>> WELCOME BACK TO THE SPECIAL PRE- PRIMARY ADDITION, CORRESPONDENCE ADDITION OF OFF THE RECORD.
THE LEAD STORY IN DEEP DIVE INTO THE COMPETITIVE RACE OF THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR AND THE STATE SUPREME COURT MAKING HISTORY.
CAPITOL CORRESPONDENCE ARE HERE WITH US SO SIT WITH US AS WE GET THE INSIDE OUT OFF THE RECORD.
>> PRODUCTION IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MARTIN WEHMEIER A FULL-SERVICE STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY PARTNERING WITH CLIENTS OR PUBLIC RELATIONS DIGITAL MARKETING AND PUBLIC POLICY ENGAGEMENT LEARN MORE AT MARTIN WEHMEIER .COM.
>> THANK YOU AND WELCOME BACK TO OFF THE RECORD THE FRIDAY BEFORE AN IMPORTANT ELECTION NEXT TUESDAY WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
>> IT FEELS THAT WAY.
>> WHERE IS IT HEADED?
>> A SHOWDOWN BETWEEN DIXON AND REINKING AND WHICH ADS ARE PUT IN AT THE LAST MINUTE RESONATE WITH THE REPUBLICAN VOTERS.
REPUBLICAN LIKELY VOTERS ARE STILL BY AND LARGE HAVE NOT TURNED IN THEIR ABSENTEE BALLOTS YET THEY HAVE NOT MADE UP THEIR MIND IN THIS LAST BIT OF COMMERCIALS WILL INFLUENCE WHETHER THEY GO WITH THE DIXON OR NOT AT ALL G INDICATOR IS THEY THINK THAT'S THE CASE BECAUSE THEY'RE TAKING SHOTS AT EACH OTHER RIGHT NOW WE SAW THAT IN THE DEBATE WHERE MOST CANDIDATES AND THE TENOR WAS FOCUSED ON WHO COULD TAKE ON THE CURRENT GOVERNOR BUT THEY COULD NOT RESIST A BIT OF GOING AT EACH OTHER BUT ABSENTEE BALLOTS ARE STILL OUT THERE AND WE HAVE ALL SPOKEN TO A REPUBLICAN WHO IS NOT HAPPY WITH ANY OF THESE CHOICES WE DON'T KNOW HOW THAT FACTORS IN I THINK UNDECIDED IS STILL LEADING THE POLLS.
>> UNDECIDED WILL NOT BE ON THE BALLOT SO WE WILL SEE HOW IT SHAKES OUT.
>> WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IN DECADES.
OR EVER BUT IT'S A INDICATION OF WHAT HAPPENED IN MAY WHEN YOU HAD THE FRONT RUNNERS OFF THE BALLOT AND THEN BASICALLY WE JUST HAD A FEW WEEKS FOR VOTERS TO MEET THE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE NO POLITICAL HISTORY.
THERE IS ANY KIND OF VOTE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT AND SO IT'S A BLANK SLATE THAT VOTERS ARE NOW SAYING WHO ARE THESE FOLKS THAT I NEED TO VOTE FOR AND WE'RE SEEING 30 PERCENT OF THE UNDECIDED SPIRIT >> IT IS BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE.
>> HAD THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THREE SPEECHES IN EVERY GROUP I SAID TO WRITE DOWN.
WE CANDIDATE ONE, CANDIDATE TO BECOME A CANDIDATE THREE, CANDIDATE FOR, AND CANDIDATE FIVE WHICH IS A LOUSY QUESTION IT IS IT TO WRITE DOWN THE NAMES BUT NO ONE KNEW AND THESE WERE INTELLIGENT PEOPLE, SEMI, AND THEY HAD ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA AT ALL BILLY WHAT YOUR TAKE ON THIS >> EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE ALL SAID AT THIS POINT IS ACTUALLY CORRECT THE ONLY THING I CAN ADD IS WHO IS PAYING FOR THE ADS?
IN THE FINAL DAYS BEFORE THE TUESDAY ELECTION?
THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION, LET'S NOT FORGET THEM ARE PUTTING HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY LET'S SAY AS MANY AS $2 MILLION AND NEGATIVE ADS AGAINST TUTOR DIXON AND SO OBVIOUSLY THE DEMOCRATS DON'T WANT TO DO DIXON TO BE IN A REPUBLICAN NOMINEE -- BE A REPUBLICAN NOMINEE AND THAT'S THE BEST THING SHE HAS GOING FOR HER RIGHT NOW KEVIN RENK HE IS TRYING TO TAKE HER DOWN WITH ADS SPENT AGAINST HER AND THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION IS DOING THIS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THE DEMOCRATS ARE IN MICHIGAN IT'S A PRIME EXAMPLE WHERE IT'S HAPPENING IN THE QUESTION IS IS THAT A GOOD THING A DEMOCRACY FOR THE WAY THE ELECTIONS WERE?
AND WILL IT PAY OFF?
I WILL IT PULL HIM ACROSS THE FINISH LINE BECAUSE OF THE NEGATIVE ADS AGAINST DIXON IN THE LAST DAYS OF THE LAUGHING TO MYSELF THE CAMPAIGN.
>> I WAS LAUGHING TO MYSELF THAT THE DEMOCRATS IN THE FAR RIGHT HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON THEY DON'T WANT DIXON TO BE THE NOMINEE IT PRETTY -- IT IS PRETTY INCREDIBLE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT DIXON WHO IS INCREDIBLY CONSERVATIVE TO THE FAR RIGHT NOT AS FAR RIGHT AS RYAN KELLY OF COURSE WHO IS AT JANUARY 6 INSURRECTION BUT HAS THE SO-CALLED ESTABLISHMENT LABEL WHICH REALLY IS WHAT IN THE PASS FEW DEBATES KELLY AND GARRETT HAVE BEEN TRYING TO PAINT HER AS.
>> AND THIS WEEK THERE WAS A LETTER SIGNED BY SOME TRUMP ENDORSED HOUSE CANDIDATES SENDING THEM TO THE PRESIDENT IS A BASICALLY STAY OUT OF THIS THING AND DON'T HELP BETSY HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE?
>> NOPE BECAUSE NOW THE BATTLE IN THE BATTLE IS TO TRY TO GET TRUMP TO ENDORSE ONE OF THE CANDIDATES OR HAVE HIM STAY OUT COMPLETELY AND SO FAR IT LOOKS LIKE HIM STAYING OUT COMPLETELY IS WINNING IN TUTOR DIXON IS TAKING SOME OF THE CLIPS THAT DONALD TRUMP HAS SAID ABOUT HER AND PRIOR EVENTS AND THROWING THAT ON THE AIR AND MAKING IT LOOK LIKE TRUMPED ENDORSED HER WHEN HE DID NOT HE JUST SAID GOOD THINGS ABOUT HER BUT WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE.
YOU HAVE A THIRD PARTY THAT IS FUNDED PRIMARILY BY HIGH ROLLERS AND PUTTING IT OUT THERE TO COUNTERACT KEVIN'S ADS WHICH ARE PAID FOR OUT OF HIS OWN POCKET WHICH SHOWS YOU THAT THE DEPTH OF SUPPORT THAT BOTH OF THE CANDIDATES BRING TO THE TABLE IS NOT VERY DEEP WHEN YOU COMPARE IT TO SELL DONNELL AND KELLY WHO HAVE SUPPORTERS THAT WILL WALK OVER COALS TO GET TO THE BALLOT BUT THE PROBLEM IS THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO EXTEND THEIR MESSAGE OUT TO THESE UNDECIDED MILDLY INTERESTED REPUBLICAN VOTERS WHICH THERE ARE A VAST MAJORITY OF THE VOTERS ARE JUST PASSIVELY INTERESTED BUT GARRETT CANNOT TOUCH THEM BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PUT THEIR MESSAGE ON AIR.
