This Aggression Will Not Stand, Man

On June 18, 2009, a day that will live in infamy, Rush Limbaugh, the self-appointed King of the Republican Party, suddenly and deliberately attacked the peaceful city of Flint, MI.

To be clear, Rush Limbaugh slamming Flint doesn't really surprise me considering his absolute disdain for average Americans who make less than several million dollars a year. Needless to say, his comments got me wondering about where someone like Rush comes from. Afterall, someone who has all the answers to life must have had a rough time crawling up by his bootstraps; otherwise, how could he possibly lecture a city like Flint that has suffered misfortune after misfortune? According to his wikipedia page, he has been more fortunate than you might think:

"His family is filled with a number of lawyers including his grandfather, father and his brother David. His uncle, Stephen N. Limbaugh, Sr. is a Ronald Reagan appointed federal judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri and his cousin, Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr., is currently a judge in the same court, appointed by George W. Bush. Rush Limbaugh, Sr., Limbaugh's grandfather, was a Missouri prosecutor, judge, special commissioner and served on Missouri's state House of Representatives from 1930 to 1932."

Apparently, if you're not in a position to appoint one of his family members to a judicial appointment, Rush doesn't seem to care about you; for everyone else, he simply lacks all human compassion.

Then again, why wouldn't he care about all those rich and powerful elites surrounding him? Without his wealthy and powerful friends and family, he would be a huge LOSER. Currently, he controls a radio show that makes millions of dollars from lying, exaggerating, distorting, and hate-mongering.

Not too shabby for a guy who flunked out of college - even his modern dance class. Not too shabby for a guy who has been divorced three times. Not too shabby for a guy who was a drug addict.

You know, Rush certainly likes to criticize people like us for being a drain on society and feasting upon taxpayer money. Yet, without all of those wealthy and powerful friends and family members, he would be just another prison inmate convicted of drug offenses without a penny to his name. And we the taxpayers would have to pay for him. Yet, Rush seems to have little conception regarding the hypocritical life he leads. Instead, he makes money attacking people for trying to re-build their shattered neighborhoods after an economic catastrophe - the foundation of which was laid during his friends' administrations (both Reagan and H.W. Bush). Well, Rush, King of the Republican Party, you've succeeded at alienating Americans yet again. Congratulations.

Friends of Flint, don't let people like Rush get under your skin. They are afraid of the ability and desire of people to be significant regardless of the position they were born into. People like Rush have spent their entire lives bullying others and relying on their "birth right" to lead them to success. When these people hear stories of hard working Americans rebuilding a city that an entire Nation has written off, these people feel ashamed of their own insignificant and pathetic lives. He is not a person to be angry with, he is a person to pity. Just know that there is one thing Rush won't be successful at - he will not disillusion friends of Flint nor prevent its inevitable rebirth because there are too many of us who dare to be great and for that we should be thankful.

- Keith

Save Hurley Hospital!!!

On August 4th, please vote to approve the Hurley Hospital mileage request, and take a stand to protect your access to emergency healthcare and expert medical services. With rising unemployment, high rates of foreclosure, and decreasing healthcare benefits, Hurley has been financially crippled. As a result, Hurley has engaged in budget cuts from their executives all the way down to their staff. However, these cuts are not enough, and Hurley’s continued viability is questionable. All Hurley is asking from the community is that we pay on average an additional $1-$2 per week to protect one of our local hospitals. Why should we support Hurley?

1) Hurley is one of the largest employers in Flint. Genesee County has already lost enough jobs. We cannot afford to lose another key employer.

2) Hurley specializes in pediatric medicine and neo-natal care. These two specialties are sorely lacking at Genesys and McLaren.

3) Hurley fulfills a vital role in reducing strain on the other Genesee County hospitals. Without Hurley, the other hospitals would be badly cramped, thus, reducing their services as well. Therefore, this is not just a Flint issue, but a mid-Michigan issue as well.

4) Hurley provides medical care to two-thirds of Genesee County’s uninsured. Where will these people go without Hurley? As the proportion of Michiganders with health care coverage declines, institutes like Hurley become more important in creating a much-needed option. This good will should be rewarded to prevent illness in the region, restore efficiency of Michigan workers who fall ill, and lower mortality amongst at-risk citizens like infants and seniors.

5) Hurley is part of the effort to revitalize Flint and Genesee County. Hurley is part of Flint’s core downtown redevelopment effort. Facilities at Hurley provide important training opportunities for students specializing in nursing who attend one of Flint’s fine secondary education institutions. Also, a plan is currently underway to bring a medical school to Flint, which would require a strong Hurley to meet the needs of students attending the program. This plan brings additional tax revenue into the city, which may eventually fund this mileage by itself.

