At U-M commencement, Rick Snyder tries to humanize his cause, but protesters do the same
Gov. Rick Snyder speaks this morning before 40,000 people at the University of Michigan's commencement ceremony.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
That’s what Gov. Rick Snyder — who is facing a wave of criticism over his proposed budget cuts, education policies and government reform — tried to accomplish this morning when he delivered the University of Michigan’s spring commencement address.
But Snyder’s opponents are trying to do the same thing for their cause — and it’s unclear which side will carry more credibility in the eyes of voters.
Snyder, speaking before about 40,000 attendees at Michigan Stadium, barely even mentioned politics, even though he’s in the midst of an intense fight for various reforms.
He chose, instead, to focus mostly on his personal experience as a student at U-M and on giving advice to the 5,500 graduates who attended the ceremony.
He told the crowd about his experience as a naive 17-year-old U-M freshman in the 1970s. He joked that one of his roommates must have been interested in botany because “he had a significant plantation in our room.”
As for his other roommate, “Within a month after the start of the term he managed to get himself kicked out of the university housing for a lack of social and moral behavior,” Snyder said.
Stories like that may help to endear the Republican governor and former Ann Arbor venture capitalist to students, parents, families and friends attending the ceremony. That’s personal politics at its core — building your political capital by getting people to like you personally, even if they don’t like your policies.
But protesters gathered nearby did their best to humanize their cause, as well.
Several speakers addressed a rally of at least 1,000 protesters at Pioneer High School’s football stadium before the commencement ceremony. But it was Haslett, Mich. fifth-grader Lexie Salazar who stole the show. She said she was there to protest Snyder’s plan to cut K-12 education funding by $470 per pupil and higher education funding by 15 percent to 22 percent.
Haslett, Mich. fifth grader Lexie Salazar speaks this morning at a rally to protest Gov. Rick Snyder's proposals.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
“My mom told me that my school might not be able to do things like study at the zoo anymore,” said Lexie, who wants to become a zoologist. “She also told me there might be (more) kids in my class and we (won't) have the proper equipment to let us learn. That’s not right.”
The crowd, loving every minute of it, responded by chanting: “That’s not right! That’s not right! That’s not right!”
Now, perhaps it’s reasonable to protest the protesters’ decision to drag kids to their rallies in favor of their political causes.
On the other hand, you can similarly argue that it’s appropriate in light of Snyder’s proposal to cut school funding, slash business taxes, raise taxes on senior citizens and end the Earned Income Tax Credit for the poor.
Either way, giving kids the microphone gives a face to the political cause. It humanizes the protests.
Lexie said she’s been wearing red to school every Tuesday to protest the cuts.
But she admits, “I’m only in fifth grade so I don’t know how these things work.”
Snyder, of course, is actively seeking to positively brand his political proposals. He’s always made a point of saying that he understands that cuts affect “real people’s lives.”
He may have to make more of an effort to avoid being permanently labeled as someone who cares only about business and not about the little guy.
In an attempt to show people that he understands that cuts hurt, he said at U-M’s commencement ceremony that he’s not really even having fun.
“It’s not about laughs, it’s not about enjoyment while you have to make tough decisions,” Snyder said. “It’s about saying, 'Is there satisfaction in doing the right thing and hopefully making our state a better place?'”
Contact AnnArbor.com's Nathan Bomey at (734) 623-2587 or nathanbomey@annarbor.com. You can also follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's newsletters.
Comments
LarryJ
Sun, May 1, 2011 : 5:47 p.m.
This guy has lost all credibility: 1. Never disclosed his budget plan during campaigning. [That's because he wouldn't have been elected, had we known it!} 2. Gives it the fake name of "shared sacrifice". 3. Cuts K-12 education, TAKING AWAY FROM OUR FUTURE. 4. Gives it back to his friends in business. For those who say, come up with a better plan, here it is: 1. Slight increase in business tax (?7% rather than 6%). 2. Increase state income tax on those wih high incomes. 3. Small INCREASE to education.
Betty
Mon, May 2, 2011 : 2:07 a.m.
Thanks for proposing an alternative. I am tired of all the whining without an alternative. At what level is "high income"? I think, (but don't actually know) if its only for the very high, there arent enough people to tax to make a difference. Do you think raising business taxes will discourage businesses from locating here? That is certainly the arguement you will hear. "SBT drives away busines" etc...
Michael Chrissos
Sun, May 1, 2011 : 1:59 p.m.
