Hey, Mr. Rogers: Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire!

“What’s the Diehl?” is not strictly a political blog. As regular readers know, I also write about my family, current events, religion, music and other topics. But ‘tis the season whether we like it or not. There’s so much political fodder right now, so many noteworthy comments and behaviors and developments begging for snark and attention, that I’d be remiss if I didn’t post more about politics than a segment of my audience would surely prefer.

Unlike some, I don’t believe politics are a separate, distasteful topic to be ignored or suppressed in mixed company or at family gatherings – as if refusing to utter the word somehow absolves us of responsibility to be aware of what’s happening around us and allows us to remain pure and conflict-free. I think we ought to discuss and debate and disagree about public policy, officeholders, candidates and issues. It’s our money. It’s our future. They’re our rights. It’s foolish to not avail ourselves of every opportunity to engage others in dialogue about things that matter – we can leave the ignorant, head-in-the-sand narrow-mindedness for when we’re old and cranky and no one wants to talk with us anymore anyway.

Remember when Dubya’s mother, Babs Bush, told Diane Sawyer back in March of 2003 that she didn’t want to waste her “beautiful mind” on thoughts of death – shortly before her son launched the unjustified invasion of Iraq that ultimately led to the deaths of almost 4,500 U.S. soldiers and more than 100,000 Iraqi civilians? That was when I swore that I’d never keep quiet about stuff that matters just to keep the peace at family reunions.

Mike Rogers

What matters to me today is the fact that the people of Michigan’s eighth congressional district – which includes my family and me – have been represented since 2001 by a slimy liar named Mike Rogers who for some reason apparently enjoys nearly “untouchable” status in the eyes of our state and local media. Although I’ve never met him or his staff, I’m told that he’s one of the most rabidly partisan, disingenuous politicians in Michigan’s congressional delegation. And yes, he’s a Republican.

A former FBI agent, Rogers served in our state senate from 1995 to 2000, when he headed to Washington to replace Debbie Stabenow in the U.S. House of Representatives. (Rogers takes credit on his Wikipedia page for state legislation allowing families to set aside tax-free funds for their kids’ college education – even though the Michigan Education Trust was created back in the late 1980s during the Blanchard Administration.) Since then, he’s created a disturbingly conservative voting record.

Rogers opposes internet gambling, voted to bar the U.S. EPA from regulating greenhouse gases, voted “no” on providing tax incentives for renewable energy and alternative fuels, and voted against raising corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards.

He sponsored legislation in Congress prohibiting people from exercising their First Amendment rights on federal land if they were anywhere near a soldier’s funeral. Dubya signed Rogers’ “Respect for America’s Fallen Heroes Act” in 2006.

I don’t like it when Nazis, religious zealots or anyone else takes advantage of freedom of speech to disrupt solemn affairs and spew hate-filled crap that disturbs the peace. But as I constantly remind my four preteens, it’s better to just ignore people who are being loud and obnoxious than to give them the satisfaction of knowing they’ve captured your attention or gotten your goat. Apparently Rogers never learned that lesson.

He also opposes stem cell research and prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation, voted to grant equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment to unborn fetuses, and supports amending the U.S. Constitution to ban same-sex marriage and allow prayer in schools.

He voted “yes” on authorizing military force in Iraq (and “no” on investigating Dubya for lying about Iraq), voted “no” on removing U.S. soldiers from Afghanistan, and received a perfect rating from the National Rifle Association for his pro-gun voting record.

Politicians like Mike Rogers are why I frequently take medication in order to sleep at night.

Lance Enderle with John Conyers Jr.

Lance Enderle, who hopes to kick Rogers to the curb this November, pointed out a week ago that Rogers – who insists publicly that he opposes drilling for oil in the Great Lakes – just voted to support it. (I’ve never met Enderle although I chatted online with him once, briefly, and I support his candidacy.) According to the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus, Enderle – who ran against Rogers in 2010 and was clobbered – based his accusation on Rogers' "no" vote last week on an amendment to an energy bill passed in the U.S. House. (The amendment, which failed, would have prevented state or federal permits or leases for "new oil-and-gas slant, directional or offshore drilling in, under, or within five miles of any of the Great Lakes or the Florida Everglades.")

I don’t have a problem with hard-core conservatives per se; I understand some people think like that and they’re entitled to free speech and representation in Congress just like regular people. It’s when they and their representatives lie that I start to dislike them.

I really dislike Mr. Rogers.

Mike Rogers photo courtesy Rich Clement, Bloomberg News.
Photo of Lance Enderle with Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Detroit) courtesy Enderle for Congress.

Sources: Ontheissues.org, Livingston County Daily Press & Argus.