LANSING — In response to surfaced video of Michigan Republican Party Chair and University of Michigan Regent Ron Weiser calling Governor Whitmer, Attorney General Nessel, and Secretary of State Benson “witches” that need to be “soften[ed] up” and made “ready for the burning at the stake,” while also mentioning “assassination” as an option for dealing with elected officials, Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes released the following statement:
“Republicans in Michigan have used our state as a breeding ground for national extremism. Last year, militias plotted to kill and kidnap the Governor, which was a dress rehearsal for the January 6 storming of our nation’s Capitol. Instead of seeing that as a wakeup call that the violent rhetoric needs to stop, those in positions of power like Ron Weiser continue to embolden the fringes at all costs. As a member of the University of Michigan’s Board of Regents, he oversees millions of taxpayer dollars. It’s clear his comments do not reflect the values of the university’s board, faculty, and student body. His statements are not only sexist, but markedly dangerous and will only serve to damage the institution’s reputation. We call on him to resign immediately.”
Additionally, Weiser isn’t doing the job he was elected to do as evidenced by his 0% attendance at every monthly board meeting held in 2021. He was visibly absent from March’s Board of Regents meeting and minutes from February’s meeting detail he was a no-show that month as well.
Clip transcript below.
WEISER: “And that’s why I’m here, I made the decision to continue to serve, to make sure we have an opportunity to take out those three witches in two years from now. […] Our job now is to soften up those three witches and make sure that when we have good candidates to run against them, that they are ready for the burning at the stake.”
