Death Threats, Anti-Semitism, Homophobia Pervade Bill Schuette’s Campaign

by John Tramontana

LANSING – Bill Schuette’s dirty campaign tactics, which have centered around the ranting of an anti-Semitic woman, have resulted in a very serious death threat against Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton, Schuette’s opponent in the attorney general’s race.

The MIRS Capital newsletter reported Tuesday that Leyton received a death threat on his office answering machine last weekend from a man in Oakland County.

MIRS reported the man as saying: “Hey, David Leyton, I''m a Michigan resident. I think you''re a piece of (expletive) dirt. I hope you get murdered in a spectacularly horrible way that (expletive) makes your family (expletive) wish people didn''t exist. People like you. Because you''re a piece of (expletive) dirt. And If I ever (expletive) see you driving or walking, maybe I''ll (expletive) swerve your way and maybe I''ll (expletive) run you over. Because you''re a piece of (expletive) dirt. (Expletive).”

The threat comes just days after the Michigan Republican Party began airing an advertisement featuring Deb McIntosh attacking Leyton. The ad, the content of which has been debunked by police, gives Leyton’s phone number and asks viewers to call him.

McIntosh’s motivations for attacking Leyton became clearer after she posted the following statement Saturday on a message board at MLive.com: “[H]ow dare the FLINT URINAL not show me the respect to get my side of the story, instead of ONE SIDE,,,oh A JEWISH OWNED PAPER,,,,and lEYTON IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION,,,,FLINT JOURNAL you should be ashamed of youself,,,I will never ever give you the time of day again ever......stay away from me, your as bad as the liars when you do not print both sides.”

McIntosh’s hatred appears to extend beyond Jewish people. The Michigan Messenger reported Tuesday that McIntosh made inflammatory remarks about gays in response to the Andrew Shirvell bullying case, saying in a blog post, “I am tired of hearing gay people whine and cry, they are such little girls, GROW UP AND BE A MAN.”

Leyton has been a leader in calling for the firing of Shirvell, an assistant attorney general, for stalking and harassing an openly gay University of Michigan student.

Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer is calling on Schuette and the Michigan Republican Party to pull the ad featuring McIntosh from the airwaves before tragedy strikes.

“The death threat against David Leyton is the result of the hate-filled campaign that Bill Schuette and the Republicans are running,” Brewer said. “Bill Schuette is running a false attack ad against David Leyton, which he knows to be untrue. It’s outrageous that Bill Schuette and the Republicans would continue running this dangerous ad, considering the woman in the ad, Deb McIntosh, is being motivated by her dislike of the Jewish people, gays and lesbians. Anti-Semitism and homophobia are bad enough — now there are people out there threatening to kill David Leyton, all thanks to Bill Schuette and the Michigan Republican Party.”