Here is the video from the television broadcast of Bert Copple and Sander Levin today on NBC this morning. Copple hit Levin pretty hard today on the fact that voting for Levin does not equal change, but in fact is a vote for a continuation of the failed policies of Sander Levin.
“I wish he would have debated me,” says Copple. “It would have been interesting to see how he defends his tenure in congress after not really accomplishing anything over the last quarter-century.”
Posted in 2008 Election, Bert Copple, GOP, Michigan, Politics, Sander Levin, U.S. Congress | Tags: 12th district, Bert Copple, Democrat, GOP, Republican, Sander Levin, U.S. Congress
Here is the latest article on-line concerning the race in the 12th Congressional District, Read the article by clicking here.
Even in the 12th Congressional District, voters are talking “change.”
“There’s a real surge for change out there,” said incumbent Sander Levin, D-Royal Oak, who is seeking his 14th consecutive term in Congress. The desire for change is the “strongest I’ve ever seen,” he said.
Republican challenger Bert Copple agrees. “Everywhere I go,” he said, “voters want change.”
Not surprisingly, Copple’s literature has a message of change. But it’s quite different from the incumbent’s: “Pink slip Sander Levin,” states the literature he has been distributing to voters in the 12th District – an expansive area extending from Southfield and Lathrup Village eastward through Oak Park, Ferndale, Hazel Park and Eastpointe to St. Clair Shores.
Levin has been part of the problem in Washington, Copple insists. Within the last decade, “We’ve lost 26,000 jobs,” he said, “and 23,000 more people are living in poverty. I’m worried about the next generation.”
Copple said he has been going door-to-door – “thousands of doors,” he said, “sometimes on my lunch hour” – and meeting with small groups of voters. They want change, he said, and they want more fiscal responsibility in Washington – starting with a new U.S. Representative in the 12th District.
Libertarian Candidate John Vico is also calling for change. “Sandy Levin probably means well,” he said. “But over the last 10 years, he and other members of Congress (including Republicans) have listened more to special interests, rather than constituents.”
The recent federal bailout – under which Congress, at the urging of the President, authorized $700 billion to stabilize some financial institutions – is a dramatic example, Vico said. “Ninety percent of the people didn’t want that bailout,” he said, “but Levin and others voted for it.”
The best way to initiate change, Vico insisted, is to oust Levin and other members of Congress who he said helped get the country into its present state of economic distress.
His campaign is drastically different than others in the race, Vico said. “I’m doing a lot of campaigning on the Internet,” he said. But he’s still getting a strong message of change in response, Vico said.
Other candidates in the race – William J. Opalicky, the Green Party candidate from Southfield, and Les Townsend, the U.S. Taxpayers candidate from Fraser – did not respond to numerous requests from the Southfield Eccentric.
Levin’s life was interrupted by the passing of his wife Vicki, who died in September after a battle with cancer. “But I’ve been talking to people,” he said this week, “and people are hurting. They’ve lost jobs, lost their health care and, in some cases, lost their homes to foreclosure.
“People want a government that stands up for them and the interests of the country,” he said. “That’s why Obama will carry Michigan.”
McCain claims to be a maverick, Levin said, “but he’s supported Bush 90 percent of the time.”
The change he thinks voters want, the incumbent said, is to oust Republicans who he said are perceived as favoring big business and special interest, rather than average voters.
Posted in 2008 Election, Bert Copple, GOP, Michigan, Politics, Sander Levin, U.S. Congress | Tags: 12th congressional district, Bert Copple, change, John Vico, Michigan, pink slip sandy, Sander Levin, U.S. Congress
The following is from a stroy in the Daily Tribune on Sunday, October 26, 2008. Feel free to visit the wbeiste here and leave a message.
12th District
In the 12th District, which includes much of Macomb County and parts of southeast Oakland County, Republican Bert Copple seeks to unseat incumbent Democrat Sander Levin.
Levin, 77, seeks a 14th two-year term while Copple, 30, is making his first run at elective office. Levin lives in Royal Oak while Copple is from Center Line.
