4 - The Michigan Daily - Monday, July 29, 2002
420 MAYNARD STREET
ANN ARBOR, MI 48109 LISA HOFFMAN ZAC PESKOWITZ
letters@michigaidaily.com Editor in Chief Editorial Page Editor
U ED ITED AND MANAGED BY
STUDENTS AT THE Unless otherwise noted, unsigned editorials reflect the opinion of
. , ~UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN the 'majority of the Daily's editorial board. All other pieces do not
SINCE 1890 necessarily reflect the opinion of The Michigan Daily.
T he 15th District is fortunate to have Dingell has accomplished more for
two principled legislators running for ivej s Ut t Io LtMichigan in his 46 years as a congressman,
the Democratic nomination for its but Rivers has the more promising future. If
seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Rivers is best candidate to serve 15th District's future the Democratic Party achieves its election
Both Reps. Lynn Rivers and John Dingell goals, Rivers will be a member of a
have admirably served their districts and Democratically-controlled House for the
their constituents with exceptional talent. enjoyable and harmless pursuit, the human National Environmental Policy Act. first time in her career. Her youth, energy
Their noble support of civil liberties in the costs of his positions are unacceptable. The However, his extensive connections with and a burgeoning national reputation make
wake of the Bush administration's excesses congressman's positions are so extreme that Michigan's automobile industry, has often her the best choice for the district's voice in
has been matched by few legislators in the National Rifle Association has initiated prevented him from supporting the most the House.
Congress. They are both progressives who a direct mail campaign urging its members important environmental legislation and The most recent polls have shown a
have supported Michigan's workers, often to vote for Dingell, an unusual show of sup- policies. dead heat between the candidates. It is
in a hostile legislative environment. port for a Democratic candidate. While this Rivers is uniquely suited to advocate important that progressives throughout the
Despite these mutual credentials, there are is the most substantive difference between the educational interests of the district on district, mobilize on election day for
crucial differences between the representa- the representatives, their legislative records the Hill. Rivers is a member of the Rivers. Her base of support in Ann Arbor
tives. are marked with philosophical differences House's Education Committee and can be must turn out en masse on Aug. 6 to secure
The most important distinction is their on pivotal issues. a vital asset to a Congressional district her victory. Most primaries have low voter
positions on gun control. Rivers has contin- Dingell is a moderately pro-choice leg- with numerous centers for higher.educa- turnouts and suffer from a lack of interest.
uously sought strong restrictions on gun islator, but EMILY's List, the powerful tion, from Eastern Michigan University This is a primary that will shape the future
ownership that would help ease the scourge pro-choice advocacy group, has endorsed to the University of Michigan. Rivers is of the district and cannot be forgotten in
of gun violence across the nation. This Rivers with a 100 percent rating. Rivers in a prime location to help the tens of the halcyon days of summer.
problem, particularly acute in Southeast has also earned the endorsement of the thousands of students in the area if she is
Michigan, has not been acknowledged by Sierra Club. Dingell has authored land- reelected. Her legislative clout will help The Michigan Daily endorses Lynn
Dingell. While Dingell, an' outdoorsman mark environmental legislation such as the University, particularly if the Rivers as the Democratic nominee for the
and hunter, may perceive firearms as an the Endangered Species Act and the Democrats successfully regain the House. 15th District's U.S. representative.

