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Macomb County - Compassionate Conservatism In A New Shining County On A Hill
By Kevin Fobbs
July 27, 2004

Twenty-four years ago, Macomb County and its Reagan Democrats marshaled in a new era for America. That same year, a week before Ronald Reagan accepted the Republican Party nomination for President in Detroit, Michigan; I wrote a New York Times article entitled, "In Detroit's Rumble Seat". I wanted to focus America and the current and new administration on the role and responsibility we all have for urban America. Unfortunately the Carter administration did not get it, but thankfully the new Reagan administration did. President Reagan focused his administration on creating economic opportunities, which empowered all families He also vigorously enforced prosecution of discriminatory practices by employers.

Twenty-four years later President Bush like Reagan dramatically increased rigorous employment discrimination enforcement. President Bush increased his administrations' efforts by 90 percent over the last three years of the Clinton administration. Matter of fact, just like President Reagan's efforts to localize employment discrimination enforcement, President Bush's administration secured $1,302,700 in civil penalties and fines in the past three years which is 21% more than in the last three years again, of the Clinton Administration.

Why is this important? It's crucial that in the case of the Reagan Revolution and the Bush Compassionate Conservatism Era, Americans, especially the blue-collar voters in Macomb County, Michigan who helped launch Reagan's Revolution, understand the historical connection between Reagan and Bush. Reagan began his societal issue revolution in Detroit and the Bush re-enforced his this past Friday in Detroit while challenging urban America to come aboard to reclaim their conservative heritage. This is colorblind solution practiced at its best.

This is why the National Urban Policy Action Council (NuPac) offered assistance to Macomb County Commissioners Kathy Vosburg and Peter Lund last year in the Macomb County Commission effort to tackle alleged racial discrimination charges in job hiring practices by Macomb County. NuPac recommended finding a colorblind solution without having the solution be used as a tool for a different type of discrimination. Equal opportunities had to be fair, equitable and not hidden in blind ruses to circumvent equal protection of the law.

President Reagan knew this. Reagan also understood that if you were a steel worker in Pittsburgh, a pipefitter in Dallas, or a tool and die maker in Warren, Michigan, the role of government was to create a colorblind environment where people from all walks of life had a chance to realize their dream. Minorities who began to move to Macomb County in the 1980s to find jobs and opportunities saw that this was precisely what was beginning to take place.

This past week, 24 years later, NuPac and its leaders served as a host organization for President Bush's National Rollout for urban and African Americans, being held in Detroit. What has changed in those 24 years ago, when the Motor City helped play host to the launch of the Reagan Revolution and its Reagan Democrats of Macomb County?

Well the Reagan Democrats of Macomb County are still there, and thanks to a large influx of residents from all parts of the metro area, including Detroit, Macomb County is quickly becoming an urbanized area with one of the state's fastest growth of minority residents in its population. These new Macomb County residents are finding a sense of safety, security and shared mutuality of faith, fellowship and conservative family values.

Was the President's National Urban League Convention message relevant to those who live in Mount Clemens, Warren, Roseville, Clinton Township, or Harrison Township; the home of Congresswoman Candice Miller? I would say a very emphatic yes!

When the President insisted in his speech, "I don't care what party you're in, what city you live in, or what state you're from, the goal has got to be -- America has got to be a hospitable, hopeful place for every single citizen. That's what I believe. That's kind of the heart of what they call compassionate conservatism, that the American experience must be alive and viable for everyone."

The President was speaking to Macomb County residents as well. He was speaking to those who live those values like Tom and Cindy Henneberry of Clinton Township. Their family reflects three generations of proud military service, they volunteer in their church and community and their young daughter Jacqueline took part in a school supplies collection drive for children in Iraq. That is the sort of faith and fellowship, which typifies Macomb County, whether you are a resident of Warren, Mount Clemens or Clinton Township. The Henneberry's are colorblind, are conservative, and serve their community, and their faith without making distinctions on race, or ethnicity.

