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Kyle Melinn

Michigan Republican Party Chair Ron Weiser doesnt typically peak at public events for a reason. To be generous, his reputation isnt one of firing up a crowd.

The former ambassadors fort is raising money. Hes very good at it. If he cant raise it all, hell dig into his own deep pocket to cover the difference.

But on Thursday, Weiser was pushed into duty. The influential North Oakland County Republican Club had a meeting where a MIGOP presence was needed. His charismatic Co-chairwoman, Meshawn Maddock, was out of the town.

His first public speaking engagement since being elected MRP chairman was rough. The North Oakland County area is a former Tea Party hotbed. It went headfirst into Trumpism early in the 16 cycle. Now, its one of many homes to the grumpy disaffected.

To them, the election was rigged. The media is biased. Social progressivism is being shoved down their throat.

The illegals are crashing the southern border. COVID is BS and so are the governors restrictions. Theyd say more about it, but theyre tired of being shamed and canceled on social media.

Its to these irritable folks with their middle finger perpetually hoisted in the air that Weiser spoke. He clearly wasnt comfortable. Still, we all learned several notable key takeaways that are easy to miss simply looking at the headlines.

1. If you werent aware, the Republican Party base is cranky and theres a lot of them. Remember, Trump didnt win Michigan in 2016 by a lot and he didnt lose in 2020 by a lot. Polling would indicate theres a solid 40% of voters mostly rural, high school educated, blue collar voters who fall into Disaffected bucket.

2. Weiser referred to the governor, secretary of state and attorney general as the three witches who must be defeated in 2020. This wasnt a slip of the tongue. He said witches three times.

Weiser was throwing red-meat rhetoric to a hostile crowd and clearly went over the top with his burning at the stake political hyperbole. However, theres folks in the crowd who wished hed use a different word than witches. A rhyming word and starts with a B.To them, witches is a tame descriptor, kind of like fix the darn roads.

So, while the political left is going bonkers trying to keep the ball rolling on this story, just keep in mind that theres GOP grassroots who would be fine with a lot worse language. Dont be surprised if others use worse.

3. The crowd pressed Weiser on what should be done to U.S. Reps. Fred Upton and Peter Meijer for voting to impeach Trump. His answer: If primary voters dont like their vote, they can vote them out of office in 2022. That wasnt good enough. They wanted Weiser to openly say they need to go or something along those lines.

As chairman of the party, Weiser isnt going to do that. Agitated and unsure of how else to get his point across, Weiser blurted out in clear frustration that they could be assassinated. He clearly wasnt advocating it. He was making a point that in a democracy, we vote people out we dont like. Thats it. He made the point poorly and wont do it again.

Weiser is walking a tight rope. Hes used to reasoning with successful people who understand the way the world and politics works. Many Republican supporters arent interested in reasonable right now.

4. Weiser mentioned a 2022 voting reform ballot proposal that will come out of whatever the governor vetoes from the legislative Republicans 40-some bills moving through the system. A return to ID checks before voting, even for absentees? No prepaid postage on AV ballots? Drop boxes closed at 5 p.m. the day before an election?

Who knows what will ultimately get thrown into the soup? Thats not the point. The point is the lengths Weiser and GOP leadership are going to connect with their disgruntled base.

Continue reading here:
What we learned from Weiser's visit to North Oakland - City Pulse