LANSING — In a leaked text message, Michigan Republican Party Chair Jim Runestad recently called Brian Szmytke, a senior advisor for both Jason Tunney’s campaign and the Oakland County Republican Party, a “scumbag,” according to a shocking new report from MIRS.
Ahead of the MIGOP’s endorsement convention this past weekend, Runestad sent a text message saying “We will have nothing to do with Brian scumbag nor with Anne DeLisle,” and a screenshot of a press release from the Michigan Democratic Party on Runestad’s egregious $50 convention registration fee.
See Runestad’s text message:
In a now-deleted post, Szmytke said he’s “never been called a ‘scumbag’ by my very own State Senator, but at least we know how Senator/Chairman Jim Runestad probably feels about most of his constituents now.” Szmytke went on to say “what doesn’t Jim like about me?”
This isn’t the first time Runestad has called people “scum.” In late February, The Detroit Newsreported how behind closed doors at a Republican event, Runestad called Sen. Stephanie Chang and Democrats “absolute scum.”
Runestad didn’t return a request for comment to MIRS, but an anonymous GOP source attempted to do damage control for Runestad by saying what a great job he’s doing.
“It’s obscene that Jim Runestad is calling anyone a scumbag, let alone his own fellow Republicans. This is just another sign of how the Michigan Republican Party is still in debt and disarray,” said Michigan Democratic Party spokesperson Derrick Honeyman. “We’re glad to see that Runestad is reading MDP’s press releases, but he should be more careful who he’s texting. And if this anonymous Republican source was so proud of Runestad, they could’ve gone on-the-record and put their name next to their desperate attempt at damage control, but they couldn’t even bring themselves to do that.”
Read more at MIRS:
MIRS: Now Deleted Post Shows MI GOP Chair Calling Strategist ‘Scumbag’ After Interviews On $50 Convention Fee
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