While it may be easy for some in Genesee County to dismiss Flint, this is a short-sighted and narcissistic view. This view dismisses Flint’s standing as the central city of Genesee County. Those who subscribe to this ignorance risk watching their own medical care decline because the decline of Hurley will send shock waves throughout the mid-Michigan medical infrastructure. In addition, those who believe that their property values are safe from a declining Flint fail to realize the converse – their property values could rise with a revitalized Flint. All citizens of Genesee County will prosper together from a new, stronger Flint. Therefore, on August 4th, please remember to vote for the future of Flint – please remember to vote for your own economic and medical stability.

- Keith

GCYD Endorses Lt. Governor John Cherry for Governor

The Genesee County Young Democrats are honored to make an early endorsement in the 2010 Michigan gubernatorial race. It is our privilege to endorse Lt. Governor John D. Cherry, Jr., a citizen of Genesee County and an incredibly talented public servant!

Lt. Governor Cherry has worked to make college affordable to all Michigan residents through his efforts as Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education & Economic Growth . Also, he has advocated against a culture of corporate irresponsibility and Washington political stunts aimed at the destruction of the American automakers, while passionately supporting the right of employees to organize. In addition, the Lt. Governor has been a zealous advocate for the preservation of Michigan natural resources. Finally, Cherry brings a long career of experience and expertize in Lansing that will continue to serve this State well. For these reasons, the GCYD is proud to join a whole lot of democrats who have endorsed Lt. Governor Cherry, including our own Genesee County Democratic Party.

Congratulations for earning our endorsement as well as the respect and admiration of Genesee County.

GCYD Endorses Flint Mayoral Candidates

The Genesee County Young Democrats are proud to announce our endorsements of Brenda Clack and Dayne Walling in the Flint mayoral primary. Flint has been devoid of responsible leadership at the highest offices of municipal governance for a long time. Flint’s leadership has failed to act with the professional dedication, intelligence, and talent necessary for Flint to take advantage of many opportunities and attempt recovery. Luckily, Flint has been able to depend upon the entrepreneurial zeal and civic dedication of private citizens and county officials. Yet, municipal officials have only hampered this private action and inhibited the ability of good people to make grand contributions. These failures and unprofessional conduct must end today. Therefore, “change” is not only a trendy political slogan, but a necessary means to the inevitable rebirth of the great city of Flint.

These two candidates offer unique qualities that have the potential to pull Flint into the future. Brenda Clack offers experience and professionalism, which are qualities that have sorely been lacking in City Hall. Mrs. Clack has a strong history in Flint politics. She has demonstrated her credibility as a citizen of Flint and as a Democrat. Dayne Walling offers an exciting vision with change at its core. In addition, Mr. Walling has demonstrated his own brand of professionalism and experience focusing on urban planning and redevelopment. Both candidates have the potential to be amazing in City Hall. Both bring the possibility of a transformation in municipal government that is necessary in order to support the incredible amounts of redevelopment in downtown Flint.

For the foregoing reasons, the GCYD is happy to congratulate both candidates in earning our endorsement.

Kickoff Fundraiser a Success!!!

Thank you everybody for making the Changing the Community by Changing Lives Scholarship Fund kickoff at Luigi's Pizzeria a success!!! The GCYD, in conjunction with the Blue Tiger Democrats, almost tripled the funds raised thus far. Thanks to all of our speakers, guests, and volunteers who stopped by on Saturday for believing in the youth of Genesee County and playing a role in reinvigorating the community. The GCYD would also like to express our gratitude to those who have sponsored the scholarship fund. Here's a list of our sponsors so far:

Founding Sponsors:
Senator Deborah Cherry
Representative Rick Hammel
former-Representative Ted Hammon


Gold Sponsors: $200
Ms. Ethel Bailey
Lt. Governor John Cherry
Mrs. Pam Farris
Mr. Keith Flynn
Congressman Dale Kildee


Silver Sponsors: $100
Mr. John Daniel Cherry
Mrs. Catherine Frederick
Ms. Janice Hoffman
Mr. Paul Hoffman
Mr. Kyle McCree
Chairman Jack Minore, Genesee County Democratic Party
Mrs. Patsy Lou Williamson

Bronze Sponsors: $50
Mrs. Jocelyn Benson
Ms. Lauren Wolfe


If you would like to join our effort and contribute, send checks to the following address:

Michigan Blue Tiger Democrats

4116 Orme Cir.

Clio, MI 48420

(Please make checks out to "Michigan Blue Tiger Democrats"

and memo "Scholarship Fund")

If you have any further questions, call Keith Flynn at 810-625-0741.

