GOP blames Democrats for break-in; police find no political motive

Mlive.com ^ | June 3, 2008 | Kyla King

[Hadean]

GRAND RAPIDS -- Kent County Republicans continue to claim a recent break-in at their Grand Rapids headquarters was politically motivated

And one party leader publicly blamed unnamed Democrats in a mass e-mail sent to supporters.

"We knew the Democrats would do anything to win, but we didn't expect this!" wrote Kent GOP Chair Dave Dishaw in a note asking for money to help cover "costs" and support candidates.

Grand Rapids Police on Tuesday confirmed they are investigating an early morning break-in that occurred last Thursday at the GOP's offices at 264 Leonard St. NW, near U.S. 131.

Lt. Ralph Mason said a report indicates thieves entered a side door and took about $200 from a cash box, a laptop computer and a large box of stamps. They also smashed computers, crumpled banners and took miscellaneous items, he said.

But Mason said because there was no graffiti, police have no reason to believe it was politically motivated.

"I don't know what they're basing that on. ... That may be a stretch," Mason said. "It was a burglary. They got a laptop, they got cash money. ... They obviously concentrated on things they can pawn or sell."

Kent County Republican Executive Director Sam Moore said he believes GOP offices were targeted because the intruders did not enter other businesses in the building and because they took odd items such as a gavel used by former Chairwoman Betsy DeVos.

Moore also said he received threatening phone calls two weeks ago when Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama held a rally in Grand Rapids, though he did not report them to police.

"Based on what has happened in the past, I would find it somewhat hard to believe it's an unregistered voter, or person not interested in politics," Moore said.

Kent County Democratic Chair Sue Levy dismissed the notion that party activists could have been involved in criminal activity.

"We'll beat them at the polls," Levy said.

Levy believes GOP leaders are just using the "unfortunate" incident to raise money.

"(The e-mail Dishaw sent out) looked to me like a solicitation more than anything," she said.

[Zetman]

We’d like to send her (Granholm) back to ya, but would rather send her and all that garbage back to Canada.

We'll take her back, but in exchange, you have to take Diane Feinstein, Barbara Boxer, Barbara Lee, Gavin Newsome, and Nancy Pelosi from us!!

[Zetman]

SF started to go wrong in the early 1900's when they voted to build the Municipal Railway, intended to drive out the private companies. It took 40 years, but they succeeded.

Hmmmm... Interesting. I will admit that I don't know much about the history of Muni. Nowadays, although they still have the rail system in SF, they run even more regular busses, in addition to the rails. I never knew their system was different from any other big city mass transit system (many it isn't - I have never studied the history of such entities).

[JoJo Gunn]

or do you mean the GOP is the liberal party today?

Yep. 

You're witnessing history in the making - the GOP's unveiling of their first Democrat candidate. 

[Darren McCarty]

I don’t expect this in Grand Rapids. Ann Arbor maybe, but not there.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Grellis.

[Fundamentally Fair]

"We knew the Democrats would do anything to win, but we didn't expect this!" wrote Kent GOP Chair Dave Dishaw...

You're fired, Dave.