The Story Of Detroit Political Endorsements

Last night I was talking with a dear friend who has personally guided me through the world of Detroit politics.  He made a comment that threw me for a loop.  He said, "I would love to direct all that passion of yours into something you find of interest."

That friend is John Conyers, Jr.

He is right.  It is not that I solely enjoy politics; it is the passion of speaking out and professing my knowledge.  It is the passion of giving voices to those who have been silenced.  I will no longer be silent in my passion of identifying the problem and presenting alternative solution.  I run so that no human being will ever experience what my children have, at the hands of political games.

Since no one will touch the hot button issues of a campaign, I will.

Therefore, the story of the day is Detroit Political Endorsements.

An endorsement is the public act of supporting a person or product through legal signing of a formal document but there is more to the story of Detroit Political Endorsements and it is deeper than just signing a check.

In Detroit and its enclave municipalities, political endorsements come with a price tag.

The Auction Endorsement
For example, Rev. Wendal Anthony's Fannie Lou Hamer Political Action Committee  typically runs about $2,500 for a candidate to secure the endorsement.  In return, the PAC will generate and distribute campaign literature of the candidate through mailings and/or door to doors.  Candidates are not vetted nor are they interviewed.  In the event there are multiple candidates in a particular race, the cost of the endorsement will substantially increase in auction until a candidate wins the final bid.

In situations where there is an incumbent candidate, the cost of the endorsement remains high as it is guaranteed that the previous election cycle war chest is full enough to pay to continue the endorsement. For an incumbent not to carry the previous election cycle endorsements is to stir up controversy of losing support, jeopardizing precious votes.

The Lobby Endorsement
The best way to discuss the lobby endorsement is by using a labor union example.  UAW 1A broke with UAW 1 to endorse its own candidates without going to rank and file.  In a union region, the members are suppose to have the chance to vote for which candidate will be endorsed.

Labor unions bring rank and file members out to hit the ground canvasing for a candidate while injecting large amounts of money into a campaign for television ads and campaign literature, but it does come with a price.

Lobbying is the post-electoral term for an endorsement because once a candidate accepts a union endorsement, that candidate, upon election, is now in a long term, committed relationship.  A union is considered a volunteer organization and not a business, meaning it does not have compete with corporate lobbyist dollars after successful election because the relationship is already established.  Corporate profits lobby, union dues endorse.

The Profit Endorsement
For this example I am going to borrow from the recent Detroit Free Press editorial endorsement of John Conyers, Jr.  which went viral and is considered to be the worst endorsement in history.  Some people have questioned me as to why the paper did not remain neutral or silent.  The best reply I could summon was the one published by Jack Lessenberry.

"Some observers speculated that the endorsement was motivated by the feeling that the paper couldn't end up not endorsing a black candidate for Congress."

I was interviewed by the Detroit Free Press editorial staff and if I remember correctly, Stephen Henderson was the perfect choice to take the lead on the publication of the endorsement.

If the paper did not endorse Conyers, there was potential for backlash from the Detroit community which might have resulted in a boycott (which is extreme and unlikely) or drop in sales with advertisements pulled.

The historic endorsement increased profits.  As the elections approach, candidates are more likely to take out print ads in the local newspapers as circulation will increase.

The Hamtramck Review, a domestic profit corporation, recently published its recommendations for my District race.  It chose its top two candidates who just so happen to be the only two candidates who took out campaign ads.  The candidate who spent the most money got the endorsement of the paper.

What I question is why a local paper would endorse a state candidate who claims he will have the power to work outside his jurisdiction on federal issues but it does not matter because he spent the most money and brings in potential advertisers from the community.

The second campaign ad buyer for the paper just so happens to have Rose Mary Robinson's son, William Isaac Robinson, running her campaign with Conyers campaign funds.  As she and her son are licensed attorneys of the State of Michigan they should know that this is questionable activity and just flat out wrong to lie to Conyers and the public about how congressional campaign contributions are being used.  But it does not matter as she bought campaign ads.

As this is a primary election in a field of 12 candidates, I am aware that there will be no major endorsements.  I also know because of my personal relationships with elected officials that the political climate is too volatile to risk any public association with me at this time as they run their own campaigns.

I only seek approval from the voters.  My friends already approve of me, no matter the results of the election.

And for those of you who do not like what I post, you can always become an official in my fan clan.

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©