On Monday, Gov. Rick Snyder praised Michigan Republican Party chairwoman and major GOP donor Betsy Devos for speaking out against Republican National Committeeman Dave Agema. Snyder, unlike DeVos, is not calling for Agema’s resignation.
At the Martin Luther King Jr. Day luncheon in Lansing, Snyder told reporters, “I’m sticking with my call across the board for civility and respect toward others.” A former Republican state representative from Grandville, Agema has been criticized for his public antigay and anti-Muslim comments. He says the comments are being taken out of context. DeVos has left Agema phone messages urging him to resign. She called RNC chairman Reince Priebus and asked him to either remove or marginalize Agema. DeVos, the wife of 2006 Michigan Republican gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos, and a former Michigan representative for the RNC, says leaders in Agema’s position should create inclusiveness and a welcoming party, not exclusion. Republican U.S. Rep. Fred Upton agreed with DeVos in a radio interview on Monday.
Agema says the remarks are being used as “unfortunate and uncivil tactic meant to ruin a person’s reputation.” During his State of the State address last week, Snyder called for greater civility and tolerance in response to Agema’s comments.