16 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, August 14, 1996 NW
Michigan delegates turn out for
Republican National Convention
I
By Katie Wang
Daily News Editor
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - With the
Republican convention well under
way, the members of the Michigan
delegation, staying at a Holiday Inn
hotel in downtown San Diego, have
been enjoying the sunny San Diego
weather and the excitement of the
convention itself. For the past sever-
al days, the Michigan delegation,
which is composed of 57 delegates
and 57 alternates, has been escorted,
wined and dined at numerous social
functions in the San Diego area.
At a luncheon hosted by Gov. John
Engler and Senator Spencer
Abraham (R-Mich.) yesterday in
Point Loma, many of the delegates
and alternates said they were very
pleased with the Dole campaign, and
praised his choice of Jack Kemp as a
running mate.
"I'm ecstatic about Bob Dole, he'll
be the greatest president in the United
States,' said John [laggard, a delegate
from Charlevoix, representing the 1st
district.
Haggard said he was so confident
that Dole would win that he has
already begun placing bets on a Dole
victory.
John Chouinard, a delegate from
Grosse Pointe Park, representing the
15th district, said he is a Pat Buchanan
supporter, he is "very satisfied with the
ticket" He called the platform "excel-
lent."
Chouinard added that he was disap-
o pointed that Buchanan was not given an
opportunity to speak at the convention.
"I think he should've been given
the chance to speak, especially after
he endorsed Dole," Chouinard said.
Several of the delegates, such as Izzy
DiMaggio, a delegate from the 6th
District, said they were disappointed
Engler was not selected to run with
Dole.
"I was disappointed Engler wasn't
picked, but Jack Kemp is an incredible
pick," DiMaggio said.
For several weeks prior to the con-
vention, there was much speculation
surrounding Dole's choice for his
running mate. Many Grand Old Party
governors, including Engler, had
been considered for the position and
had maintained close contact with
the Dole campaign during recent
weeks.
Engler told The Michigan Daily that
he was not disappointed that lie was not
selected as Dole's running mate.
"I think Jack Kemp is an outstanding
choice, I think he brings a lot to the
ticket," Engler said.
Engler praised Kemp's economic
philosophy of tax cuts and the growth
of the economy and said he thinks Dole
will sin in November.
"I think Bob Dole's message fits with
the national optimism of the American
people," Engler said. "I think the plat-
form will be fine and the issues will be
quite specific."
Sources close to the governor told the
Daily Engler was actually relieved that
he was not selected, so that he would be
out ofthe national spotlight for a while.
John Truscott, a spokesperson for the
governor, said Engler didn't think he
would be picked as Dole's running mate.
"It was an honor (for Engler) to be
considered because it brought a lot of
positive potential to Michigan, because
of the focus on the governor's accom-
plishments and all of the things he's
done," Truscott said.
While the Republican convention
was the focus of discussion for many of
the Michigan GOP members, many
shared their thoughts with the Daily on
other local campaigns that will be tak-
ing place this fall.
Joe Fitzsimmons, who is seeking to
replace Lynn Rivers (D-Ann Arbor) in
the 13th District this fall, said he is run-
ning for office to fight for the future of
students. Fitzsimmons said lie will
stress improving the educational
process, growth of the economy and
creating more jobs.
"I absolutely believe we should
reduce taxes' Fitzsimmons said. "I
believe the 15 percent cut is a very
good step:'
Fitzsimmons also stressed containing
government spending and lie said
Rivers did not truly represent the will of
the people in the 13th district.
Fitzsimmons described himself as
a fiscally conservative, but pro-
choice Republican, and placed his
ideology between Kemp and Colin
Powell's on the Republican
spectrum.
Just one week after her narrow victo-
ry over Jim Nicholson in Michigan's
U.S. Senate primary, Ronna Romney
was.already talking about preparations
for the fall campaign.
Romney said she anticipates a tough
Governor John Engler rolls up his sleeves during his address at the Republican con
vention in San Diego on Monday.
campaign, but she said she has been
preparin" for this challenge her entire
life.