>> DON'T LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THERE IS A PICTURE OF DONALD TRUMP IN ONE OF THE ADS AND IF YOU GO OUT IT ADDS THE ELECTORATE ALL OF THEM PUT TWO AND TWO TOGETHER TO COME UP OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE BEEN ENDORSED AND OF COURSE OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN IS PAYING ATTENTION THAT IS WHY THE ADS ARE SO WONDERFUL.
DO ARE DEMOCRACY A FAVOR PLAY GOLF.
KID YOU'RE WRONG ABOUT THAT.
>> WHY?
>> I THINK ONE BIG FACTOR IN THIS RACE COMPARED TO TWO YEARS AGO REMEMBER ABSENTEE VOTING AND MAIL IN VOTING BEFORE THE ELECTION FOR THE PRIMARY AND THE GENERAL WAS SO HUGE AND UNPRECEDENTED BECAUSE OF COVID THIS YEAR WHAT HAPPENS ON TUESDAY PEOPLE ARE SHOWING UP TO THE POLLS AND THAT WILL DETERMINE WHO WINS THE NOMINATION BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY UNDECIDEDS OUT THERE AND THESE PEOPLE WILL SHOW UP AT THE POLLS OR THEY SHOULD SHOW UP AT THE POLLS AND I THINK THEY WILL IN GREATER NUMBERS THAN ANYONE THINKS.
>> REMEMBER LAST WEEK THE POLLSTER SAID THE THING THAT IS GOOD FOR SELL DONELL AND KELLY IS THAT THERE PEOPLE DON'T VOTE ABSENTEE BECAUSE THEY THINK THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED WHICH COULD BE A HIDDEN AGENDA.
>> I THINK IT'S A RACE WERE DONALD TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT COULD MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
WE'VE SEEN THEM NATIONALLY AND THE ENDORSEMENTS IN THE MICHIGAN STATE HOUSE RACES DON'T NECESSARILY COME WITH ENOUGH MONEY TO BE A DIFFERENCE MAKER BUT FIVE CANDIDATES WITH NO POLITICAL EXPERIMENTS ALL WHO NO ONE IS SURE HE WAS VOUCHING FOR ANY OF THEM A TRUST'S VOICE WITH THE REPUBLICAN BASE COMING IN AND MAKING A DECISIVE PRONOUNCEMENT ABOUT WHO THEY THINK SHOULD GO UP AGAINST WITMER IN THE FALL WILL BE DECISIVE.
>> JUST THIS WEEK THERE WAS SOME POLLING DONE AND IT SHOWED 25 INCREASE POINTS IF DONALD TRUMP ENDORSED YOU IN THIS SPECIFIC RACE AND WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LATEST WAS 20 UNDECIDED THAT IS THE RACE RIGHT THERE APPEAR >> HIT WE HAD A SITUATION WHERE ONE PERSON COULD DETERMINE THE OUTCOME OF THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR IN MICHIGAN?
THE ANSWER IS NO.
WELL IT'S AN ABSOLUTELY KNOW THAT THIS IS INCREDIBLE IS IT NOT?
>> I DON'T EVEN THINK HE HAS THAT KIND OF POWER IN THE RACES THAT HE HAS ENDORSED IN I DON'T THINK'S ENDORSEMENT OF MAD MEANS THAT MATT WILL BE THE NEXT ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MICHIGAN BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR PRIMARY WITH SO MANY WILDCARDS OUT THERE HE COULD DEFINITELY PICK.
>> THE PERSON WHO SHOULD HAVE ONE THIS PRIMARY IS RUNNING A WRITING CAMPAIGN RIGHT NOW JAMES CRAGG WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE NOMINEE THAT'S WHAT EVERYONE THOUGHT WOULD HAPPEN AND IN FACT HE HAD MORE CONTRIBUTIONS AND MORE PEOPLE GIVING TO HIM BETWEEN JANUARY 1st AND JULY 17th THIS PASS CYCLE THAN ANYONE ELSE ON THE REPUBLICAN FIELD HE STILL HAD PEOPLE GIVING TO HIM EVEN THOUGH HE WASN'T EVEN ON THE BALLOT JAMES CRAGG SHOULD BE THE NOMINEE THAT'S WHAT EVERYONE THOUGHT AND HE BLEW A TIRE HE BLEW IT SO DID JOHNSON AND NOW THIS IS WHAT IS LEFT.