Congratulations to Gov Snyder for a speech that focused on the graduates and the process that many have gone through during their years in college. Graduations are about the graduates and they should be celebrated, not used to make political messages. There are times and places for political dialogue and even protest. Graduations should not be one of them. Congratulations to all the Graduates and their families for their accomplishment.
justcary
Sun, May 1, 2011 : 2:46 p.m.
Anyplace an elected politician speaks in public is a political event. Same for Obama's speech. It is legitimate and American for people to respond.
katie
Sun, May 1, 2011 : 1:37 p.m.
About the humanizing bit: When some rich powerful guy tries to make me think I'm just like him, it's not called humanizing, it's called patronizing or conning or both. I'm not buying it.
katie
Sun, May 1, 2011 : 1:34 p.m.
Snyder's plan to help the state: Cut education funding. Cut funding from the most at-risk groups. Tax human people more. Give corporations big tax breaks. Take from the poor and give to the rich. Mr. Snyder: It's not right!
Susan Karr
Sun, May 1, 2011 : 1 p.m.
Dear Mr. Bomey, As a former 5th grade teacher I find your statement "Now, perhaps it's reasonable to protest the protesters' decision to "drag" kids to their rallies in favor of their political causes" extremely inappropriate. Lexie Salazar was not dragged to last Saturday's event at Pioneer High School. Lexie had obviously spent much time learning about and formulating her own ideas regarding Governor Snyder's educational budget proposals before Saturday's rally. Lexie spoke enthusiastically and sincerely and should be applauded for having the courage to speak in front of a gathering of 1000 people. She should be applauded and respected for wanting to be an active participant in our political process at her young age.As Lexie was speaking I thought about Christina-Taylor Green who at 9 years old was shot and died at Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' rally in Tucson, AZ. Roxanna Green, Christina's mother said that Christina had gone to Rep. Giffords' event to ask questions about how she could help and to learn more about politics in our country.Roxanna Green stated, "As young as she was, Christina –Taylor talked about getting all the parties to come together so we could live in a better country." This is what Lexie wants – to live in a better country. Thank you Lexie for caring about Michigan and our country and for wanting to make a difference.
Brit Satchwell
Sun, May 1, 2011 : 12:42 p.m.
If I were in charge of humanizing Snyder's image, I'd start by removing his budget's cut to the clothing allowance for foster children. And then I'd continue down a long list of other budget items to put humans back into his budget. Start there, and then continue down that very long list of where corporate "humans" (Citizens United) were given preference over our actual species. Note to self: Look for legs, heads, hearts and minds to verify human humans. Preference in budget given according to American values (the young, the elderly, the poor, and the services that sustain them in a harsh corporate environment where "tough decisions" become the rationale for a lack of human compassion).
Gloria
Sun, May 1, 2011 : 4:11 a.m.
When are we going to realize that the cuts in K-12 education by shifting millions of dollars from that fund to college is a direct ploy to destroy public education as we have known it for generations and to create exclusive charters for the rich and non-minority children. If Snyder had not robbed the K-12 monies (which were generated from our agreement to raise sales tax to 6% in order to create a solid funding for K-12 education--never agreeing to put it into college funding for the rich) there would be anywhere from a $75 to $150 INCREASE in public funding for our youngest learners. This is a crime to children and an attack on all young learners in order for the upper middle class to attend college cheaper. Shame on Mr. Snyder for using our children to give more money to his rich friends---I want to know how much money was given to him through contributions from higher education groups. There is NO REASON to cut schools--there is surplus money in the school aid fund and the tax increase to 6% worked just as it was suppose to--there is surplus money in the K-12 budget--it is not broke--they are just robbing the millions and sending it to colleges--this has never ever been done in MI history. Shame on Snyder and all of his rich croonies. I CAN NOT wait for the recall ballot. Watch all of us "simple, middle class folks" throw him out as soon as we can. My heart breaks that for the first time in history this generation of learners will have less than the ones before them; we should all be ashamed of ourselves. I pray for our children and their schools.
katie
Sun, May 1, 2011 : 1:40 p.m.
The budget crises in these "stealth govenor" states are manufactured crises. Recall!
Libertarian1
Sun, May 1, 2011 : 2:22 a.m.
How soon can we recall the governor, Mr. Snyder? It should be no surprise that all the regressive, reactionary governors who were recently elected are facing voter rejection. The governors' actions are seemingly scripted out of a common playbook. Deamonize unions, cut wages and benefits of public workers, punish the education system..... and reward business, big and small. They had the element of surprise in this class warfare, running one platform during the election, and springing their vicious class war after winning. We cannot let this injustice stand. Recall this Walker/Koch clone.
