Upton, Camp, Miller, Rogers, Huizenga and Amash Call on Agema to Step Down

On Wednesday night, the senior members of the congressional delegation released a joint call for Agema to resign: U.S. Reps. Fred Upton of St. Joseph, Dave Camp of Midland, Mike Rogers of Howell and Candice Miller of Harrison Township.

“We believe that to build our party and put our core beliefs into practice that leaders must be respectful of others and not engage in hurtful and destructive rhetoric that does nothing to move our state and nation forward,” the four leadership members said. “National Committeeman Dave Agema has unfortunately and continually taken this unproductive path and we believe his actions disqualify him to be a leader of the party of which we are all so proud to be members. We believe that it is time for Dave Agema to resign.”

Separately, Republican Reps. Bill Huizenga of Zeeland and Justin Amash of Cascade Township have asked for Agema’s resignation, while Reps. Tim Walberg of Tipton and Dan Benishek of Crystal Falls have not weighed in.

“I did not support Dave Agema’s original bid for national committeeman, and I do not support him now,” Huizenga said in a statement to The News. “The best thing for him to do for the party and himself is to resign.”

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140122/POLITICS02/301220077#ixzz2rCHKv2iL

Dave Agema Lied About His Time With American Airlines

MICHIGAN

FACT CHECK: Agema Claimed American Airlines Forced By San Francisco To Provide Benefits To Gay Couples

By Todd Heywood

Originally printed 12/11/2013 (Issue 2150 - Between The Lines News)

Former State Rep. Dave Agema, a Republican from Grandville, has been making national headlines again for inflammatory claims about the LGBT community. In his most recent comments, he claims the city of San Francisco forced American Airlines (his former employer) to provide domestic partner benefits.

The Herald Palladium in Benton Harbor provides a transcriptof his full comments. Here is the relevant claim:

"I know what happened to American Airlines when San Francisco said we could not land in San Francisco and do business with American Airlines unless we paid same sex unmarried benefits."

The problem? Agema's claim does not match the facts provided by history.

The City of San Francisco passed an ordinance requiring all contractors to the city to provide domestic partner benefits in 1996 and 1997. Among those contractors were airlines, including United and American. United, which had a larger presence in the city's airport, challenged the ordinance in federal court. The airlines were represented by their industry interest groups,Air Transport Association of America and Airline Industrial Relations Conference The Federal Express Corporation also joined the suit as a plaintiff. READ MORE

Detroit Free Press: Is the GOP Ready to Dump Agema?

By Nancy Kaffer

Detroit Free Press Columnist

• FILED UNDER

• Commentary And Criticism
• Nancy Kaffer
• Rick Snyder
• Candice Miller
• Fred Upton

Related Links

• Dave Agema skips GOP meetings in Washington amid rumors of resignation

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How do you solve a problem like Dave Agema?

No one seems to know, but finally, Republicans are talking about it.

Agema, a former state legislator, current member of the Republican National Committee and a regular embarrassment, just can’t seem to stop talking. Most recently, he made headlines after making Facebook posts, AGAIN, that are “critical of” — ha! Let’s get real, here — that are toxic, malevolent, wrong-headed and vile, about Muslims, gays and lesbians.

(According to folks in Agema’s Facebook inner circle, he’s now claiming those posts were meant to prompt debate. Can I get a massive eyeroll?)

Agema’s said things like, no Muslim has ever made a positive contribution to this country, or that gays and lesbians are “filthy” and only supported the Affordable Care Act because they’re dying of AIDS. Real forward-thinking stuff, here. Even when the things he’s saying are contrary not just to good taste and common sense, they’re not in the best interests of his own party, which (at least sometimes) is desperately trying to attract a broader base of voters.

READ MORE

Rumor has it...

Rumor has it that the RNC has made some offer to Agema to get him to step down. He asked for 4 weeks so it wouldn't look as if he were pushed out. He was refused the 4 weeks. No deal yet.

Dave Agema Claims Liberal RNC Members Are After Him

In a statement circulated (and probably written by) by John Yob at the RNC meeting, Agema said liberals have pushed the discussion of his incendiary remarks onto the RNC. He claims that it will create a battle between liberal and conservative Republicans on the committee so he decided not to attend for the good of the party.

YEA RIGHT

In his inane and repetitive "I have a dream speech" that he delivers around the state at Lincoln Day Dinners and Republican picnics, he brags that there are 120 or so conservatives on the committee...so that leaves the other 40 out as liberal?

So by Dave's math he would have solid support on the committee...they are after all true conservatives and would support him, right?

WRONG

That's why he didn't go. They do not support him.

Terri Land supposedly told Agema she doesn't agree with him but stops at that

"I have made it very clear that I do not support discrimination of any kind, and I believe that all people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect," Land said in a statement. "Dave and I have had private conversations, he knows that we disagree, and I do not support him on this matter."

http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2014/01/terri_lynn_land_1.html

Democrat's are using Dave Agema's remarks to make us all look bad:

U.S. Rep and Democratic Senate candidate Gary Peters released a statement Tuesday that "the culture of intolerance within the Republican Party should have no place in public discourse. Over the past week, there have been examples of bigotry, racism, and discrimination that attack the diversity that is our state's greatest asset."

National Democrat's using Agema as tool against Republicans:

Wasserman Schultz spoke alongside several top Michigan Democrats at Affirmations, a Ferndale social organization and service center for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
She took turns bashing former state Rep. Dave Agema with U.S. Rep. Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Twp.) -- who is running for Senate -- and Democratic candidate for governor Mark Schauer.
Agema, a Republican National Committeeman from Grandville, said earlier this month at a Berrien County Republican Party Holiday Reception that he believesgays are seeking same-sex marriage benefits because they are dying young from AIDS.
“Those comments, which were simply unacceptable, they were based on ignorance,” said Peters. “They were based on bigotry. They were based on just absolute discrimination. It goes counter to everything that we need to do as a society.”

http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2013/12/dnc_chairwoman_debbie_wasserma_1.html

On national television:

Congressmen Amash, Miller and Upton Call on Agema to Resign