Copple is married with two children, a community service representative for senior care in Birmingham and a former Army chaplain’s assistant.
Copple says he would seek to introduce national and international investment into the region for new business models and strengthen the current means of generating jobs.
He supports an all-inclusive national energy program that includes offshore and federal land drilling, nuclear development and alternative energy sources.
“Our health care system and Social Security system need to be fixed as the number of people over the age of 50 will increase by 74 percent over the next 15 years while those under 50 will grow by a mere 1 percent,” Copple said.
“As a decorated Army veteran who served in Iraq, I believe we need to drastically scale back in Iraq, finish the job in Afghanistan, and begin the long and expensive process of retrofitting our armed forces while bringing these (Department of Defense) contracts to the 12th District in an effort to create more jobs,” he said.
Levin continues to support and extension of unemployment benefits in states hit hard by job losses, assistance for those facing foreclosure, protection of the Great Lakes and development of alternative energy.
The district includes the Oakland County communities of Southfield, Lathrup Village, Hazel Park, Madison Heights, Ferndale, Oak Park, Huntington Woods, Pleasant Ridge and part of Royal Oak.
Also seeking the seat is the Green Party’s William Opalicky, U.S. Taxpayers’ Les Townsend and Libertarian John Vico.
Here’s to hoping the Obama change factor leads to change in all areas of Washington, inclucing pink slipping 26 year incumbent Sander Levin.
Fire Levin. Hire Copple!
Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: 12th congressional district, Bert Copple, Democrat, GOP, Michigan, pink slip sandy, Sander Levin, U.S. Congress, whi is bert copple
Hundreds of pro-life voters have called me on my cell phone, emailed me, and have even sent me letters and postcards. Their question has been, “Are you pro-life or not?”
This has deeply concerned me because I am pro-life. In fact, I am a minster, and before stepping down from the pastorate in August, I had even delivered a sermon on the reasons why abortion was morally and spiritually wrong. I am a father of two precious boys, and I believe that life begins at conception. I believe that abortion is the killing if innocent life. Apparently the good folks at Michigan Right-to-Life don’t care about my views or convictions, and instead of endorsing me for Congress, they have decided to endorse no candidate.
Needless to say, I think those who made this decision need to have their heads, and hearts, checked. I say that with all the respect in the world. But I’m not one of those politicians who is going to play nice just to save face. This decision is reckless and may even cost candidates such as myself to lose votes at the polls.
By not endorsing my candidacy, they are in effect saying that a vote for Sander Levin is equal to a vote for myself. But last time I checked, Sander Levin supported abortion rights. Are you confused? So am I.
The Right to Life website states that a candidate must meet the following requirements to be endorsed by their organization:
You can see the RTL PAC requirements by clicking here.
The problem here is that is appears RTL only desires to help candidates that are in “safe” districts or have the financial means to buy an election. This means that in districts, such as the 12th, where more than 65% of registered voters are democrat, candidates such as myself will never receive an endorsement from RTL, even though I am adamantly pro-life, and a paying member of RTL Warren-Centerline.
The biggest issue I have is that I never even asked for the help of RTL volunteers. However, by leaving the congressional endorsement blank, they have essentially declared that I am not pro-life, and that that I am not electable. And how exactly would it have been a depletion of RTL resources by printing my name there? Would it have been that much extra ink that it would have broken their bank?
Thanks for the vote of confidence!
My suggestion is that folks in the 12th District stop making contributions to Michigan Right to Life during election years, and instead make contributions to those candidates who fulfill the most important requirement: They are pro-life. Many folks have already made this pledge, and I encourage you to do the same. Tell RTL that you appreciate what they do (and I do) and then tell them that you’ll handle the endorsement portion of their mandate since they don’t do a very good job at it themselves.
Feel free to call RTL and ask them why I wasn’t endorsed. Their number is 586-774-6050.
My name is Bert Copple. I am pro-life. And I am asking for your endorsement this year on November 4th.