Betty
Sun, May 1, 2011 : 1:09 a.m.
Many vocal people are protesting the education cuts. I have great reservations about the wisdom in budget cuts to education, but I am wondering when IS it appropriate to cut spending on education? I mean specifically, how bad does the financial condition of the state have to be in order to justify cuts in education spending? You see the problem I have with the Snyder protestors is I don't hear or personally know of a viable alternative? When amongst friends who lean left I find myself explaining we need business and we are out of money. When amongst my right leaning friends I find myself defending education spending as having a long term financial (and other) benefit (like business). So I am curious your responses. For left leaning bloggers - If not now, under what circumstances would education cuts be ok? For right leaning bloggers-What level of cuts is too much?
Betty
Mon, May 2, 2011 : 1:13 a.m.
You see what I mean...Neither of you addressed my blog. Way too much talking way too little listening.
justcary
Sun, May 1, 2011 : 2:40 p.m.
Betty the alternative is quite clear and quite regularly stated. Stop giving tax breaks to wealthy individuals and corporations. Don't you read the paper? Libertarian, priority 1 is consolidation of wealth in the rich population. Attacking education and the elderly is the means. Goodbye, middle class.
Libertarian1
Sun, May 1, 2011 : 2:25 a.m.
Why is the first priority of Mr. Snider to target education for attack? And the second priority is to attack Social Security by taxing benefits. And the third priority is to reward business with tax cuts.
julieswhimsies
Sat, Apr 30, 2011 : 9:59 p.m.
I have now become a Lexie fan!
Mitch Ganian
Sat, Apr 30, 2011 : 7:40 p.m.
When you invent a phantom controversy ("Now, perhaps it's reasonable to protest the protesters' decision to drag kids to their rallies in favor of their political causes. On the other hand, you can similarly argue that it's appropriate...") we can only wish that our ace reporters were as equally engaged with opinions that originate outside their own imaginations. Has anyone, in this case, in fact protested the youth of Gov. Snyder's eloquent opponent Lexie Salazar?
justcary
Sun, May 1, 2011 : 2:35 p.m.
What's controversial about letting the victim have a voice? Nobody was dragged to that dais! Boo
katie
Sun, May 1, 2011 : 1:47 p.m.
I don't see the problem with taking your children to a rally. I doubt that she had to be "dragged" Ouch! Such loaded language. Yet the language describing Snyder is respectful. You could have spoken about how UM students had to bear listening to Snyder's manipulative (not humanizing) speech at their graduation. Since there is such a problem with getting people to vote, I'd think it would be a smart thing for parents to expose children to the political process. And it looks like the political process in our future is going to be increasing the number of protests, since a whole set of governors got in under false pretenses.
Vivian1
Sat, Apr 30, 2011 : 5:58 p.m.
I'm wondering Mr. Snyder, how does making the most severe cuts to education in the state's history while school budgets are already crippled make our state a better place? How will creating a state with classes of 36+ kids, demoralized teachers, and decimated arts, technology, and athletic programs prepare our students for higher education and make our state a better place? And Mr. Snyder, if our kids due beat the odds under the conditions of your "tough decisions, how will creating a higher education system where our best and brightest middle and lower income students will be excluded from due to tuition hikes as a result of your severe cuts make our state a better place? How does revoking the constitutional right of citizens to elect their own representatives on city councils and school boards and turning these powers over to one person or corporation who will void contracts and sell public resources such as parks and schools to the private sector make our state a better place? How does cutting big business' taxes by 86% while increases taxes on individuals, with the steepest increases applied to seniors and the working poor make our state a better place? I'm sorry you are not having very much fun, Mr. Snyder. We aren't either.
talker
Sat, Apr 30, 2011 : 5:04 p.m.
I'm not suggesting any collusion. I'm more curious about things that some politicians may do automatically and whether it's something we should call to their attention. Some actions are automatic unless we dissect them.
talker
Sat, Apr 30, 2011 : 5:01 p.m.
Actually, tough decisions would mean not giving more tax breaks to his rich friends and the richest corporations. Is there any information on whether there are links between campaign contributions and tax cuts? Whether it's common practice among any other politicians is irrelevant. Has anyone traced any connections in Michigan?
Betty
Sun, May 1, 2011 : 1:16 a.m.
I don't know WHO, but Snyder took no PAC money, so the maximum from any individual was $3,400. He raised $6M so thats about 1764 people. (source MLive 12/2&12/3/10)