Tom and Cindy's family is a shining example of the residents of Reagan's "Shining City on the Hill".

Macomb County in effect becomes the new launch pad for a new era in American History. Why here and not in other Michigan cities like Southfield, or Farmington Hills or Dearborn or Detroit?

Well, there's history here as well as solutions. It is fitting that in a county where last year the Michigan anti Affirmative Action petition drive had its birth, where a cross burning occurred earlier this year, and where purported accounts of racial discrimination in job hiring practices generated great local public debate, there still exists an incredible amount of good will and people of faith who firmly embrace our nation's heartland values.

Macomb County young people also symbolize hope. Congressman J.C. Watts and I talked on Monday, about the goodwill and civic responsibility that he witnessed first hand as hundreds of young people and volunteers came from Oakland, Macomb and Wayne County to help the Detroit Motor City Blight Busters community organization tear down a crack home as part of the President's National Rollout Community Service Project.

Macomb County teens and young adults showed up and helped. As J.C. Watts put it, they did it because "they have it in the DNA of their heart."

That is one of many lifetime bridge building opportunities to bring together the future generation of Macomb, Oakland and Wayne County. Many more are needed.

That is why NuPac helped host the very successful Community Service Event which HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson, J.C. Watts, Hollywood actor Joe Phillips, former 4-time Superbowl great Lynn Swann, Mayor Jim Garner, recent President of the National Conference of Mayors and current mayor of Hempstead, New York; Maryland Lt. Governor Mike Steele, and others from Oregon, Illinois, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Washington DC, had an opportunity to take part in.

That is the type of vibrant compassionate conservatism that creates a solid spirit of hope that this week of national launches and presidential speeches was all about. It is also why we are going to launch our Faith Rocks the Vote and P3 Parties in Macomb County. NuPac is being consistent with our commitment to Macomb County Commissioner Kathy Vosburg and Peter Lund to come up with universal colorblind solutions that seek to unify all Americans.

This week was an opportunity for all Americans that Reagan would have been proud of, when he began his revolution in Detroit 24-years ago. He would have seen a week bracketed by new young men and women who took part in a solid community opportunity to give back and contribute. And ending with a Republican President who raised the stakes in the house of Democrats by openly and convincingly stating to African Americans "I want your vote!"

So for the hundreds of young people who saw something more real than a sound byte, more meaningful than a photo op, and more lasting than a speech, this week was their launch pad as well. They willingly took up the standard for a new generation of Americans, not tied to past eras of prejudice, bigotry or hostile rhetoric, but rather guided by compassion, conservatism, faith and family values, biblically based and rock solid. The Macomb County young adults who would have been yesterday's Reagan Democrats are the volunteers who joined to build metro Detroit's future and understood America's solutions must truly be colorblind.

That is also why NuPac feels very strongly about Macomb County being the launching point for its national Shared American Values - Shared American Dreams Stars and Stripes multi-city tour. It will focus on community service, young families, faith and colorblind solutions. "I believe this country can and will be a place of opportunity and hope for every single citizen. It's not a given; there's work to be done. But it's a goal, and it's an important goal," stressed the President on Friday. We agree.

All of these efforts begin somewhere. As I wrote 24 years ago in the New York Times about being In Detroit's Rumble Seat, I now, 24 years later invite all of America to join Macomb County in its Rumble Seat. As President Bush said about the National Urban League in his Detroit speech, "You've got this great faith that the future is going to be better, and I share that.... I believe the same thing."

NuPac believes the same thing about Macomb County, and about couples like Tom and Cindy Henneberry. Let's all join in the same universal dream together. Colorblind Solutions for all Americans.

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Kevin Fobbs is President of the National Urban Policy Action Council (NuPac), a non-partisan civic, and citizen-action organization that focuses on taking the politics out of policy while securing universal colorblind solutions to urban America's future one neighborhood, one city, and one person at a time. Fobbs is also Second Vice Chairman of the Michigan Republican Party and a regular contributing columnist to the Detroit News.

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Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA.