Letter writers to Roy Schmidt: Don't call shenanigans a 'mistake'

West Michigan Election Night Primaries CoverageRepublican candidate for the 76th District Roy Schmidt talks to the media Tuesday.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Roy Schmidt survived Round One, narrowly winning the Republican primary for the 76th District State House seat.

But, after Schmidt's attempt to railroad the election, he'll have some work to do to win over letter writers Norman C. Kohns and Stephen Kokx.

RELATED: After election scandal and close primary, Roy Schmidt's re-election chances in November debated

Also on letter writers' minds: record profits for Michigan HMOs and punishment for those who torture children.



Waiting to hear a sincere apology from Schmidt
Dear Mr. Roy Schmidt:

I read that you considered your very narrow win over write-in candidate Bing Goei sent a message that the public wants you to “explain what happened.” If I were you, I would think more along the lines of a sincere apology. What you did was not a misunderstanding that needs to be further explained. What you did was not a mistake or accident that we need to better understand.

What you did was clearly thought out ahead of time with the intention of subverting the electoral process and securing yourself an unchallenged victory in November. It may not have been illegal. Some people may even be satisfied with calling it “political gamesmanship.” Though I am not one, and I doubt you will find many others to be that casual about it.

So I for one am waiting to hear a sincere apology with you taking full responsibility for what you attempted to do. I need to know that you are aware of the seriousness of your actions and you understand the full implications this action has for our elective process.
Rev. NORMAN C. KOHNS/Kentwood

This was a moral mistake, not a political one
The most disturbing aspect of the entire Roy Schmidt controversy is that he and his supporters continue to frame his decision as a "political" mistake.


Excuse me, but switching parties at the last minute, trying to rig an election, and scheming with the Speaker of the House to ensure that it all works out is not a political mistake. It’s a moral one.

That’s why I supported Bing Goei’s write-in campaign. Goei knew that it was a matter of justice that Schmidt should no longer serve in elected office.

Admittedly, I sent Representative Schmidt a congratulatory email when I first heard he switched parties. He had a record of being a moderate throughout his career and I thought that he simply wanted to use his new found majority status to get some legislation passed before he is term-limited.

But I now realize that sending that email was a mistake. Even though County Commissioner Dick Bulkowski’s letter to the editor on August 12th illuminated the positive things Schmidt has done for Grand Rapids over the past 20 years, the fact is that he can no longer be trusted. He didn’t make a political mistake, he made a moral one.

Grand Rapids deserves better.

Why won't insurance carriers return funds to consumers?
This is in response to's recent article about record profits for Michigan HMOs. Blue Care Networks net profits for 2011 totaled $163.7 million, Priority Health realized $38.8 million net income, and they have the impudence to file a waiver with the federal government to not reimburse the consumer the money that is rightfully owed the consumer?

RELATED: Blue Care Network leads way in Michigan HMOs' record total profit as more people sign up

$192.5 million seems like enough profit to return funds owed to consumers.

A lot of the people who pay for health insurance out of their own pockets are either retired or not working because of our economy, and the older a person gets the costlier health insurance becomes.

Why do the Michigan insurance carriers want to spend less on medical care and quality improvement? Do they want to give their executives and board members more compensation? And why would financial reports be “one more nail in the coffin” when the HMOs are profiting such huge profits?

The article said, “In general, prospects look good for Michigan HMOs in all lines of business; commercial, Medicare and Medicaid.” The people of Michigan do not have that rosy an outlook in their finances and ability to earn a decent living. Just this year, Gov. Snyder imposed new taxes on our insurance premiums, raising their cost.

This is what I see happening to the people of America. More taxes, new taxes, fewer jobs, and no political support. Isn’t it time the American people get the break they are entitled to?

Death penalty for those who torture and kill children
Of all the horrible stories we read about people killing their own children or letting someone else kill their child, the case of 2-year-old Aiyana Cisneros has affected me the most.

RELATED: Pedro Navarro will go to prison for life after he is found guilty of murdering 2-year-old Aiyana Cisneros

What that little girl suffered with her mother right there watching is just unbelievable, and both her mother, Samantha Winkler, and Pedro Navarro deserve nothing less than the death penalty.

We have got to set an example that people cannot do this and just end up in jail. I often see articles condemning abortion, but what about the babies and children that ARE born, only to be tortured and killed by their own parents. This used to be a rarity, but now it's almost a daily occurrence. Something has got to be done.