Quislings or Naifs? Well Known Ann Arbor Dem Duo Defend Their Support of Republican Rick Snyder

The fact is that Michigan’s Governor Rick Snyder is not very popular at the moment. That could change. Certainly President Obama’s approval ratings, once stellar, have fallen, then recovered. The fact of the matter is that governance and public administration are diabolically difficult jobs. Time is often what burnishes or tarnishes political reputations. After four months in office, Democratic, progressive and liberal political pundits across the United States have heaped scorn upon Michigan’s Republican governor. The murmurs started when he signed a law that reduced unemployment benefits making Michigan the only state to offer 20 weeks of support—in a state with the highest unemployment rate in the entire country. In a piece posted on March 29, 2011 at the Christian Science Monitor, the headline asks: “Michigan unemployment benefits cut short: ‘huge win’ or ‘reckless?'” Then Governor Snyder signed into law the expanded Emergency Financial Manager bill, proposed a budget that gave business $1.8 billion in tax cuts funded by almost entirely by new taxation on the retired and working poor.

The murmur turned to roar, and a group called Michigan Citizens United launched FireRickSnyder.org and on April 29, 2011 the group’s language for its recall petitions was approved.

On May 4, 2011, in the Metro Times, Jack Lessenberry weighed with an essay titled, “Wrong to Recall?” Lessenberry argues:

Citizens United estimates they’d have to collect 1.1 million signatures. According to their website, as I write these lines on May 1, the group now has $5,695 in the bank. They would need a $1.5 million, at a minimum, to have a prayer. By the way, even if they succeeded, a recall election couldn’t be called till next year. Legally, they now can hold a vote only at the next regularly scheduled election, and no sooner than 95 days after the recall petitions are filed. That means February 2012. Plus, if they succeeded, Jesus would not become governor. Lt. Gov. Brian Calley would take over. You might want to read up on his voting record before you pull that ripcord, comrades.

Let the debate begin.

Lessenberry’s points are, as usual, well-reasoned. However, recall efforts are rarely fueled or financed by reason. Another fact that has some people hopping mad is that Snyder won by running a misleading “feel good” campaign bought with his own millions from Hollywood ad agencies who crafted marketing pieces for messages shaped by a Washington, D.C. consulting firm that has worked with political heavy hitters such as former president George W. Bush, Senator John McCain and California’s former governator Arnold Schwarzenegger. Snyder ran the best campaign $11 million dollars could buy. Of that $11 million, $5 million was, he claimed while running, self-financed. His most recent campaign finance disclosures, however, list some of the money he and his wife donated as “loans.” What that means, simply, is that Michigan’s governor is waiting for someone, somewhere, to pay off his debts. In fact, since election day, Snyder has taken in over $1 million in additional contributions, much of it from PACs and big business.

During the campaign, Snyder enjoyed the support of Democrats and Independents. In Ann Arbor, Democrat Virg Bernero won the city by the skin of teeth, and a less than 2 percent margin of the total vote. Conversely, black voters did not fall for Snyder’s razzle dazzle RINO act. He pulled in only five percent of the vote in Detroit. In Ann Arbor Snyder enjoyed the political and financial support of many prominent Democrats. Fifth Ward Council member Carsten Hohnke and Second Ward Council member Stephen Rapundalo both donated generously to Snyder’s campaign. Conversely, only Third Ward Council member Stephen Kunselman donated to Democrat Bernero. Even then-Chair of the Ann Arbor Democratic Party Club, and Washtenaw County Commissioner representing Ann Arbor, Conan Smith, stiffed Bernero—even after his own mother, gubernatorial candidate Alma Wheeler-Smith, threw her support behind Bernero after she lost to him in the primary.

Other high profile Ann Arbor Democrats donated to Snyder’s campaign and supported him openly. In a piece posted to AnnArbor.com in August 2010, Rene Greff told the site, “There have been a lot of really and a few appalled people in our circle of friends, Greff said with a laugh.” Greff went on to say, “she’s leaning toward Snyder in November for a number of reasons — from his status as a trusted local to his ‘thoughtful approach to leadership.’”

