Granholm from page 14

DeVos from page 14

four years of math, English, a foreign lan-
guage and online learning experience; and
three years of science and social studies
(including economics) and the arts.
"We are in the top three states in the
nation, as far as what we expect from our
high school graduates:' she said.
The Holocaust also is a part of the cur-
riculum.
"There are few things we can teach our
children in school that are as important as
the history of the Holocaust and the con-
temporary issues it illuminates, from anti-
Semitism in this country and around the
world to the ongoing genocide in Darfur,"
Granholm said.
Granholm proposed a program funded
by the tobacco settlement that would award
$4,000 to every child who completes two
years of college or technical training.
"What we want to do is give every child
the notion and every family the notion that
the state is going to be a partner with them
in sending their kid beyond [high school]:
"I believe in supporting public educa-
tion," Granholm said. "It's our way of saying
we believe in all of them."

As for the issue of
creationism taught in
schools, DeVos would not
say he believes "intelligent
design" should be taught
in science class, only that
it should be a decision
made at the local level.
"I've always believed
that our children should
be provided with more
knowledge, not less. Lots
of intelligent people can
disagree about the origins
of life," he said. "In the end, I believe in
our system of local control. Local school
boards should have the opportunity to
offer evolution and intelligent design in
their curriculums."

Religion
Granholm, who is pro-choice and firmly
believes in separation of church and state,
said ifs important to foster pluralism —
such as displaying the Ten Commandments
in context as a teachable moment, but not as
the fostering of a particular faith, she said.
Her opinion on creationism leaves no
room for doubt.
"Many people, I'm one of them, believe

that God created the Earth, and that's
an important part of my faith. But sci-
ence should be taught in science class':
Granholm said. "Faith can be explored in a
current events class, a comparative religion
class, but it shouldn't be taught as a science.
We should not be encouraging either local
board- or state-mandated curriculum."

Governor, Not CEO
According to Granholm, Michigan voters
have a clear choice: There is a huge differ-
ence between running a company and run-
ning a state.
"If you're the CEO of an international
corporation, the strategies available to you
as CEO to increase your profit margin are
not the same strategies that are available to
the governor of a state': she said.
"When you're the governor of Michigan,
your job is to bring jobs to Michigan and
serve all the people in Michigan, and to
devise every strategy you can to move
Michigan forward." 7_1

Education
One of the most important issues to move
forward is to have great public schools,
DeVos said.
"We should be open to considering
alternative public schools for those who
would like to — to provide an opportunity
for choices for parents who may not other-
wise have that choice through economics:"
He also supports teaching about the
Holocaust and believes it must be part of
any history class.

Lansing
DeVos said the cost of doing business in
Michigan is too high because the bureau-
cracy needs to be streamlined.
The Michigan mentality in government

is stuck in an "old-mind
industrial mentality;' and
not results-oriented, he
said. "Time kills all deals:'
"In a competitive
environment, other states
are doing a hell of a lot
better towards finding
opportunities to take our
business and respond
to them': he said. "Give
them answers, give them
results, give them a clear
path. The answer might
be yes or no, but if I have yes or a no I
can at least make a decision. If I have no
answer, I'm stuck."
DeVos cited the Department of
Environmental Quality dragging out
approvals for companies that want to
locate in Michigan.
"Yes, we all want a safe environment,
but the process takes much too long and
companies are leaving as a result': he said.
"There's a lot of administrative process
work that needs to be done through the
executive branch, and we're going to get
after it:"
Electing a Republican governor with
Republican House and Senate leadership
will create clear accountability and com-
munication, DeVos said.
"My ability to work with the leadership
and drive legislation within the major-
ity parties, which the current governor
cannot do,is a tremendous asset to move
Michigan forward!"
-

Candidates Weigh In On AAPAC Issue

W

hen Dick DeVos canceled his
appearance at a Sept 13 din-
ner at the Bint Jebail Cultural
Center in Dearborn organized by the. Arab
American Political Action Committee
(AAPAC), his staff first said it was for "family
reasons:'
When the Republican candidate for
governor met with the Jewish News, he
apologized.
"We misrepresented the reason for the
cancellation — and I take full responsibility
for it — and I felt that I owe an apology for
that': he said. "The cancellation was based on
the pro-Hezbollah statements made, and not
on a family conflict"
His cancellation came after publication
of a column in the Detroit Jewish News
by Editor Robert Sklar that called on candi-
dates not to attend AAPAC events or accept
contributions from the group because of
anti-Israel, pro-Hezbollah and arguably anti-

Semitic comments by its leaders.
AAPAC's president, Osama Siblani, and its
treasurer, Abed Hammoud, have each made
statements condemning Israel and U.S. sup-
port for Israel. Each also made remarks to
national media equating Israeli actions with
those of Nazi Germany. Hammoud called
all of Israel "occupied Palestine" and Siblani
argued that Hamas and Hezbollah were not
terrorists but "freedom fighters."
Both are leaders in the Congress of Arab
American Organizations (CAAO), which
organized Dearborn rallies supporting
Hezbollah, including one featuring the head
of the pro:I-lamas Islamic Association for
Palestine.
The comments are "unacceptable and
I will not be associated with or will be
engaged with organizations that promote or
otherwise advance [those statements]," said
DeVos, who has been to Israel three times
and says its right to exist is absolutely clear.

DeVos said he had dinner with members
of the Arab community on Oct. 11 "as friends
and supporters of mine'
"I went to Dearborn to meet with other
members of the Arab community and spoke
at their suggestion with Osama Siblani,"
DeVos said. "We did not discuss the cancella-
tion of the meeting:'
Gov. Granholm said she has not been
invited to an AAPAC function this year, but
she is very clear in her views.
"No American leader should give credence
or lend legitimacy to any group regardless of
what it is, that supports terrorism': she said.
"Whether those statements that were made
reflect the group or support terrorism, they
certainly are extreme statements, and I do
not support them at all:'
The state of Michigan holds a $5 million
bond from the State of Israel that will mature
January 2009. L_

- Harry Kirsbaum, staff writer

Debate To Be
Re-Broadcast

The first gubernatorial debate was
at 8 p.m. Oct. 2, shortly after the
end of Yom Kippur. The time was
OK'd by Gov. Jennifer Granholm's
staff after discussion with many
Jewish supporters. DeVos deferred
to the governor and the sponsors.
For those who missed it, Detroit
Public Television (WTVS-Channel
56) will re-run it from 12:30-1:30
p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8.

October 5 " 2006

15