failed candidates are culture warriors, useful dogmatists