William G. Milliken March 26, 1922 – Oct. 18, 2019
William Milliken was governor from 1969-83.
Here's the ultimate in pettiness, particularly when you're talking about a former Republican governor (1969-83) beloved by many Michigan residents from both parties.
Grand Traverse Republican Party leaders voted to no longer recognize former Gov. Bill Milliken, 94, of Traverse City as a Republican after he backed Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, according to Kathleen Gray of the Detroit Free Press.
It's like a political excommunication, in effect.
The party's resolution says, in part:
“For endorsing Hillary Clinton, a known liar, probable felon, and Democrat for President over the Republican Nominee Donald Trump, we find the political actions and biannual endorsements of those in other parties by this figure of former Republican prominence to be detrimental to our party, its platform, and its candidates.
"Be it resolved that through a vote of duly elected Republican delegates in the Aug. 11 County Convention, the Former Governor William G Milliken's status as a Republican be no longer recognized by the Grand Traverse County Republican Party.”
Milliken has backed other Democrats in the past, including Sen. Gary Peters.
In 2008, he supported Republican Sen. John McCain in presidential primary season, but not in the general election when McCain faced off against Democrat Sen. Barack Obama.
"He is not the McCain I endorsed," Milliken said then. "He keeps saying, 'Who is Barack Obama?' I would ask the question, 'Who is John McCain?' because his campaign has become rather disappointing to me.
"I'm disappointed in the tenor and the personal attacks on the part of the McCain campaign, when he ought to be talking about the issues."
A number of Republicans in Washington have denounced Trump as unfit to be president. A number of former officials from President George W. Bush's administration have endorsed Clinton