>> HE BLEW A TIRE AND THE GASKET THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL.
>> THERE IS A BIG ENDORSEMENT FOR A TRUMP ENDORSEMENT FOR THE PRIMARY FOR THE THE REPUBLICANS IN THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION I THINK IT'S A HUGE PLUS FOR REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE IN A PRIMARY IN NOVEMBER TRUMP ENDORSEMENT CUTS BOTH WAYS AND IN FACT COULD BE A NEGATIVE AND THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS I THINK TRUMP WOULD HAVE JUMPED IN THE RACE AND ENDORSED DIXON'S -- IF IT WAS NOT FOR BETSY AND BECAUSE BETSY AND THE FAMILY ARE BACK -- BACKING DIXON AND I'M SURE TRUMP FEELS BETSY BETRAYED HIM BY TALKING ABOUT INVOKING THE 25th AMENDMENT AND BY RESIGNING FROM THE CABINET AFTER THE CAPITOL INSURRECTION IN JANUARY LAST YEAR I THINK THAT REALLY STICKS IN TRUMP'S CRAW.
HE COULD NOT ENDORSE TUTOR DIXON BUT HE IS AFRAID TO -- BUT HE IS AFRAID TO IT ENDORSED ANYONE ELSE BECAUSE THEY LOOK LIKE LOSERS INCLUDING KEVIN BECAUSE HE LOOKED LIKE A LOSER TWO WEEKS AGO BUT HE'S COMING STRONG NOW SO THEY'LL BE A BIG ISSUE ON TUESDAY AND WHAT HAPPENS.
LOOKING FORWARD THIS IS FASCINATING IN A YEAR WHERE YOU HAVE A DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT WITH APPROVAL RATINGS OR DISAPPROVAL RATINGS AT NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE UNHAPPINESS ABOUT THE ECONOMY THE POSSIBILITY OF TWO QUARTERS LOOKING AT A RECESSION GAS PRICES COMING DOWN A LITTLE STILL ABOVE $4 A GALLON IN THE STATE THIS SHOULD BE A LOCK FOR REPUBLICANS AND YET AGAIN YOU ARE LOOKING AND NOT JUST ANY FIVE OF THE CANDIDATES BUT TO THE AG CANDIDATES WILL BE AND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE CANDIDATES WILL BE AT IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING COME NOVEMBER IT REPUBLICANS LOSE RACES THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN BY ALL HALLMARKS OF WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT HOW MIDTERMS WORK IN A PRESIDENT WHO'S UNPOPULAR FIRST MIDTERM ACTUALLY TURN OUT.
>> I GET A PIGGYBACK ON THAT BECAUSE THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR WHOEVER DO THEY HAVE TO PIPIT IN ORDER TO WIN IN NOVEMBER AND THE QUESTION IS GIVEN THEY ARE SO FAR OUT HERE THAT'S A LONG WAY TO GO TO GET A PIVOT.
>> THEY HAVE TO RAISE THE MONEY LET'S BE HONEST TO EVER WINS THE NOMINATION STARTS OFF WITH PRACTICALLY ZERO.
THEY'RE STARTING FROM ZERO.
DIXON HAS RESIDED IS RELYING ON BETSY AND SO WHERE WE CONTINUE TO SEE THE FAMILIES UNITED PACKED?
I DON'T KNOW.
HOW IS SHE GETTING HER MESSAGE OUT.
SHE HAS NECESSARILY DRAWN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CONTRIBUTORS LIKE GOVERNOR WITMER HAS DONE AND SHE HAS $40 MILLION IN THE BANK WITMER PLUS THE DG A WILLING TO SPEND WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET HER REELECTED I THINK THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO THE REPUBLICAN AND PIVOTING ON ANYTHING.