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Granhoim, by a nose
Michigan needs an infusion of fresh attitudes
particularly nasty campaign for the Legislature. While all three candidates recog-
Democratic gubernatorial nomination nize that Detroit requires more resources -and
has left all three candidates enervated. support from the state Legislature, Granholm's
The campaign has been marked with person- powerful connections give her the leverage to
al attacks, as each candidate has sought to usher in a new era in Detroit.
position themselves for a term in Lansing. Blanchard achieved national prominence as
This contentious spectacle is indicative of the the man who successfully reversed Michigan's
candidates' flaws. The uninspiring field has economic decline and his reputation as a new
left Michigan's Democrats to choose between form of Democrat served as a model for former
lackluster candidates. Attorney General President Bill Clinton's ascension to the White
Jennifer Granholm, U.S. Rep. David Bonior House. Several years after Blanchard's defeat in
of Mt. Clemens and former Gov. James 1990, Clinton appointed him as ambassador to
Blanchard all possess character and Canada. Following his service in
policy flaws. While Michigan vot- Granholm brings a Ottawa, he joined a Washington
ers deserve better challengers to the wide array of law firm.
Republican status quo after 12 years intangibles that Despite his extensive connec-
of Gov. John Engler's leadership, separate herself tions with the national
there is hope that once in office, from her more Democratic leadership,
one of these candidates will skill- experienced Blanchard did little to advance
fully assume the governorship. opponents. the interests of Michigan. Nor
Jennifer Granholm is this candi- does Blanchard bring few new or
date. Granholn brings a wide array of intangi- invigorating ideas to this campaign. His ideas
bles that separate herself from her more experi- are necessary for the future of the state's econ-
enced opponents. After graduating from omy, but a more dynamic leader can better
Harvard Law School, she moved to Michigan in serve the state. While Michigan is facing
the mid-'80s and slowly made a name for her- many of the problems that he successfully
self in the Detroit suburbs as an ardent support- attacked at the beginning of his first term, his
er of civil rights. Her assent to Attorney General troubled history with many Republican legis-
was preceded by her service as Wayne County's lators throughout the state may prove to be an
lead attorney. obstacle preventing an effective tenure in
It is difficult to assess Granholm's leader- Lansing.
ship style from her four years as the state's pri- David Bonior has been unable to gain a
mary lawyer. She had the responsibility of sup- foothold in the voters' minds. His pro-life
porting Engler's social policies in her position position has left him trailing in the polls and
as attorney general, however her office his prospects for victory continue to dim. The
launched numerous criminal investigations to eventual victor in the general election should
benefit Michigan consumers and workers. follow Bonior's uncompromising support of
Jennifer Granholm is a captivating presence Michigan's workers and the environment.
who possesses the skills to end much of the ran-
cor in Lansing. Her political connections to The Michigan Daily endorses Jennifer
Wayne County will soften the usually stringent Granholm as the Democratic gubernator-
relationship between Detroit and the state ial nominee.

Support Schwarz
Posthumus is unfit to lead Michigan

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nlike the Democratic gubernatorial and ardently champions Michigan's Life
primary, which pits three candidates Sciences Corridor. He also opposes school
against each other who at times seem vouchers, strongly disagrees with Engler's
inseparable, the Republican primary pits two mental health care policies and voted against
easily distinguishable candidates against Michigan's concealed weapon legislation.
each other. Sen. John Schwarz (R-Battle Although his political policies are not
Creek) is far and away the superior candidate. always superb, Schwarz's willingness to
Adamant about moving his party toward the break from the Republican Party's status quo
political center and away from moral abso- is encouraging. His presence in the general
lutism, Schwarz's talk of bipartisanship is sin- election would do much to move Michigan.
cere and believable. He is an outspoken critic of away from the present Engler-mandated con-
the Republican Party's tendency to servative agenda.
alienate voters on social issues, Schwarz is Schwarz's opponent, Lt. Gov.
especially pro-choice women and moderately pro- Dick Posthumus, is precisely the
minorities. He brings to the guber- choice and pulls firebreathing brand of conserva-
natorial race a refreshing honesty no punches when tive that Schwarz seeks to save his
and forthrightness that is evident in responding to party from. Posthumus' social
both his position on social policies his conservative policies make even Gov. John
and his everyday demeanor. critics. Engler appear progressive.
Schwarz is moderately pro- During his term as lieutenant gov-
choice. And he pulls no punches when respond- ernor and during his campaign, Posthumus
ing to his conservative critics. He has described has consistently ignored social issues and
Right to Life of Michigan as "foaming, salivat- rarely offered compassionate solutions.
ing" and said, "if there were a thousand of them, Posthumus favors extending Engler's assault
I might get one vote. I don't give a shit. That's on mental health by decreasing even further
not who I'm after. I think they're wrong" the number of beds in the state. He is vehe-
It is this frankness that allows Schwarz to mently anti-abortion and has gone on record
acknowledge that Michigan may have to urging the Supreme Court to repeal Roe v.
raise the gas tax in order repair its roads. Wade. He opposes the University's affirma-
Every other candidate, Republican or tive action lawsuits. And perhaps most 4
Democrat, has shied away from taking hard telling, Ted Nugent, the proponent of
stances on divisive issues like raising taxes. troglodyte-like firearm and social policies,
More than simply a straight-talker, Schwarz has been a vocal and financial supporter of
takes responsible stances on important Posthumus, even hosting a Rock the Vote
issues. He has been a vocal champion of concert with him last May. If the Motor City
Michigan's universities and fought against Madman is on board, one can be assured that
the state's recent higher education funding Posthumus' campaign represents the most
cuts. He supports both of the University's virulent wing of the Republican Party.
affirmative action cases.
A practicing physician, Schwarz compre- The Michigan Daily endorses Joe {
hends the promising future of the life sci- Schwarz as the Republican candidate in the
ences. He favors limited stem-cell research gubernatorial primary.