The Snarl campaign for Bouchard

Press Release Cheney Raises Money for Bouchard, Avoids Meeting with Big Three GRAND RAPIDS- Today Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer criticized Vice President Dick Cheney for not meeting with the Big Three CEOs while in Grand Rapids for a political fundraiser with GOP U.S. Senate candidate Mike Bouchard. President Bush also avoided the Big 3 when he came to Clarkston earlier this month for a fundraiser with Bouchard. The Bush-Cheney Administration canceled three meetings with the Big Three CEOs, criticized them for not making “relevant” vehicles and has refused to adopt health care, trade and tax policies that level the playing field with their foreign competitors. "Bouchard is once again openly embracing the failed Bush Administration by having Cheney come in today," Brewer said. "It is typical that a Republican like Bouchard is more interested in Cheney raising money for his campaign than having Cheney tackle the problems the auto industry is facing in Michigan. In every decision, Cheney chooses personal profit over helping people. A perfect example is his no-bid contracts for Halliburton. Now it seems his crony Bouchard is following suit." General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner has also been very critical of the Bush-Cheney Administration’s lack of leadership on health care and energy costs affecting businesses. The Detroit Free Press reported that Wagoner, speaking at an auto industry seminar in Traverse City, said, “Some of the things that we all believe are necessary to ensure the continued strength of the (manufacturing) sector, which I think is just vital ... we just don't see the leadership." Michigan has been especially hurt by the Bush-Cheney Administration’s economic polices. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Michigan has lost over 180,000 or 1/3 of its manufacturing jobs since the Bush took office. Many of those jobs were lost due to outsourcing. “It’s very revealing that Dick DeVos continues to avoid Bush and Cheney when they are in his hometown, especially since the DeVos family gave over $600,000 to their campaign,” said Brewer. “DeVos simply doesn’t want to let Michigan voters know where he truly stands - alongside his friends Dick Cheney and George Bush.” On October 30, 2004, during a speech in Grand Rapids, President Bush thanked the DeVos family for their support and specifically thanked Dick DeVos’ wife, Betsy, for her “friendship.” According to the Detroit News in 1999, Dick and Betsy DeVos were dinner guests at the Bush ranch in Texas. Many other Republican campaigns around the United States have stated they are unwilling to campaign with Bush or Cheney. For example: ''It just doesn't help me; the things he (Bush) says or does in my district don't really help,'' said Representative Rob Simmons of Connecticut, a Republican facing a particularly tough challenge from Democrats. [New York Times, September 8/2006] "In a word, no. Not at this time." - Rep. J.D. Hayworth when asked if he would like President Bush to help him campaign in Arizona [Imus in the Morning, 11/9/2005] "We just want him to raise money. Late at night. In an undisclosed location." - An aide to GOP Gubernatorial candidate Judy Topinka, asked if she would like President Bush to campaign for her this year [Washington Post, Will Column, 4/6/2006] "Is the president a political help? No, that's obvious." - GOP Sen. candidate Mike McGavick [MSNBC, 9/6/2006