Troy Eccentric Letters Support Peters, Slam Skinner

These two letter appeared in the Troy Eccentric on 1/31/08

I am writing to object to the characterization of Gary Peters' congressional campaign as "Hinging on outsiders" or "anointed" by the party ("Congressional election could hinge on outsiders," Jan. 10) or "disenfranchised" ("Disenfranchised Dems steam over primary ballot," Jan. 13).

My name was mentioned as an early endorser for Gary's campaign, which I am happy to strongly emphasize, but it has nothing to do with party affiliation and everything to do with the fact that I have known and worked with Gary since he was first elected to the state Senate in January 1996.

He came to a meeting of the Bloomfield Hills Legislative Action Network, which was a group of parents who lobbied our Lansing delegation on both sides of the aisle to support our public schools. Gary made ongoing efforts to stay informed and seek out our opinions on issues effecting our district. As a 10-year member of the Bloomfield Hills Board of Education, I had the opportunity to work with Gary on many issues during his tenure in the Senate. I have worked with his wife, Colleen, for 10 years to support the work of Lighthouse of Oakland County.

I resent Nancy Skinner's inference that I am a tool of the Democratic Party. She doesn't know me and has never sought my endorsement. I am not a party activist and was not even present at the meeting Jan. 10 where the discussion took place.

Cynthia von Oeyen

Bloomfield Hills

Process was fair

In reading your Jan. 13 article, "'Disenfranchised' Dems steam over primary ballot," I was very disappointed by Nancy Skinner's comments that endorsements for her opponent in the congressional race were somehow rigged by the Democratic Party.

I am a member of the Service Employees International Union, which endorsed Gary Peters recently. Our process was driven by our membership. We held a town hall meeting of our members with Skinner and Peters. In fact, all three candidates were invited, including Congressman Joe Knollenberg (he declined).

We ask that the candidates "Walk A Day In The Shoes" of our members in order to earn our endorsement. Peters and Skinner both did such, shadowing a Farmington Hills home care worker and Royal Oak city employees, respectively. Lastly, we asked candidates to fill out a detailed questionnaire on issues affecting our members and required them to participate in a thorough screening before our Political Directors Committee. From this multistep process, we found that Gary Peters had a stronger grasp on the issues and had already built an impressive campaign structure aimed at winning in November. Any suggestion that our endorsement process was a foregone conclusion or that it was rigged is a disservice to our membership and the time they spent.

Chuck Bonar

Like 5,000 people from San Franciso voted for her in DFA. Don't the people of Michigan get that?

Wow, I don't know who you are, but thank you for your voice of reason.

MI Dems are like my soap opera. I can't get enough. Of course, I can, which is why I only post once a month, but you know what I'm saying.

TIVO me the dirt on Ms. Progressive dark-roots Blondie, better than Obama ever will be!

"TIVO me the dirt on Ms. Progressive dark-roots Blondie, better than Obama ever will be!"

And pretty fucking vicious too. You people are children. You people act like they do on the False News Network. This kind of statement is what I might see at FreeRepublic.

I need a shower now.

If I were in the Peters camp, I would disavow themselves from this kind of stuff.

is that you act exactly the same way, but somehow it's ok with your candidate.

How about your "try David Fink for example" when describing Gary? REALLY, just a lawyer eh? Disregarding all of the rest of the lifetime of accomplishment.

Just a former state senator, just a former lottery chief, just a former city councilman, just an MBA and a professor, just a former uniformed military, just a Vice President at two investment firms. EXACTLY, you're right, just a lawyer raising a lot of money.

Please. When you are the same as bfealk, don't pretend to somehow be different.

First, you post no profile. I have no picture of who you are, or where you live. Courage? Second, you quote one of my posts. Let me ask this:

Have I ever questioned Gary Peters on his hair style? Have I ever started a thread just to bash Gary? I think not.

Third, I have a lot of questions on the state lottery, although I admit I play every once in awhile. (Note to self: Go play Caribbean like you did last weekend at MGM, because damn it Dog, the lottery really saps the suckers.)

MBA=More Bad Attitude

Ph.D.=Piled Higher and Deeper

MS=More Shit

MA=More Attitude

BA=Bad Attitude (I have one of these.)

AS=Amount to Something (I Have one of these too.)

Fuck off!

I find it infinitely amusing that you criticize this poster for not identifying themselves, even though I have asked you to tell me who you are and you have refused and even taunted me for asking.

I've never questioned Nancy about her hair, choice or clothing, etc. So why do you even bring this up.

Even though I don't know who this poster is, I do admire the sense of reality in his/her posts.

So what exactly is the point of this post.

Who has ever used that kind of language anyway.

I am literally just someone who reads this forum every so often. I just get offended by the hypocrisy and zealotry here. I think that yourself and bfealk are having a serious ego battle, which obfusgates what are otherwise important discussions to have.

Both sides need to stop and I'll tell you why;

People have some wildy inaccurate view of who Skinner is or what happened last year, it's frankly ridiculous.

People have "supported" Skinner by attacking Peters. That's ridiculous.

People have some wildy inaccurate view of who Peters is, or what he stands for, due to misinformation, it's ridiculous.

People have "supported" Peters by attacking Skinner. That's ridiculous.

I think that sums it up.

It is possible to make arguments without hurdling into the gutter with, let's say "More Bad Attitude".