Posted in 2008 Election, Bert Copple, GOP, Michigan, Politics, U.S. Congress | Tags: Bert Copple, is bert copple pro life, right to life
Two dozen volunteers descended on Warren neighborhoods north of I-696 today to deliver more than 3,000 pink slips to residents. The purpose? To drive home the point that more than 26,000 jobs have been lost since 2000, and that 26 years of Sandy Levin is long enough for Michigan’s 12th Congressional District.
After canvassing the neighborhoods, the volunteers moved to Sander Levin’s Congressional office near I-696 and Gratiot in Roseville to protest the incumbant.
“We had a lot of fun today,” said Bert Copple, the District’s Republican nominee. “Hearing folks honk for change and supporting our desires to pink slip Sandy Levin is what this is all about. Not to mention that we easily exposed a few thousand people to our message today, right in front of his office.”
Two more protests are scheduled, but dates and times are not being released.
“There is still something to be said for the element of surprise,” added Copple.
Posted in 2008 Election, Bert Copple, GOP, Michigan, Politics, Sander Levin, U.S. Congress | Tags: 12th district, Bert Copple, Democrat, GOP, Michigan, pink slip sandy, Republican, Sander Levin, U.S. Congress
Below are links to the the WXYZ Democracy 2008 candidate previews done for Bert Copple, and Sander Levin. Notice the wording used and the mission described when talking about their goals and policies. Also – not how Levin talks about Social Security. Something about how the system is fixed…for this generation…but he shows no compassion or mercy for the next two generations that will still be stuck with the problem he never fixed as the chairperson of the subcommittee on Social Security. When you are done watching the videos, vote for your favorite. Thanks!
Bert Copple on WXYZ: http://www.wxyz.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoId=15687@wxyz.dayport.com
Sander Levin on WXYZ: http://www.wxyz.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoId=15855@wxyz.dayport.com
On Friday, October 16, 2008, the producer of WMUZ’s Bob Dutko show invited D-Rep Sander Levin and R-Candidate Bert Copple to have a discussion on his top-rated Christian radio talk show.
Copple agreed to the on-air opportunity. “Sandy Levin is obviously worried about debating a conservative working towards change during these times. We’d love the opportunity to at least have a discussion with him about some issues that the WMUZ calling audience would like to ask.”
As of Wednesday, Sander Levin’s office has not accepted the challenge and a return call to the Copple for Congress campaign has not been received.
“I encourage the public to call Sandy Levin. Email him. Tell him to debate, or at least do a phone-in conversation on a radio show, to engage the 12th District in this year’s political process.”
Sander Levin’s campaign can be reached at 586-576-1636.
More will be posted here as information becomes available.
Posted in 2008 Election, Bert Copple, GOP, Michigan, Politics, Sander Levin, U.S. Congress | Tags: 2008 Election, Bert Copple, bob dutko, congressional debate, Sander Levin, U.S. Congress, wmuz
Here is an article that appeared in the Macomb Daily today, October 14, 2008…
The race for Macomb County’s two congressional seats took a dramatic turn with the meltdown on Wall Street and the ensuing Capitol Hill bailout for financial firms.
In the 10th District, U.S. Rep. Candice Miller voted against the rescue package while her Democratic opponent has called that move “reckless.”
In the 12th District, incumbent Rep. Sander Levin supported the package while his Republican challenger calls the $700 billion measure a move toward socialist government.
On economic issues, both House races offer voters a dramatic choice. The incumbents are prohibitive favorites to win re-election but their opponents promise substantially different policies if elected on Nov. 4.
“The biggest problem with the bailout is that we’re talking about using taxpayer dollars to bail out companies that made poor decisions,” said Bert Copple, 30, of Warren, the first-time candidate taking on Levin. “If you own a shop in Roseville and things are going badly, the federal government is not going to show up at your going-out-of-business sale to keep you going.”
Levin, 76, a 26-year congressional veteran, said the rescue plan was crucial at a time when the credit-crunch is having far-reaching consequences that could destroy small businesses and eliminate jobs.
“It’s clear that there had to be some kind of government intervention,” said Levin, a Royal Oak Democrat who represents most of Macomb County. “That’s not the road to socialism. That’s the road to rescuing the capitalist system.”