"I m iphilosophically driven," tshe
said.
Romney said the 18 years Sen. Carl
Levin (I)-Detroit) has spent in office
have been years of svoting on policies
that did not work.
"Levin believes in redistribLuirg
people's tax money and the end
result is that the tax money is not
being spent well," she said. "People
lose freedom and the burden falls on
families vho have more and more
taxes to pay.
"I really think the things that
makes the cruntry great are things
Levin has strayed away fro i
Romney said.
i iMrr s rr w
CONVENTION
Continued from Page 1
Batson, 54, of San Diego.
The Dole and Kemp entourage cruised into
San Diego Sunday afternoon on board a ferry
and were met by hundreds of loyal party mem-
bers.,
"It is time to restore the American dream,
give America a new birth and freedom,"
Dole said. "Everything before has been a
warm- up lap, but here in San Diego, the
race begins.
Dole stressed his economic plan at the rally,
which proposes to balance the budget whiie
cutting taxes by 15 percent, and he vowed to
"end the IRS as we know it."
"We're going to do what Bill Clinton says
can't be done and that's balance the budget
while cutting taxes.
Kemp praised Dole calling him his
"American hero," despite personal differ-_
ences that have surfaced in the past. Kemp
endorsed Steve Forbes during this year's
presidential primary season, even after pri-
mary results showed Dole would win the
party's nomination.
The first night of the convention was char-
acterized by a strong slate of speakers and a
salute to former GOP presidents, including
University alum Gerald Ford, George Bush,
and a video appearance by Ronald Reagan.
Former first lady Nancy Reagan, and
Michigan Gov. John Engler also addressed the
convention.
igler thrillednany of tre delegates ott tie ties wvithAIDS.
convention floor when he asked them if they Nancy Reagan s delivered an emotional
thought "America could do better." motional salute to her husband who, stricken
Engler then removed his jacket, rolled tg swith Alzheimer's disease, wras unable to attett&
his sleeses, and said, "My friends, if we roll the convention. "If he were able to be herr
up our sleeves and get to work, we can do tonight, he would remind us to never, nevre
better." give up on Ameriea, she said.
Engler also addressed the convention floor Colin Powell, general and former ch
again last night, speaking on the importance of mart of the joint chiefs of staff, closedc6
education. Monday night's se.
"In Michigan we sion. Powell spoke ol.
make the best cars in the Everything the Armerican drea "
world,"" Engler said. and touched urpor
"My fellow Americans, before has been a issues over which th,,
we must not tolerate a party is divided, suel
system of public educa- Warm-up Iap... as abortion rights and
tion that gives most affirmative action.
Americans the choice of - Bob Dole but he said the party
only one model." Presidential candidate had erected a tent
Engler said the cur- large enough for zihl,
rent education system is views.
"failing our children" and that Dole has the Not all in attendance offered praise for the
tools to build a new model for public educa- Dole platform. Raphael Renrer, a former Bush
tion, campaigner and pro-choice Republican, said
On Monday, the delegates also gave a warm ;he is not pleased with the platform and has
greeting to Ford. "A few years ago, when I sud- mixed feelings about Dole. "He has lost some
denly found myself President, I said I was a of his charisma, he last lost some of his
Ford, not a Lincoln" Ford said. "Today, what dynamism," Rettner said. "I hope he trans]
we have in the White House is neither a Ford, forms and develops sufficient appeal tq
nor a Lincoln, become elected."
"What we have is a convertible Dodge. Isn't Rettner added that he hoped Kemp w
it time for a trade-in?" add rejuvenation to the campaign. "I think he's
Mary Fisher, another University alum, very talented, maybe too ideological, but he
struck an emotional chord when she and 12- seems to bridge differences in the party an
year old Hydeia Broadbent spoke of their bat- brings everything together."
JONATHAN LURIE/Daily
A pro-choice protester holds a sign during a protest held by
the Religious Coalition for Freedom of Choice during the first
day of activities at the Republican National Convention in
" San Diego on Monday.