Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.) has announced he is running for the GOP nomination for president in 2012. The relative unknown will make an announcement July 2 in his hometown of Livonia, Mich., to tell the nation he will be running for president. While most Americans will be barbecuing and watching fireworks this Independence Day weekend, McCotter will be trying to get enough gumption and financing to start a nationwide campaign for office.
Who is McCotter, and why haven't we heard much about him until now?
Political Career
McCotter first sought office as a Schoolcraft Community College Trustee around 30 years ago. He served as a Wayne County Commissioner starting in 1992 before moving up to the State Senate in Michigan. McCotter finally was able to run for Congress in 2002, serving residents in suburban Detroit for almost 10 years.
The conservative currently sits on the House Committee on Financial Services . He recently made comments regarding Palestinian statehood. McCotter filed House Resolution 2261, which would delay any payments made to the United Nations until they recognize an independent Palestine in the Middle East. That piece of legislation was made public June 22.
Versus Mainstream Republicans
Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) will probably not even bring McCotter's issue up for a vote. His stances are more pro-Israel as he felt Palestine needs to stop funding terrorists. In 2009, Boehner differed with President Barack Obama over how to handle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and sided with Israel's right to defend themselves.
McCotter has his own stances and frequently bucks with his own party. He's also unabashedly working hard for his home state as he tries to keep manufacturing jobs plentiful for Michigan. Instead of calling it the "War on Terror," McCotter refers to it as the "War for Freedom."
The man is relatively unknown in national politics, probably because he has gone out on his own. He has no novel approaches as he quietly files legislation without much fanfare. Many American politicians have backed away having a Palestinian state, even as President Obama said Palestine should have a free , independent state based upon 1967 borders.
Straw Poll
The Iowa Republican reports other candidates were so surprised by McCotter's introduction to national politics, they didn't know who it was who paid $18,000 for a place on the Iowa Straw Poll. His money got him the second-highest total behind Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas). The event is held in Ames and candidates buy booth space depending upon how much they pay. The Iowa Straw Poll happens Aug. 13, 2011.
The straw poll is far from binding, but it does give Iowa Republicans a chance to gauge candidates early on in the election process. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), Herman Cain, Rick Santorum and Tim Pawlenty all paid to participate in the Iowa Straw Poll alongside McCotter.
Americans will find out just how serious the man from Michigan is when Iowans get a look at him in mid-August. He's a relative unknown who's already caused a few stirs in the past week in terms of running for president.
William Browning is a research librarian specializing in U.S. politics. Born in St. Louis, Browning is active in local politics and served as a campaign volunteer for President Barack Obama and Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill.