>> THERE IS A THAT IS AWAITING THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE AND IF TUTOR DIXON IS A NOMINEE I THINK SHE GET NATIONAL MONEY FROM THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION FOR THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE SHE HAS A PACK ALREADY SET UP I THINK THAT SHE HAS THE ABILITY TO CATCH UP WITH WITMER OR AT LEAST COME REASONABLY CLOSE AND FUND RAISING IF SHE IS THE NOMINEE.
IF FRANKIE IS THE NOMINEE YOU WON'T GET THE NATIONAL MONEY OR THE OTHER MONEY COMING IN AND HE WILL HAVE TO SPEND ANOTHER 10 MILLION FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION.
>> REPUBLICANS WOULD HAVE A GIANT COUP IF THEY COULD KICK GRETCHEN OUT OF THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION THERE IS NO QUESTION ABOUT IT BUT IF THEY DON'T THINK WHOEVER THEY HAVE NOMINATED HAS A CHANCE TO DO THAT THEN WHAT'S THE INCENTIVE?
>> THAT'S WHAT I KEEP HEARING AND IDEA OF YES THERE'S ALL THIS OUTSIDE MONEY THAT COULD GO TO DIXON AND ABSOLUTELY THAT IS ACCURATE BUT ALSO IN THE FIRST COUPLE WEEKS IF SHE DOES NOT LOCK IT DOWN THERE ARE WEAKER DEMOCRATS RIGHT NOW IN KANSAS AND YOU ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THAT ENTIRE MAP THAT IS WHAT THEY WILL DO THEY WILL NOT JUST LOOK AT MICHIGAN THEY WILL LOOK AT THE MAP AND GO WHERE ARE THE WEAKEST DEMOCRATS AND WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT A TOTAL OF NEARLY $30 MILLION RAISED BY THIS GOVERNOR OVER LONGEVITY THAT IS AND SO WILL THESE OUTSIDE GROUPS REALLY TRY TO GO AGAINST THIS?
THERE APPEARS TO BE WEAKER CANDIDATES IN OTHER STATES.
>> HEARS SOME CHATTER.
BETSY'S PEOPLE WANT TO SEE HER BE GOVERNOR BUT THE REAL HIDDEN AGENDA IS THEY WANT TO MAKE YOUR COMPETITIVE ENOUGH SO GRETCHEN DOESN'T WIN THIS THING BY NINE TO TEN POINTS BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IF SHE DOES CONTROL THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE COULD GO WITH IT IN AT THE END OF THE DAY I BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT CONTROL OF THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE BUILDING DO I HAVE THAT ONE CLOSE?
>> IF YOU HAVE THAT RIGHT.
>> THAT'S NOT BAD.
>> CHECKS IN THE MAIL.
>> IF THERE'S A LANDSLIDE AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET AND GUESS WHAT THERE WON'T BE ANY FIREWALL BELOW THAT HER NOW WILL NOT SUDDENLY BLITZ BENSON AND NESSEL AND KNOCK THEM OUT OF OFFICE AND GET PEOPLE THINKING WE WILL VOTE REPUBLICAN DOWN THE TICKET THAT WON'T HAPPEN.
SO YOU ARE RIGHT.
THERE CANNOT BE A LANDSLIDE AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET AGAINST THE REPUBLICANS OR THEY REALLY DOOMED TO APPEAR >> THE IN-STATE MONEY WILL BE GOING TO SOME LEGISLATIVE RACES BECAUSE BECAUSE REPUBLICANS DON'T WANT TO LOSE THE SENATE OR THE HOUSE BUT THEY CAN'T LOSE BOTH OF THEM BECAUSE THEN THEY REALLY OUT OF LUCK AND SO I WOULD SEE A LOT OF IN-STATE MONEY GOING TO COMPETITIVE PHRASES OR THE 30 FOR THE DISTRICT.
>> THE MONEY THAT TRADITIONALLY WENT TO THE PUBLIC REPUBLICAN PARTY COFFERS HAS DRIED UP LIKE A >> YEP.
>> IS ISN'T IT STRANGE?
WHEN DID WE SEE THE LAST ELECTION CYCLE WITH THE SENATE DEMOCRATS ARE THE ONE RAISING THE MOST?
>> THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A DEMOCRATIC CONTROLLED SENATE IN ME OR EMILY'S LIFETIME AND THIS IS THE FIRST ELECTION THAT WE ARE GOING INTO TO SEE THESE NEW MAPS THAT WERE DONE UNDER AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION SO MUCH LIKE WHAT IS THIS WILL ALL BE VERY NEW AND EXACTLY TO YOUR POINT THE TRICKLE DOWN ON THIS PALLET AGAIN IN THIS ELECTION WHEN OBAMA TOOK A SHELLACKING SHOULD BE A SHELLACKING FOR DEMOCRATS WHERE YOU LOOK AT ALL THE POINTS OF WHERE WE ARE ACTUALLY AT BUT IF THEY CANNOT GET CANDIDATES MICHIGAN IS A PURPLE STATE IT JUST IS AND IF YOU CAN'T GET CANDIDATES THAT WILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT IN THE GENERAL ELECTION THIS IS WHAT YOU WILL SAY.
>> I WILL TURN THE PAGE TO THE STATE SUPREME COURT.
THIS IS THE FIRST FRONT IN A DECISION WHERE PEOPLE ON THE LEFT SIDE HAVE BEEN BUILDING FOR YEARS NOW SAY IT'S ILLEGAL IN MICHIGAN TO FIRE SOMEBODY FROM THEIR JOBS IF THEY BORE GAY OR TO LOSE YOUR RENT OR WHATEVER.
>> IT'S A HUGE DEAL THERE HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTS TO DO THIS LEGISLATIVELY FOR 20 IT HAS BEEN A TOP ITEM ON THE DEMOCRATIC WHICH WISH LIST IT HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF DEBATE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL RIGHTS HAD A DECLARATIVE RULING SEVERAL YEARS AGO TRYING TO LUKE WITH THESE THINGS IN THERE WAS BUT -- THEY WERE TRYING TO LOOK INTO THAT THERE IS BEEN SOME QUESTION OVER IT.
IT'S NOT PROTECTED AND PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE PROTECTIONS WRITTEN INTO THE STATE LAW THAT WAS THE FOCUS THIS IS JUST AS GOOD AS THAT FOR THE SUPREME COURT HAVE DECIDED THAT THIS IS THAT THEIR INTERPRETATION OF THE LAW GOES A LONG WAY FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SEEKING THE PROTECTIONS FOR DECADES.
>> THE DECISION FOR THE DISSENTERS SAID BASICALLY WHEN THIS IMAGE LAW WAS WRITTEN THE IDEA OF TRANSGENDER AND THINGS LIKE THAT DID NOT AVAIL SO BASICALLY THE COURT IS JUST EXPANDING ON IT AND THEY WERE NOT IN THE MAJORITY.
>> IT'S THE DEFINITION OF SEX HOW DO YOU WANT TO DEFINE IT THEY SAID YOU HAVE TO GET TO A TORTURED INTERPRETATION IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THAT DISCRIMINATING ON SOMEONE BASED ON SEX IS DISCRIMINATING AGAINST SOMEONE BASED ON THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IS THE MICHIGN SUPREME COURT ACTING LIKE THE U.S. SUPREME COURT AND BASICALLY CREATING A LAW WHERE THE CONGRESS OR THE LEGISLATURE DID NOT ACT OR HAS FAILED TO ACT OR WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING THROUGH A BALLOT PROPOSAL THE PROGRESSION OF SOCIETY HAS CAUGHT UP TO THE COURTS BEFORE CAUGHT UP TO THE LEGISLATURE AND THE NOW WE WILL HAVE NO DISCRIMINATION IT'S ILLEGAL IN THE STATE ON SOME OF THE SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR TRANSGENDER STATUS IS BECAUSE OF AT THE MICHIGAN SUPREME COURT DID NOT THE LEGISLATURE.
>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A COUPLE THINGS FIRST OF ALL THE TWO DISSENTERS GUESS WHAT, THEY ARE THE TWO RUNNING FOR REELECTION THIS IT'S A VIVIANO WAS THE OTHER ONE.
