LSJ Blogs: Capitol Journal by Scott Davis

Will the 'real nerd' please stand up?

No question about it now. It’s official. Virg Bernero is a man of real courage.

Before the Lansing mayor spoke Sunday at the state Democratic convention in Detroit, his gubernatorial campaign presented a biographical slideshow of Bernero, showing his teenage years in Michigan and rise in politics – with a voiceover by his wife, Teri.

While such presentations are common at conventions among major office seekers, this one was unique in the number of pictures focusing on the candidate’s teen years – nearly a dozen shots showing a skinny, gawkish Bernero, sometimes wearing glasses, often standing next to his father.

And what was that over Virg’s head? It  looked to be a partial aphro – perhaps some sort of large perm. We’ll call it a “half-ro.”

The presentation drew many smiles from the hundreds of delegates present – particularly when Teri Bernero in her voiceover reminisced she was first struck by him because he seemed like a “dork.”

No doubt it was an attempt to show the “real Virg Bernero” to his Democratic troops before the hard work of general election campaigning begins. But was it also an attempt to “out-nerd” GOP rival Rick Snyder at his own game?

Right now, it’s pretty unclear. Who has got that all-important “nerd-cred?”

Bye, Bye Miss American Pie: Here come the feds

UPDATE: Saner voices may be prevailing in the case against a 22-year-old MSU student accused of throwing a pie at U.S. Sen. Carl Levin -- or maybe not.

This week, a Mecosta County judge suspended proceedings against Ahlam Mohsen of Coldwater and lowered her bond from $250,000 to $50,000, which still seems high for the accused crimes of stalking and assault. But it’s not astronomical.

But Mohsen may soon face the weight of federal prosecution because the FBI now is investigating whether to file a federal assault charge against her. That carries up to a year in prison -- less than the five years in prison she faces in state court.

It’s unclear whether she could be tried in both federal and state courts -- perhaps for assault in federal court and stalking for state court.

Mohsen, you may remember, threw the pie last week as a form of protest against Levin’s support of Israeli war policies in its conflict with Palestinians on the Gaza Strip. She and other college students were arrested during a sit-in at Levin’s Lansing office in January.

While I don’t support Mohsen’s actions, I’ve argued that a $250,000 bond and five-year prison sentence are harsh medicine for such an act of civil dissent.

Bye, Bye Miss American Pie: The rising cost of civil dissent

Pie-throwing protestor Ahlam Mohsen continues to sit in Mecosta County Jail on a $250,000 bond while her supporters rallied for her release Friday outside the offices of Sen. Carl Levin in Detroit.

It befuddles me why this 22-year-old Michigan State University student is being held on such a high bond, even though she is only charged with felony stalking and assault for throwing a pie Monday at Levin at a public gathering. I interviewed Mohsen in January as she and two other college students sat on the floor of Levin’s office in Boji Tower during a protest.

During that sit-in, Mohsen refused to budge until she talked by telephone with Levin, then in Washington, about his support for Israel in its conflict with Palestinians on the Gaza Strip. Through staff members, Levin said a phone interview couldn’t be arranged that day. Police arrived when the office closed at 5:30 p.m. and arrested the students for trespassing.

At the time, she struck me as a conscientious war protestor, a college student merely trying to make her voice heard in a time when most young people only seem concerned about making their next Facebook entry.

That impression hasn’t changed. While I don’t support throwing a pie at anyone -- whether it’s Sen. Levin or Sarah Palin -- the act itself falls very loosely within the definition of civil disobedience.  Yes, you can argue it doesn’t qualify as such because throwing a pie is an act of violence, but is it really? Sen. Levin had to wipe some pie off his face and suffer some embarrassment, but Mohsen clearly acted because she believes that Palestinians are suffering real violence -- death and mutilation -- as a result of Israeli policies supported by the U.S.

And as for the crime of inflicting humiliation, I remember Rep. Joe Wilson’s famous repudiation of President Barack Obama when he shouted “You Lie!” during Obama’s speech -- an embarrassment no other president has endured in Congress in the past century. Wilson, a Republican, was not admonished by his own party. He was hailed as a hero.

I’m not saying Mohsen shouldn’t be punished. Anyone committing an act of civil disobedience must be willing to pay the price, much like Henry David Thoreau did in 1846 when he spent a night in jail for refusing to pay what he thought were unjust taxes.

But still, a $250,000 bond seems like an expensive price for freedom as she goes through the court system for several months awaiting trial -- something that takes away a slice of our freedom to dissent. And that's a pie in the face to Lady Liberty.

Birkholz in running for lt. gov.?

Speculation is swirling about who will go hand-in-hand with Rick Snyder on the GOP ticket in his bid for the governor’s seat. One name that keeps popping up is Mid-Michigan’s Patty Birkholz

The Saugatuck Republican now has an empty dance card since she is being term-limited from her state senator’s seat this year. Gongwer News reports she was slightly coy when asked about whether she had been contacted by Snyder’s campaign.

