Sen. : "I'm capable of inspiration at any particular moment."
The Detroit News posted a remarkable video making the rounds today of Sen. Dave Robertson, R-Grand Blanc, defending his lame-duck legislation that would take campaign-finance oversight from incoming Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. As Jonathan Oosting writes:
Senate Republicans are advancing a controversial plan that would strip incoming Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson of the power to enforce the state’s campaign finance laws.
The Senate Elections Committee on Wednesday approved legislation that would instead shift campaign finance oversight to a bipartisan committee. The six members would be picked from a list submitted by each of the two major political parties.
The legislation is among a slew of lame-duck power play proposals by legislative Republicans, who will retain their majorities next year in the House and Senate as Democrats take over top statewide offices, including the secretary of state post that has been occupied by a Republican the past 24 years.
But the video is a thing unto itself. Pressed by Oosting and the Free Press' Kathy Gray, Robertson starts out smirking, "who, me?"-style, when Oosting asks why this bill, and why now? After all, the secretary of state has been a Republican for 24 years. Why is this so urgent now?
"I'm capable of inspiration at any particular moment in my career," Robertson says, still smiling, because he's so smart he can't hide how proud he is about it.
Sen. Dave Robertson: "I'm capable of inspiration at any particular moment." (Detroit News video image)
"Are you trying to strip power from Democrats?" he's asked. Ha ha, he chuckles, then doesn't answer. The mood darkens a bit when Gray mentions his own campaign-finance violations, an outstanding sum owed the state, and asks: "Are you the appropriate person to be bringing this legislation?"
"Yes, I am the right person, because I'm the chairman of this committee and I have the power," Robertson replies. Gray presses, and boy, he doesn't like that one bit. "I've answered that question."
Then he gets peevish. What about bipartisanship? he asks. Democrats keep saying they want that, so let's see it, he says, never mind that the Republicans in Lansing have never shown the least interest in bipartisanship, having firmly held power in both chambers and the entire executive branch for eight years now. Then he huffs off.
Worth a watch to see your sausage-makers elbow-deep in the grease.