Rene and Matt Greff (pictured, left), aren’t laughing anymore. They now find themselves at the center of a debate about political loyalty thanks to Snyder’s agenda—which has turned out to be that of a Republican ideologue. The Greffs own two pubs, one in Ypsilanti and one in Ann Arbor, and on Ypsilanti writer Mark Maynard’s blog the Greffs came under fire for their donations to Snyder’s campaign. Someone, in response to a recent post Maynard did about the Ypsilanti Shadow Art Fair, sponsored in part by the Greffs, wrote:

I hesitate to make another mention of this because you have always been great about not censoring comments, no matter how awful they might be. I certainly wouldn’t want to discourage anyone from avoiding your event. Having said that, I find myself weirdly disturbed by the a2politico article I linked earlier. Though I know on one hand their personal political support should be their own business, I found the information about the Greff’s seemingly opportunistic support of Snyder disturbing. Supporting Snyder while making money off the perception of support for opponents? The fact that struggling, hard-scrabble Ypsi business people have enough money to be the highest Ypsi donors to a Republican (or any) candidate is surprising. It kind of goes against the whole spirit of things like the Shadow Art Fair, no? We always rail against corporations like Wal-Mart for their financial support of right wing causes, local people should at least know about this.

Another comment about the Greff’s support of Snyder was slightly more pointed:

Instead of hugs and gumbo, I’d like to see a booth where when you order a beer Matt Greff kicks you in the balls and then Rene throws your beer in your face. Bonus points if Matt is wearing a nehru jacket.

Rene Greff weighed in with a 15 paragraph explanation about why she and her husband had supported Snyder and donated $4,000 to his campaign. Greff writes:

We also knew that, once again, as is our way, the dems put up a completely lame candidate that couldn’t possibly win in a mid-term election where everyone knew there would be a republican sweep. We knew Rick personally because he is the uncle of a good (dem) friend of ours and he had helped us re-write our operating agreement a few years back when the brewpub was struggling to survive.

So when he contacted us to tell us he was considering running, we did our due diligence. We met with Rick and asked a lot of questions and in the end thought that helping him win the Republican primary was our best chance of avoiding disaster in the general….

We were completely public about our choice and our reasons.

Are we thrilled with how things have turned out? No.

And I have to say I think it’s pretty shitty to compare us to Walmart because of one questionable decision after 21 years of living in this community and not only supporting, but putting ourselves out there and fighting for democrats and progressive causes.

Rene Greff posted the same comment in response to the April 25, 2011 A2Politico story which reveals the extent of the financial support she and her husband, among many other Ann Arbor Democrats, gave to Snyder’s campaign. That story has the most reads of any posted to the A2Politico site, and over 400 shares on Facebook.

On May 4, 2011 Mark Maynard wrote a post titled, “Rene Greff on her support of Governor Rick Snyder.” In that post Maynard writes:

Over the past several months, I’ve been approached by a number of people, and asked about the political leanings of Matt and Rene Greff, the owners of Ypsilanti’s Corner Brewery. They, as you may know, were very vocal in their support of Rick Snyder for Governor, and, now that Rick is in office, and people are beginning to feel the effects of his policy decisions, questions are being asked.

Ultimately, Maynard concludes that the Greffs deserve the benefit of the doubt and that their businesses should not be boycotted. Maynard suggests that if people want to boycott a beer, “Coors would be a better choice.” Conversely, other comments in response to Greff’s explanation were not as forgiving. One A2Politico reader writes (this same comment was posted to MarkMaynard.com):

I could not be more outraged at Democrats “support” of Rick Snyder. It is a perfect illustration of how far “liberals” will go to undermine and destroy the Will of the People. Mr. Snyder is making BABY SMALL steps in the RIGHT direction. This election RIGHTLY belonged to the PEOPLE. Instead of a true champion for Citizen RIGHTS we get Snyder. That is small consolation when this “election” was RIGHTLY ours. The moral “CRIME” is that Snyder was elected through big moneyed liberal subterfuge. I will not enter any establishment owned by these fakers until they WAKE UP and decide to support a REAL candidate for Revolutionary change.

