In Michigan, it seems the post healthcare reform skirmish is quickly becoming uglier than the actual battle over healthcare during the past year.
Already Michigan Democratic congressmen who supported reform – Rep. Mark Schauer and Rep. Bart Stupak – have reported receiving threats tinged with violence, and several national political leaders – both Democrats and Republicans – have urged their followers to maintain a civil tone in this year’s election season.
On Wednesday, Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero, a Democratic candidate for governor, jumped into the fray, blasting state Attorney General Mike Cox, Republican candidate for governor, for joining a federal lawsuit to block implementation of healthcare reform.
Bernero, a supporter of healthcare reform, contends Cox’s action will embolden extremists who already have made racial slurs and death threats against elected officials who support reform,
“He knows perfectly well that there is no legal merit whatsoever to his claims,” Bernero said. “He is simply playing to the irrational fears of the far right wing of the Republican Party to boost his bid for governor.”
Cox is now in a scuffle with Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm over whether he can defy her on reform and use his office to fight the measure. Cox contends he merely wants to join the lawsuit to represent the large numbers of Michigan residents who fear the national legislation will jeopardize their own health care.
