A Pre-Emptive Strike Against the Law of Unintended Consequences

I don't think anyone is deluded enough to think that the Republican advocacy an amendment to the Constitution allowing foreign-born American citizens to run for President is about anything but Arnold Schwarzenegger. However, I don't think even the most ardent knee-jerk Republican wants to amend the Constitution for just one person, for all that they're calling it the "Arnold Amendment".



The minefield for Republicans in this amendment can be summed up in two words: Jennifer Granholm. Granholm is the popular governor of Michigan, and widely seen as a rising star in the Democratic party, albeit one with limited aspirations to this point, since she was born in Canada.



However, the intrepid and dogged sleazemeisters that populate today's Republicans are right on top of the situation:

Michigan Republicans plan to attack Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm in the next gubernatorial race on the same moral issues that helped President George W. Bush win re-election Tuesday over Democratic Sen. John Kerry.





"The 2006 race has begun today, and we are laying the values debate at Gov. Granholm's doorstep," state GOP Executive Director Greg McNeilly declared Thursday, at a postelection conference of pundits and political leaders.



McNeilly added, "She's wrong on abortion, she's wrong on gay marriage and she's wrong on the war on terror." McNeilly referred to a brief televised interview last week in which Granholm said women would like to hear Bush apologize for mistakes made in the Iraq war.



He said Republicans need to get the Michigan Bush voters, who outnumbered the Granholm voters of 2002, "back out in 2006. They need to realize the threat she is to their beliefs." The GOP plans to pursue the same themes in running against U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow in two years.



Although Granholm opposes gay marriage -- but supports civil unions -- she opposed Proposal 2, a constitutional ban on gay marriage, calling it unnecessary and divisive. Proposal 2 was approved by Michigan voters Tuesday by a wide margin.



McNeilly's remarks drew sharp responses from a Granholm staffer and Democratic state party Chairman Mark Brewer.



"It's just a continuation of personal attacks that they've tried on her. None of it has worked," Brewer said. "Michigan voters know her better than they did John Kerry. Voters know her and trust her and like her."



Brewer said attacking Granholm on moral values would backfire.



Granholm's spokeswoman, Liz Boyd, said McNeilly's remarks were sour grapes by the state GOP and its leader, Betsy DeVos.



"The Republican Party apparatus lost at the local level, the state level and the Legislature to Democratic candidates who vowed to fight for good-paying jobs, improved education and access to affordable health care," Boyd said. "They still don't get that those are the issues that really matter to Michigan voters."



She added, "There's something wrong when people are so vicious and mean-spirited on the very day when their own party leaders are calling for unity."

Hey, Republicans: Be careful what you wish for.