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| State Rep. Todd Courser (Photo mod by Jared Maynard) |
By Brandon Hall
(Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com)
State Representatives Lee Chatfield and Gary Glenn have joined calls for fellow legislators Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat to resign.In his statement, Chatfield reminded people that we all have issues we are dealing with.
God has always used imperfect people to achieve His will, and He will continue to do so," Chatfield said. "That is why God should receive all the glory for any good thing ever accomplished. King David, for example, committed a sin with a woman who was not his wife and even went so far as to have the husband murdered to cover up his sin. However, even though he faced dire consequences, God continued to use him because David’s response (found in Psalm 51) was an acknowledgement of his failure before God.
Have any of us who are sharing our thoughts about this affair attained total victory in every single area of our personal lives? By no means, and let’s be sure to not act as though we have."
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| State Rep. Lee Chatfield, right, with Gary Glenn |
Full Chatfield statement:
"TIME FOR COURSER AND GAMRAT TO RESIGN
Being subjected to public opinion and ridicule as an elected official can often be difficult, but it is something we all knew about full well before we decided to run for office. Being elected is an honor of high value, and that privilege should never be taken lightly. Public service is an opportunity, and a responsibility, to conduct yourself in an honest, faithful manner to your neighbors, your colleagues and before God.
Last week, two colleagues in the Legislature with whom I share sincere beliefs and a core philosophy were found to be in gross misconduct. Due not only to the initial misconduct, but also the deceitful efforts taken to cover it up and to intentionally mislead the public by conspiring to use state-funded resources, I firmly believe that they should publicly acknowledge their sin and violation of the public trust, and immediately resign the post that their constituents so graciously extended to them.
That is not to say that they should have no future in this world or stop trying to improve the lives of their neighbors and our community. I have witnessed many across the state use this situation as an opportunity to lash out and criticize these legislators who have strong religious beliefs and to mock their politics. But, as a believer in Jesus Christ, my reaction must be dressed in love and forgiveness because the only reason that I have a relationship with Christ at all is due to His love and forgiveness for my sin. None of us are perfect, and we all deserve at least that measure of understanding.
God has always used imperfect people to achieve His will, and He will continue to do so. That is why God should receive all the glory for any good thing ever accomplished. King David, for example, committed a sin with a woman who was not his wife and even went so far as to have the husband murdered to cover up his sin. However, even though he faced dire consequences, God continued to use him because David’s response (found in Psalm 51) was an acknowledgement of his failure before God.
Have any of us who are sharing our thoughts about this affair attained total victory in every single area of our personal lives? By no means, and let’s be sure to not act as though we have.
In no way am I advocating for a free pass for this significant indiscretion, but rather imploring us all to take a hard look in the mirror before we so readily pile on those who have made terrible mistakes. I am asking my colleagues to do the right thing, resign their posts and acknowledge their failure.
Stepping down from office cannot erase the extreme harm and damage that these two have caused to themselves, their families, the Legislature, the people of Michigan and the cause of Christ, but it will allow their process of healing and reconciliation to begin. Let us all treat others the same way that we would like to be treated and move forward together as a unified state."
>>>Here is Gary Glenn's full statement:
"Tragic and sad as it is to say given the damage to their families, constituents, and the legislative process, it is my firm belief that Rep. Courser and Rep. Gamrat should immediately resign from the state House of Representatives.
There is no possible reasoning or rationale by which their remaining in office will benefit their families or the conservative cause that so many have worked so long to advance. The longer the scandal and ridicule continues, the more damage will be done to both their families and to that cause.
It is absolutely not "essential for the cause of liberty," as Rep. Courser asserts, that he remain in public office. The behavior to which he's publicly admitted has, by association, damaged and discredited the cause of liberty and of conservative, constitutional, and limited government, and the longer political adversaries are allowed to demonize those principles in the media by association with such tactics, the more damage will be done to conservatives' ability to advance those ideals in Michigan.
We are taught by our Christian faith to offer compassion, forgiveness, prayers, and support to those who acknowledge wrongdoing and make sincere efforts to heal the damage done to their families. But extending such compassion and forgiveness to them as individual private citizens does not mean they should remain in positions of public trust, leadership, and accountability.
I'm hopeful that they will not force their families, constituents, or fellow legislators to endure weeks, months, or longer of allowing this damaging distraction to continue. It should end now."
There is no possible reasoning or rationale by which their remaining in office will benefit their families or the conservative cause that so many have worked so long to advance. The longer the scandal and ridicule continues, the more damage will be done to both their families and to that cause.
It is absolutely not "essential for the cause of liberty," as Rep. Courser asserts, that he remain in public office. The behavior to which he's publicly admitted has, by association, damaged and discredited the cause of liberty and of conservative, constitutional, and limited government, and the longer political adversaries are allowed to demonize those principles in the media by association with such tactics, the more damage will be done to conservatives' ability to advance those ideals in Michigan.
We are taught by our Christian faith to offer compassion, forgiveness, prayers, and support to those who acknowledge wrongdoing and make sincere efforts to heal the damage done to their families. But extending such compassion and forgiveness to them as individual private citizens does not mean they should remain in positions of public trust, leadership, and accountability.
I'm hopeful that they will not force their families, constituents, or fellow legislators to endure weeks, months, or longer of allowing this damaging distraction to continue. It should end now."
>>>Read more below:
Blogger who supported Gamrat-Courser ended up chronicling their downfall
MLive: Courser+Gamrat: Evolution Of A Sex Scandal
WMP In Buzzfeed
WMP Featured On Fox 17 For Helping Break Courser/Gamrat Scandal
Courser And Gamrat Must Resign
Confirmed: Courser+Gamrat Met At Lansing Radisson For Dozens Of Sexual Trysts
Read Todd Courser's Full False Flag Email Uncensored (Warning: Explicit Content)
Breaking: Detroit News Confirms WMP's Courser Email Story, Reveals Affair With State Rep. Cindy Gamrat
False Flag? Sources: Courser Sent Controversial Email+House GOP Leadership Knows, No Longer Attends Caucus Meetings
Selweski: Strange tea party soap opera at the state Capitol
Detroit News: Recordings: State rep asked aide to hide relationship
WMP In Huffington Post
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Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.
>>>Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com
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| Photo By Darlene Dowling Thompson |
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