ALL I'M SAYING IS FIRST OF ALL, THIS DECISION COULD HAVE BEEN MADE AT ANY TIME AS EVERYONE POINTED OUT IN THE LAST 20 YEARS ELLIOTT LARSEN CIVIL RIGHTS ACT PASS 40 YEARS AGO AND THE REASON IT HASN'T GOTTEN ANYWHERE IT IS BECAUSE YOU HAD A REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED SUPREME COURT THE LAST TWO DECADES NOW BEGINNING IN 2020 YOU HAVE A DEMOCRATIC-CONTROLLED SUPREME COURT SO THEY BASICALLY -- IT'S A DEMOCRATIC COURT THERE ARE FOUR DEMOCRATIC WOMEN ON IT AND SO THEY WERE ABLE TO QUICKLY MAKE THE DECISION THAT I THINK WAS PRETTY MUCH INEVITABLE I THINK ONCE THE DEMOCRATS GOT CONTROL OF THE COURT IN 2020 I THINK THIS DECISION WAS LIKELY TO HAPPEN AND I THINK KYLE IS A RIGHT IT TAKES THE DECISION OUT OF POLITICAL HANDS NO VOTE NO REFERENDUM IN THE STATE WIDE VALID NO LEGISLATIVE ACTION THE COURT HAS SOLVED THING IS JUST LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN DOING OF THE FEDERAL LEVEL ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES OVER TIME.
>> COLON IT WAS PUT TO THE BENCH BY REPUBLICAN RICK SNYDER.
>> CLEMENTE IS A PARIAH WITH THE REPUBLICANS RIGHT NOW SHE IS NOT REALLY EVEN CONSIDER A REPUBLICAN.
>> STILL APPOINTED BY REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR.
>> ADDRESS OLD, -- ADDRESS DRESSEL, FOSTER, THESE REPUBLICANS AT HAD TRIED TO STAND UP FOR DECADES AND MOSS ONE OF THE FIRST OPENLY GAY LAWMAKERS IN MICHIGAN AND A LOOK THIS IS A HISTORIC RULING AND IT GOES TO MOMENT THAT WE ARE SEEING IN TIME WHERE COURTS ARE TAKING TO THEIR OWN HANDS THESE HUGE SOCIETAL ISSUES BUT THE LAW THAT PASSED IN EARLY ODDS THAT BASICALLY OUTLAWS GAY MARRIAGE IN MICHIGAN IS STILL ON THE BOOKS AND THAT WILL BE THE NEXT THING TO WATCH.
WILL THERE BE A PETITION DRIVE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN THE NEXT COMING ELECTION?
>> THE COURT ALSO PUT TO REST THAT THE REPUBLICAN ARGUMENT WE HEARD CONTINUOUSLY IN THE LEGISLATURE THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO DO THIS AS LONG AS THE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM THING BECAME PART OF THE DECISION THE COURT BASICALLY SAID IT DOESN'T BOTHER US IT'S NOT PART OF THIS AT ALL.
>> IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A BIT OF A HARD ARGUMENT I THINK TO BALANCE BOTH OF THESE CONCERNS IN ONE PIECE OF LEGISLATION BUT THE LEGISLATURE'S POWER HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN AWAY TO BILL'S POINT THEY COULD ACT IF THEY WANTED TO UNDO THIS OR ROLL THE RULING THAT THERE ARE POLITICAL REALITIES TO DEAL WITH WHICH DEFINITELY IS A VETO FROM THE GOVERNOR BUT THEY DO HAVE THE POWER IF THEY WANTED TO PUT SOME RESTRAINTS AROUND THIS OR GUIDED IN THE DIRECTION THAT THEY THINK IS MORE APPROPRIATE.
>> AND YESTERDAY WAS ANYONE ELSE INTERESTED IN THIS WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WHEN THEY HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER?
WE HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT OF STATEMENTS FROM THOSE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS.
>> AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD BE POLITICALLY ADVANTAGEOUS FOR REPUBLICANS TO ADVOCATE REVERTING WHAT WAS THE CASE THEY ARE REPUBLICAN COSPONSORS ON THESE BILLS TO.
>> IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN ARGUING WITH THE LEGISLATURE FOR YEARS TO DO THIS FROM THE STANDPOINT THAT MICHIGAN NEEDS TO ATTRACT ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE TO COME IN AND FILL THE JOBS AND SET OUT THEY WERE.
>> THE CHAMBER DID COME OUT THE STATEMENT.
>> BUSINESS LEADERS FOR MICHIGAN >> THEY MUST ALSO BE OVERJOYED THEY DON'T HAVE THE BANKROLL A BALLOT PROPOSAL NOW TO GET THIS IN FRONT OF PEOPLE THAT NOW THE COURTS TOOK CARE OF IT WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT A BALLOT PROPOSAL GOING FORWARD BUT I WOULD SAY WHAT WE LEARN FROM THE ROE VERSUS WADE DECISION THAT IF WE DO GET A DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY IF IT DOES HAPPEN IN THE LEGISLATURE WITH GOVERNOR WHITMAN ARE TO MAKE SURE YOU GET THE WORDS IN THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR SEXUAL IDENTITY GET THEM IN THERE ARE GENDER IDENTITY THAT THOSE GET INTO THE LAW AND THAT WE TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED BECAUSE JUST AS THE COURT MADE THIS RULING ANOTHER COURT COULD COME BACK YEARS LATER AND UNDO IT AND DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
>> WE CANNOT SAY THAT ELECTIONS DON'T >> I THINK THIS IS A GOOD DECISION FOR THE REPUBLICANS BECAUSE IT TAKES THE ISSUE OFF THE TABLE THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT FIGHTING ON A BALLOT PROPOSAL THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT DEMOCRATIC TURNOUT BEING INCREASED BECAUSE IT WILL BE ON THE BALLOT OR WHATEVER AND ALSO YOU MENTIONED A RELIGIOUS COMPONENT I THINK THAT WILL STILL BE A FACTOR GOING FORWARD I THINK YOU WILL SEE YEARS OF LITIGATION AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THAT COULD TRUMP WHAT HAPPENS HERE IN MICHIGAN AND REMEMBER YOU HAVE A SUPREME COURT NOW WHO SHOWS GREAT DEFERENCE TO THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY ON THESE ISSUES I THINK THAT IT WILL NOT GO AWAY AS AN ISSUE IT'S NOT LIKE THE LGBT Q COMMUNITY HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN ALL OF OUR PROBLEMS ARE SOLVED THEY STILL HAVE A LOT TO WORRY ABOUT IN THE FUTURE.
>> AND THAT'S I'M TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE WILL SEE IN THE COMING YEARS REFERENDUM WHETHER IT BE OR SAME-SEX MARRIAGE ALL OF THESE ISSUES THAT STILL BECAUSE OF THE DOBBS DECISION REALLY MAKES EVERYONE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE NEW NORMAL AND TWO BILLS POINT THERE IS AN ANTIDISCRIMINATION CASE IN COLORADO THAT THE SUPREME COURT COULD TAKE UP AND THEN COULD HAVE IMPACT HERE IN MICHIGAN.
>> THERE WE ARE.
TUESDAY WILL WE KNOW IT TO THE WINNER IS AT THE GOVERNOR'S RACE >> WE WILL NOT.
>> IT TAKES A MINUTE.
>> IT WON'T BE AT 8:30 AND IT WON'T BE MIDNIGHT AND IT MAY BE A DAY OR SO IN I RIGHT OR WRONG?
>> I'M NOT WE ARE NOT DEALING I DON'T KNOW I THINK WE'LL KNOW BY NOON >> YOU WANT TO BE IN THAT POOL.
>> WE WENT OUT ABOUT THE FRIDAY AFTER THE PRIMARY FOR THE SHOW.
>> BE SURE AND VOTE WE WILL SEE WHAT YOU DID NEXT WEEK WHEN YOU DID IT GOODBYE.
>> THIS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MARTIN MEYER.
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