Progressives are blasting Gov. Rick Snyder for making “Pure Michigan” much less than pure.
Today, members of Progress Michigan, along with Democratic leaders, took the Republican administration to task for placing a full-page ad out in the Wall Street Journal, using the “Pure Michigan" brand in promoting the state’s new status as a right-to-work state.
“I’m disappointed to see a wildly successful tourism campaign wielded as a tool for the right-wing extremists running Lansing,” proclaimed Jessica Tramontana, spokeswoman for Progress Michigan.
Calling the Snyder administration a pack of right-wing extremists perhaps is a bit much, but critics do have a point. Up until now, Pure Michigan has been a campaign focused solely on promoting tourism in Michigan, and it seems silly now to use it as a tool to entice factory owners hoping for non-unionized work forces.
In fact, it seems darn right counter-productive. New factories means new smokestacks, possibly polluted waters and a decidedly less-pure Michigan. It’s almost farcical to use the “Pure Michigan” logo to build new factories.
I see nothing wrong with the state advertising its right-to-work status to lure new jobs here. That was why Republicans claimed to pass the new law. They just need an advertising vehicle that makes sense.