Another A2Politico reader was more measured, though equally disinclined to accept Greff’s apology or overlook her defensiveness:

Rene,

When I heard that you and your husband donated to Snyder’s campaign, I was deeply disappointed. In reading your response, and in looking into the internet footprint which documents your affiliation with Snyder, I partly understand your position, yet I’m still a bit disappointed. You’re response here suggests that you only supported Snyder because you knew he was the most moderate of the Republican candidates and because a Republican was sure to win. A simple search leads one to interviews and quotes that make it clear that you openly supported Snyder throughout the campaign…..

I am happy for all of the work you’ve done. I think bootlicker is strong and unnecessary language. I hope you continue to be involved in politics, because I do think that most of what you stand for is excellent. However, I think you might want to express a bit more buyer’s remorse here. Use the influence that you’ve purchased to express to the Governor that these policies are going to have an enormously negative effect on colleges, universities, students, teachers, support staff, and communities in general.

Again, I sense that you are hurt and feel threatened by these reports and these words. I sympathize with your defensiveness. However, since it’s public knowledge that you supported the Governor, and people across the state seem to be very much afraid of the days ahead, including many life long Republicans who I know are very concerned about his policies (including restaurant owners and beer brewers in other parts of the state), you might have a responsibility to come forward about how you feel about these policy developments specifically, rather than simply defending your donation to his campaign.

Sincerely,

A fan of ABC who is also a teacher and would like to hear more…

Meanwhile, readers at MarkMaynard.com responded to his post about Greff’s defense of her donations to and support of Republican Rick Snyder. One of Maynard’s readers writes:

…[T]he Greffs don’t owe any of you a single explanation for anything that have ever done – good or bad. They do what they do because they want to. Get out of their faces.

Another writes:

Whenever someone writes such a long winded letter explaining why they feel “right” for doing something, there is usually some guilt underneath all the “explanations.”

I don’t like beer, don’t know these people, but I know that if they are really for gay rights, planned parenthood, etc etc then you would never had voted for Snyder or any Republican in this current political climate! Just say that you voted for Snyder because you were more concerned about your check book!

And to Andrew’s comment, “Snyder snowed a lot of people”…is simply bullshit. Informed liberal (progressive) voters realize where the ENTIRE Republican Party is headed and we run away like our asses are on fire!

In the 2009-2010 election cycle, the Greffs gave almost $4,000 to Republican Rick Snyder, $2,000 to Democrat state senate candidate Rebekah Warren, $274 to state house candidate Democrat Jeff Irwin and hosted parties for various Democratic candidates at their Ann Arbor pub, donating food and the cost of renting the event room.

Conversely, we should note that Democrats John Hieftje, Council members Marcia Higgins, Margie Teall, Carsten Hohnke, Tony Derezinski, and Sandi Smith enjoy regular (and sizable) campaign donations from well-known Republicans and PACs that regularly support conservative candidates and causes that are anti-gay, anti-family and, frankly, politically repugnant to progressives. When Derezinski, for instance, first ran for Ann Arbor City Council as a Democrat, then chair of the Michigan Republican Party, Ron Weiser, wrote a large check to fund Derezinski’s run. Together, Weiser and his wife donated $7,000 to Rick Snyder’s campaign. Democrats Higgins, Teall, Hieftje, Hohnke, Derezinski and Sandi Smith gave no financial support to Democrat Virg Bernero.

The question that arises from the Greff’s support of Republican Rick Snyder is this: should spending be predicated on politics? Certainly, gay rights groups, women’s rights groups and environmental groups spend millions each year evaluating the politics of businesses in our country then sharing the results with their members and constituents. Special interest groups believe that money talks, and when businesses fall out of the good graces of a particular group, it can be front page news. For instance, in October of 2011, Daily Finance published a story headlined, “Target, Best Buy and 3M Lose Gay Rights Group Top Rating.” What happened? The Human Rights Campaign caught the companies making campaign donations “to an organization that backs the election of an anti-gay candidate for the governor of Minnesota.”

This comes from a reader: “Certainly the Greffs don’t owe any of us an explanation for anything they do…but to the extent that they hope to continue operating a profitable business in Ypsi, they might find a clear and forthright explanation for this to be a good business move.”

Would you boycott a local business if you found out the owner contributed to political candidates, causes or political action committees you found politically repugnant or disagreeable? Vote in the poll below.

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