Don Karlo, GR Mi won't be a problem.

Michigan GOP heavyweight, Bush Pioneer and former ambassador to Italy, Peter Secchia apparently scurried to Washington recently to reassure Don Karlo Rovlioni that Grand Rapids, Michigan, was loyal to the family, despite mayor George Heartwell's emotional reaction to Don W's contract on America.

More below the fold...

From the 2/27/05 Grand Rapids Press Region section, under the headline "Rebel Roped In: Secchia delivers word to Bush":

Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell's talk of "rebellion" against President Bush's proposed budget cuts to local communities reached the White House last week, courtesy of Peter Secchia. In a private meeting, the former U.S. ambassador to Italy and GOP stalwart told Karl Rove, Bush's chief political advisor, not to take Heartwell's comments as a reflection of the city's views. "I don't want my city to get painted the wrong color because of an emotional mayor," Secchia said. Heartwell laughed it off: "I'm so grateful to Peter for conveying our message to the White House."

According to the City of Grand Rapids' web page:

"Mayor Heartwell is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and served for 14 years as Pastor at Heartside Ministry, a program serving the homeless community of Grand Rapids."

What a rebel.  

To think that Karl Rove's eyes and ears are so pervasive that a powerful GOP operative felt it necessary to do damage control for the comments of a minister/mayor in a small, heavily Republican Michigan city gives me the heebie jeebies.

A picture of Turd Blossom graced the article with the caption: Rove: Eye on GR.

Honey, have you seen my passport?

•  What the hell

  is a rethug doing being a minister in a UCC church?    Yikes, must be some real cognative dissonace going on the the pews.

  by Ugluks Flea on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 08:59:04 PM PDT

  •  Opinion

    In my opinion, Grand Rapids Republicans are more liberal than Indiana Democrats.  I'm not at all shocked by the minister/mayor.

    by libnewsie on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 09:49:00 PM PDT

  •  Um, no

    Heartwell, the Mayor and UCC minister, is the good guy in this story. Several weeks ago he spoke to the press and expressed his strong disagreement with Bush's proposed budget cuts. The apparent dissent in the ranks is what sent Secchia, the scurrying-to-Rove republican, off to DC to give his assurance that all was well and the rebellion had been quashed.

    As a former resident of the city of Grand Rapids who is more than familiar with the self-righteous neoconservatism of many of the areas' residents, I am very proud of Mayor Heartwell for his courageous stance.
    

    by meg on Mon Feb 28, 2005 at 01:46:22 AM PDT

    •  Scary, no? n/t

      by Cliff Talus on Mon Feb 28, 2005 at 03:21:36 AM PDT

      •  Scary indeed . . . n/t

        by meg on Mon Feb 28, 2005 at 11:13:48 PM PDT

•  Oh no!!!

  I don't want to see Karl Rove's name in the same sentence as my hometown!

  Mayor Heartwell seems like a pretty good guy for Grand Rapids though, and I'm glad he's there.

  by kateski19 on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 11:30:25 PM PDT

  •  Hence the heebie jeebies n/t

    by Cliff Talus on Mon Feb 28, 2005 at 04:20:17 AM PDT