"Obviously it's an honor to be considered on any list whether it's speculation or real," she said. "Whatever I can do to help the new administration, obviously I'd be very pleased to do that."

As chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee, Birkholz could help shore up Snyder’s support among environmentalists as well as increase support in West Michigan. Certainly having a woman on the ticket could broaden its appeal to female voters -- especially in a year when Republican “mama grizzlies” are winning race after race nationwide.

Other names being considered are Sen. Jason Allen, a Republican from Alanson, Meijer CEO Mark Murray and former Senate Majority Leader Ken Sikkema.

Bernero 'accepts' debate invitations: Snyder says what debates?

Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Virg Bernero fired off a press release Thursday announcing that he has “accepted” three debate invitations with GOP rival Rick Snyder.

The Lansing mayor announced he was accepting debates from the following media: a WOOD-TV Sept. 21, a joint WXYZ/WWJ/Crain’s Detroit Business debate on Oct. 21, and a debate that will air Oct. 7 on several TV and radio stations.

It came as a complete surprise to Snyder’s campaign. Bill Nowling, spokesman for Snyder, said the campaign has reached no agreement with Bernero’s campaign on the dates or the format.

“We’ve had no discussions with the campaign (on debates),” Nowling said.

After winning last Tuesday’s primary, Bernero demanded that Snyder agree to eight debates, while Snyder said he wanted three debates. Bernero says he will continue to push for more than three debates, but Snyder’s staff say three debates is the norm for post primary gubernatorial campaigns.

New poll: Not good news for Bernero

A new independent poll by The Detroit News-WDIV has confirmed that Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero does indeed have his work cut out for him in his bid to defeat Republican Rick Snyder for the governor’s seat.

A week after Bernero’s victory in the Democratic primary, the poll showed that Snyder holds a  commanding 51 percent to 32 percent edge over Bernero, according to the Detroit News.

While Bernero was behind House Speaker Andy Dillon in the polls 10 points or more for most of the Democratic primary, this will certainly be a tougher gap to overcome. Pollster Richard Czuba contends Bernero’s negatives are much higher than Snyder's; some voters don’t respond favorably to his “angry mayor” persona.

Building name recognition for Bernero may not be the answer. Bernero’s name recognition among voters (80 percent) already is close to Snyder’s (88 percent). According to the poll, even if Bernero converts all the undecideds to his corner -- 18 percent in the poll -- he still comes out the loser.

Still, much can change in nearly three months before voters decide.

Wheeler Smith pushing her candidacy as lt. gov

Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith is positioning herself to be placed on the Democratic ticket as Lansing mayor Virg Bernero’s running mate and lieutenant governor.

According to Gongwer News, she is one of several people being considered for the spot. Smith had run against Bernero for the Democratic nomination but was never a front-runner. She said last week she withdrew from the race in May so that she would not draw votes from progressive Democrats away from Bernero during the primary.

Smith has used her Facebook page to tout her candidacy was believed to be promoting her candidacy at Friday’s Democratic unity breakfast.

It’s likely that Bernero is grateful to Smith for leaving him the only progressive in the primary race. But he is probably considering a more moderate conservative Democrat as lieutenant governor to broaden his base of support in the race against Republican Rick Snyder.

Dillon withholds Bernero endorsement

Michigan House Speaker Andy Dillon apparently is making sure he has a place at Lansing mayor Virg Bernero’s table during his bid for governor -- or at least a voice.

The Redford Township Democrat, who lost Tuesday’s Democratic gubernatorial primary to Bernero, said at a unity breakfast at the Westin Book Cadillac hotel in Detroit that he is withholding his endorsement of Bernero until he reviews his plan and urban agenda, the Associated Press reported.

Bernero, who faces Republican Rick Snyder in November, undoubtedly wants to get Dillon behind his campaign in part so that Dillon's backers will fill his coffers.

The trouble with treble: Debate wars have begun

One day after Tuesday’s primary, the debate over debates already is reaching decibel-high levels.

Lansing mayor Virg Bernero, newly minted Democratic gubernatorial nominee, called on GOP hopeful Rick Snyder to engage in eight debates before the Nov. 2 general election.

Bernero, known for a combative speaking style, no doubt is hoping to win points among undecided voters, with head-to-head talking bouts with the Ann Arbor businessman.

But Snyder, considered the front-runner, committed Tuesday to only three debates in a letter he sent to Bernero. Bernero contends that only three debates shortchanges voters and doesn’t provide a sufficient look at the candidates.

Don’t expect the volume to decrease on this squabble anytime soon.

Voter turnout for primary is light

In some parts of Michigan, election clerks are reporting to light to normal turnout as voters head to the polls today to decide primary contests for governor and a number of state races.

Polls won't close for another two hours, but soon voters will decide what has been a tight five-man race among Republicans for the gubernatorial nomination, and a Democratic race for governor in which Lansing mayor Virg Bernero recently passed Andy Dillon in the polls.

Both Dillon and Bernero have victory celebrations planned tonight in downtown Detroit.

No reports of champagne being uncorked yet.