LANSING — Michigan’s four living former governors gathered to support political civility Wednesday, a bipartisan show of respect that they say is sorely needed in America.
Former governors of both parties denounced violence and chaos they’ve seen following the deployment of nearly 3,000 ICE and CBP agents into Minnesota’s twin cities.
“Think of Grand Rapids, think of other places in Michigan, and ask yourself the same question — if you would have had that many people showing up from the federal government, what would happen in any community, particularly in the Midwest?” said former Gov. Rick Snyder, (R).
Jennifer Granholm, who also served in the Biden administration, says that the rise of technology and social media have helped contribute to a loss in respect across the political spectrum.
“I think that this algorithmic slicing, the siloing of people on social media, is a big culprit, and people aren’t swimming in the same pond at all,” she said. “Their realities, their facts, are completely different because their sources are completely different. Content creators who are extreme are rewarded because extremism is more interesting and gets a greater number of clicks, and therefore their followers and their income grows.”
The panel also included Jim Blanchard, (D), and Richard Engler, (R)
The event also comes as President Trump is calling on Republican lawmakers to “nationalize” elections, which are run independently by each state.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, (D), denounced those comments Wednesday, saying in a statement that “any attempt by the federal government to take over Michigan elections should be viewed as an attempt to take away Michiganders’ constitutional right to vote. It won’t happen on my watch.”