Once again, thank you.

Here are some pictures:

Changing the Community by Changing Lives Scholarship Fund

“We have an obligation and a responsibility to be investing in our students and our schools. We must make sure that people who have the grades, the desire and the will, but not the money, can still get the best education possible.”

~ President Barack Obama

The Genesee County Young Democrats (GCYD) are working with Blue Tiger Democrats, the charitable wing of the Michigan Democratic Party, to fund the Changing the Community by Changing Lives Scholarship Fund (CCCL), an endowed scholarship to provide disadvantaged, but talented high school seniors in Genesee County the opportunity to start college.

We Michiganders know how to live through difficult times. We have seen them before and we will see them again. However, how can we ever repair our community if talented students are unable to get the education that they have been working towards for twelve years?

Our children are told from kindergarten till they graduate that if they work hard enough they will get ahead. This is simply not always the case.

Over 20,000 Genesee County students are enrolled in the free lunch program. If these students do not have lunch money, how can we expect them to have money for college tuition? By the time they pay back all their student loans, now with higher interest rates, they are too poor to be anywhere but behind. That’s unfair and it jeopardizes the American Dream.

One in six Genesee County students dropped out of school in 2007. Rather than risk the financial burden of a college education, many students opt out in order to supplement their family income with their own earnings. At a time of economic crisis, this threat to the national resource of knowledge is only increasing, and something must be done now.

Help the GCYD raise funds to support local scholars make it to college by joining us for our kickoff event at Luigi’s Pizzeria on Saturday, March 28th from 1pm-4pm. General attendance is $25 at the door for pizza and salad bar. $6.75 covers costs for the event; the rest goes toward the scholarship fund. Additional donations are welcome. Contributions are non-deductible.

Luigi’s Pizzeria

2132 Davison Rd.

Flint, MI

If you need directions or have any questions call (810) 625-0741.

The GCYD would like to thank the following sponsors for all of their support thus far:

Founding Sponsors:

Senator Deborah Cherry

Representative Rick Hammel

former-Representative Ted Hammon

Gold Sponsors:

Lt. Governor John Cherry

Mrs. Pam Farris

Mr. Keith Flynn

Congressman Dale Kildee

Silver Sponsors:

Chairman Jack Minore, Genesee County Democratic Party

Mrs. Catherine Frederick.

House Republicans Attempt to Obstruck Obama Stimulus Plan

Republicans should be careful before accusing Democrats of pork barrel politics.
Bridge to Nowhere anyone???

This week, House Republicans publicized a list of “wasteful” spending in the bill, which ironically includes dollars for flood protection infrastructure on the Mississippi River (see for yourself, here’s the list).

Apparently, House Republicans are ignorant over the warped consistency of the party blamed for the devastation left after Hurricane Katrina opposing the upgrade of our Nation’s safety infrastructure. Hypocritically, the House Republicans go on to attack spending for eco-friendly military vehicles, funds for the FBI, and the new Department of Homeland Security headquarters (apparently, DHS must be working out of a closet at the local YMCA for the last six years). Yet, the very same week our President is blasted by Republicans for being weak on defense, the hawks are no where to be found when it’s time to put money where their mouths are.

That’s not all. House Republicans also consider the proposed $850 million increase in funding for Amtrak a complete waste. At a time when this Nation is held hostage by the oil and financial industries, Republicans are making a stand against low-cost, affordable, and clean public transportation expansion. The list of deplorable waste continues as House Republicans oppose firefighters, people who hate lead poisoning, green buildings, youth activities, and community colleges.

House Republicans fail to see the BIG PICTURE. This proposed spending represents four major areas that have historically driven the American economy: 1) transportation, 2) energy, 3) education, and 4) military. Instead of seeing investment opportunities that can translate into economic growth/jobs, they have labeled these four areas “waste” and “pork.” They seem to ignore their incessant love of real pork like horse trails or the famous “Bridge to Nowhere.” While Republicans ran Congress, pork rose through the roof. Yet, when America needs to invest in dilapidated infrastructure, growth areas like those mentioned above, and even national security, the House Republibrats are throwing a temper tantrum. America needs strong leaders who are able to see past their short-term pork bellies, and start coming up with long-term solutions. Hopefully, House Republicans will get the message next election cycle.

- Keith Flynn