Michigan GOP Leader Calls On Clinton To Stop Jill Stein's 'Temper Tantrum'
LANSING (WWJ) -- Republican leaders in Michigan continue to speak out against Green Party candidate Jill Stein's recount bid filed in the state this week.
The Michigan Republican Party sent out a press release Saturday morning titled "Thousands of Voters Call on Hillary to Object to Stein's Temper Tantrum." The party says it sent a petition with 6,933 signatures over to Hillary Clinton's campaign, urging her to object to Stein's "frivolous and ridiculous recount petition."
"Michigan taxpayers are being taken for a very expensive and unnecessary ride by the Stein campaign," Michigan GOP chairman Ronna Romney McDaniel said in a press release. "It is time for Clinton and the rest of the Democrats to speak up, and speak out, about this ridiculous waste of taxpayer dollars."
McDaniel says on November 8, Michigan voters went to the polls, cast their ballots, and Donald Trump won Michigan. She also says she is confident the results of a recount would be the same.
"Clearly they're working together — the Clinton campaign doesn't want to take the lead," McDaniel told WWJ Newsradio 950 this week. "It's unfortunate because it means that our process will be delayed, but in the end I have every confidence, first of all, in our election process here in Michigan and Secretary of State Ruth Johnson."
Michigan's presidential election results were certified by the Board of State Canvassers at a meeting on Monday. After the results were officially certified, Stein formally requested a recount on Wednesday.
Stein will have to pay $125 per precinct – 6,300 in Michigan – for a cost of $787,500.
10,704 votes are all that separated Trump from Clinton in Michigan. The two-tenths of a percentage point margin, out of 4.8-million votes is the closest presidential race in the state in more than 75 years.
Stein's lawyer, Mark Brewer, said this week that the recount isn't about exposing widespread fraud, rather making sure that Michigan's older tabulators accurately counted every vote.
"We do not have evidence of fraud," Brewer said. "We are concerned about two things though. One — we know from history that the voting machines in Michigan, these tabulators, miss votes. I've seen that in recounts I've done in the past and now they're getting older and older and they're missing votes. There are 80,000 votes cast in this state which, according to the returns today, contain no vote for President. Those ballots need to be examined by hand."
Brewer says the recount will be done in a "very timely" fashion. Stein chose to pursue recounts in Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania because the outcomes were so tight.
"This is not a partisan issue," McDaniel said. "Michigan voters deserve better than this incredible waste of money and time. It is time that the Democrats join Republicans in calling for an end to this wasteful and ridiculous recount."
