Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm came into office as a rising star in the Democratic Party that, it was said, could sway independents and even Republicans with her tough-on-crime approach and gun enthusiasm. But she had an embarrassing reaction to an op-ed from a Michigan legislator and professor criticizing her new tax plan:
Ms. Granholm was not pleased, going so far as to denounce the op-ed as “treasonous for the state of Michigan.” The authors’ high crime? Exposing Michigan as a high tax state and criticizing Ms. Granholm for wanting to raise taxes. Her choice of words was no inadvertent slip of the tongue, by the way–a Howard Dean-like temporary loss of sanity. The Governor has used the “t” word repeatedly and has even suggested that Mr. Baxter “should be removed from office.”
There’s an easy way to avoid future utterings of “treason” for run-of-the-mill tax policy: Ignore your critics! Will a little op-ed in the Wall Street Journal from two no-name politicians really hurt your plans (and certain national political aspirations)? I’d hate to see a figure as potentially entertaining as Howard Dean and Teresa Kerry deprived from a national stage because too many kingmakers know about her mouthiness before she wins hearts, minds and caucus voters.
I’m a tech journalist who’s making a TV show about a college newspaper.