Gov. Rick Sndyer
Gov. Rick Snyder: "We will work with the Trump administration."
A pair of Michigan Radio journalists mock state politicians who aren't taking a stand on the three-day-old presidential order making Page One news.
"Michigan is uniquely affected by this executive order," say program director Zoe Clark and veteran Lansing reporter-producer Rick Pluta of the public radio network.
Southeast Michigan is home to one of the largest Middle Eastern populations in the country, as well as major universities that attract international students and researchers.
This, for our political leaders, is a time that calls for bold . . . reticence.
Since the announcement of the ban, there has been a somewhat reservedness from many Michigan Republicans, including Governor Rick Snyder.
In a three-and-a-half-minute "It's Just Politics" segment, the broadcasters note that Snyder "once called himself the most pro-immigration governor in the country" and "asked the Obama administration to increase the number of Syrian refugees resettled in Michigan" before shifting gears after overseas terror attacks.
More recently, the governor suggested this month that Michigan's population could hit 10 million by attracting educated adults displaced by foreign fighting.
That has the Michigan Radio team wondering "what do the ideas advanced by Donald Trump’s administration portend for Snyder’s plans.?" So they asked:
Snyder’s office released this statement over the weekend: “Governor Snyder believes that legal immigration has helped build a strong and diverse talent base and culture in Michigan. We will work with the Trump administration on the best way forward to keep Michigan a welcoming place while ensuring the safety of all residents.”
So, what does that mean? Does the governor support Trump’s executive order?
The savvy journalists have a hunch about why he hesitates to say:
Rick Snyder is in the final two years of his [second] term, with ambitious plans for urban renewal, infrastructure and education. And immigration. All of these will be affected by decisions made by a still-unpredictable Trump administration.
And the wrong word can set a lot of those plans awry.
-- Alan Stamm
