The four Republicans and three Democrats running for governor appeared together for the first time yesterday. Arguments about ethics and racism broke out at the forum.
The biggest flashpoint came when Republican state Senator Patrick Colbeck said one of the Democrats has connections to Muslim terrorist groups. Abdul El-Sayed fired back that other Republicans running should join him in condemning the allegation.
“And what I have not heard is the Republicans on this panel decisively and swiftly call out this kind of Islamophobia, this kind of racism.”
The Michigan Republican Party has condemned Colbeck’s allegations. The event was the annual Michigan Press Association convention of reporters, editors, and publishers.
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— Rick Pluta is the Managing Editor and Reporter for the Michigan Public Radio network. Contact WEMU News at 734.487.3363 or email us at studio@wemu.org