On Copple’s Web site, his blog goes to unusual lengths in warning about a slippery slope that could lead to an economy dominated by nationalized companies and federal programs.
“It is at that point that those who ‘cling’ to their Bibles and guns will hopefully bring them out and use them instead of just clinging to them,” writes Copple, a minister and former pastor of Evangel Ministries International in Roseville. “We need to be active in attacking this spirit of socialism.”
Miller, a Harrison Township Republican, stays away from such inflammatory, conservative language. Though she railed against the “fear factor” used by President Bush and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson in selling the bailout plan, Miller, 54, is resigned to the new realities in Washington.
“Now that it has passed, we’re going to try to make this work,” she said. “I will do everything I can to make sure we have adequate oversight and hopefully prevent this kind of thing from ever happening again.”
Robert Denison, 67, a retired union official from Shelby Township, said Miller pandered to the populist position by voting against the bipartisan bailout legislation twice.
“I didn’t like the bailout, but it was necessary,” he said. “If Congress didn’t vote for the bailout, it wouldn’t just be a recession we’d be looking at, we’d be in a depression — locked into a depression.”
In the 10th District, which stretches from northern Sterling Heights to the tip of the Thumb area, the election contest is a rematch of the 2006 race. Two years ago, Miller trounced Denison by landslide proportions. This time, Miller has declined to debate Denison and won’t even comment on his campaign statements.
In the 12th District, comprised of southern Macomb and Oakland counties, Levin hasn’t faced a strong re-election challenge in many years. Copple, acknowledging that the district is 66 percent Democratic, has pleaded with voters to “stop voting for political parties as if it is some kind of religion.”
On other economic issues, the $25 billion loans provided by Congress to help the auto industry retool for renewable energy vehicles have met with approval from all of the candidates except for Copple.
“It’s telling other industries that if you get in trouble, the federal government will bail you out. That’s what socialism is,” said Copple, a manager for a company that provides non-medical, in-home care for seniors.
Denison, a former UAW representative, played a role in 1979-80 lobbying for the Chrysler bailout package. He notes with some whimsy that those loans — so controversial at the time — amounted to $1.5 billion. The new loans, he said, “will change the structure of the auto industry.”
His opponent agrees that the auto industry carries a special place in the U.S. economy.
“It’s highly unlikely,” Miller said, “that you can make the case that Lehman Brothers helped create the middle class. However, the auto industry literally created the middle class.”
On tax cuts, the candidates take a cautious approach, acknowledging that the growing federal budget deficit and the massive debt that will fuel the Wall Street rescue could severely crimp fiscal conditions in Washington. They also express grave concerns that the cumulative federal debt could drag down the next two or three generations of American workers.
“With this rescue package, the next president is going to have a very challenging time in trying to determine which tax cuts we can afford,” said Miller, the former Michigan secretary of state. “It’s difficult for us to get our minds around some of these numbers.”
Levin, like Denison, tentatively backs the Barack Obama tax plan but the congressman also advocates dramatic changes in global institutions such as the World Bank and World Trade Organization.
On trade issues, all four candidates say that the Michigan manufacturing economy deserves “fair trade” policies, with demands that U.S. trade partners adhere to basic labor and environmental standards.
Miller broke ranks with her party to oppose the Central American Free Trade Agreement and a pact with Vietnam. Levin, a leading critic of Bush administration proposals to open up new agreements with countries such as South Korea, said his battles with the White House are based on policy, not politics.
“You … can’t stack the deck and then say, that’s just the way the system works,” he said. “It (his opposition to Bush) is nothing that’s reflexive, it’s reflective.”
His GOP challenger said that Levin has had his opportunities to make changes in Washington and has failed.
“He has served as the chair on the subcommittee for Social Security, and Social Security is still broken,” Copple said. “Sander Levin serves as the chair of the subcommittee on trade, and our nation’s trade deficit continues to increase.”
As for Denison, his primary critique of Miller is that she has distanced herself from GOP policies and from the president in particular after serving as Bush’s Michigan campaign co-chair in 2000 and 2004.
“She is the ultimate chameleon,” he said. “She just puts her finger to the wind.”
