An establishment lie has been brewing in the suburbs of Detroit. But with Kerry Bentivolio’s stunning victory over Nancy Cassis in Wednesday’s special primary, the truth will out.
Whispered from party offices, discussed in closed rooms, and occasionally appearing in print were the tales of “Krazy Kerry,” the Republican who couldn’t win, and didn’t truly represent the interests of Michigan-11.
If only establishment pick Nancy Cassis had been on the primary ballot, the story went, nominee Kerry Bentivolio would have been sent packing–back to the classroom, to the farm, to Iraq, to those places that don’t count, apparently, as experience and service to this country. Then career politician and tax-raiser Nancy Cassis could have taken her “rightful” place on the ticket in November.
Surely, a candidate this far from the mainstream–with his radical notions of supporting the Constitution, lowering tax burdens on business, and protecting our civil liberties–would fail in the face of the good old-fashioned tax-and-spend establishment.
Clearly, Nancy lost the regular primary because she was a write-in candidate, not because Kerry and those supporting him revealed her track record of raising taxes on Michigan’s hard-hit employers, right? Certainly, in the special primary necessitated by Thad McCotter’s resignation, she would trounce him.
But that’s not what happened Wednesday night.
With both names on the ballot, Michigan-11 Republicans picked Kerry, who will now face two Democratic opponents on November 6th–one for the remainder of McCotter’s term, and the other for the new term starting in January.
Apparently, the Michigan voters have voiced their preferences. It’s back to principle. Back to common sense. Back to freedom. And in just 59 days, Michigan-11 can say “Yes!” to economic recovery and civil liberties by sending Kerry Bentivolio to Washington.
