Virg Bernero: The abortion candidate

The Genesee County Democratic Party has a new ad out which touts Democratic gubernatorial candidate Virg Bernero as the abortion candidate and attacks fellow candidate Andy Dillon as "anti-choice." This ad has angered a couple of prolife Democrats who represent parts of Genesee county.

The crux of the complaint comes from Senator John Gleason and Representative Jim Slezak, both Democrats from Genesee County. They argue that the county party is overstepping its purpose by using donor funds to attack a candidate that many of its members are supporting in the Governor's race.

"To be honest, I think the people running the Genesee County Democratic Party are completely out of touch," Gleason told MIRS News in Lansing. "They don't care who's the next governor, just that Virg Bernero is the primary winner."

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Gleason added that a number of Democrats in Genesee County are against abortion, including himself and Congressman Dale Kildee.

The issue raises an important question of party funds being used to attack a candidate during a primary race. By targeting a particular stance on an issue, the ad clearly goes against what a certain percentage of the party's own members believe, and potentially results in using members' donations to argue a position that contradicts their own.