OPINION & EDITORIAL
Vote Michels
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Also by Badger Herald Editorial Board:
- A security fee-for-all (December 11, 2007)
- Farewell, Chancellor (December 10, 2007)
- $$FC (December 6, 2007)
- In a bind (December 5, 2007)
- Entitlement Town (December 4, 2007)
Related Stories:
- Primary colors (September 13, 2004)
- Feingold for Senate (November 1, 2004)
- Feingold right to forgo '08 candidacy (November 14, 2006)
- '08 hopefuls test political climate (November 15, 2006)
- An open letter to Senator Feingold (December 2, 2004)
by Badger Herald Editorial Board
Monday, September 13, 2004
This Tuesday’s Republican primary for the United States Senate presents a fairly unique situation where three candidates all seem to enter the polling day with equally viable chances of being tapped to go forward and challenge Russ Feingold in November. Excepting Robert Lorge, a long-shot fourth candidate, the race appears to come down to a choice between Russ Darrow, a car dealer; Bob Welch, a State Senator; and Tim Michels, a construction company executive.
We endorse Michels.
As the University of Wisconsin faces budget cuts while the state prison system sees a new influx of cash, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the value of higher education is grossly underestimated by our state leaders. Similar trends across America, including a recent US News & World Report ranking that failed to place a single public university in the top 20 American doctoral colleges, reveal that leaders nationwide — and in Washington — are making the same errant judgments on higher education.
Michels, more so than Darrow or Welch, comes to the political table with hands-on experience that reveals his appreciation for the value of education. The holder of a Bachelors degree and two Masters degrees, the Wisconsin businessman clearly appreciates the intellectual and developmental value of a robust lecture hall.
A member of the Board of Trustees of Marian College for the past five years, it is evident that Michels has not abandoned his strong background in academia and continues to appreciate higher education. He supports various programs that would help make college savings and loans more accessible through the alleviation and abolition of taxes on such moneys, and we welcome these steps toward greater educational affordability.
Moreover, Michels would come to Washington with the sort of experience that lends valuable insight to a major national issue but does not carry the heavy baggage of personal political debts accumulated over time. Formerly one of the youngest captains in the United States Army and the commanding general of the military district of Washington, Michels served 12 years in the armed forces before leaving the military with the high rank of major.
This background is of paramount importance as the Senate continues to fund and help guide the war on terror, including armed conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Student members of the National Guard from UW and elsewhere find themselves called up to serve this country on an almost daily basis. As international conflicts become increasingly complicated and entangled, it seems sensible to consider a candidate who has personally seen experience in the armed forces.
Other issues abound, but this board considers educational policy, life experience and stance on the war to be of the highest import to the student body. The three primary candidates appear to share similar stances on the latter issue. But Michels boasts of the most impressive life experience and offers the most promising rhetoric on higher education.
While Welch appears to share some of these positive qualities, it is most unfortunate that Darrow — a frontrunner if there is to be one — has outlined no substantive position on higher education.
Voting is arguably the most important of civil duties, and we encourage everyone to do so in favor of Michels Tuesday.
Anonymous (September 13, 2004 @ 4:06pm):
Unfortunately Mr. Michels has no experience doing what he would be doing as a Senator. In fact, he ran for a state senate seat in Wisconsin and lost. It's pretty sad that someone with that much money couldn't win a state senate seat. I'm far-left (though I may vote in the Republican primary if I feel like it) but the only "real" candidate in the primary is Bob Welch. Lorge is a nice guy and actually least beholden to special interests but he seems sort of "out there" - you know what I mean if you heard him on WPR a few weeks ago. I'm glad you didn't endorse Russ Darrow though becuase he is seriously clueless and has no idea what he would even do if he gets elected. Out of all of them Bob Welch seems to be the most experienced, and true to conservative and Republican values out of the bunch.
Anonymous (September 13, 2004 @ 6:20pm):
Vote Bob Welch for U.S. Senate. He is advocates fiscal responbility by lowering taxes and balancing the budget. He supports President Bush plan on fighting the War on Terror. He has a plan for our health care crises. He also has a plan to create Jobs. None of the other candidates have gone into the issues as Bob Welch has. Go to www.votewelch.com for more information on the issues.
Unlike Russ Darrow, he did not give money to Gary George, Jimmy Carter, and even his opponent Russ Feingold!!!
Vote for a real republican, with real leadership experience, with a positive vision for Wisconsin-VOTE BOB WELCH
Anonymous (September 13, 2004 @ 10:46pm):
I think it is unfortunate that the Badger Herald endorsed Tim Michels for US Senate. I admit that I do not know much about any of the Republican candidates, but I was deeply offended by some of Tim Michel's television adds that have been aired recently.
The add I found most offensive was an add about the Patriot Act, which I adamently oppose. The add showed a man, who appeared to be of Arab or middle-eastern descent, looking through a pair of binoculures at a power plant, and said something about enabling the government to track terrorists. Regardless of one's feelings about the Patriot Act, this paints a bleak picture of race relations in the United States post-9/11. I find it very offensive that a political candidate would use this type of image to play to Wisconsin's (albeit racist) insecurities.
I am thinking of voting for Tim Michel's in tomorrow's primary, but only in hopes that if he wins more people would vote for Feingold in the general election.
