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Michigan Elects 8 time Felon as State Rep......

MMC

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Democrat Brian Banks, an eight-time convicted felon with a rap sheet spanning several years, on Tuesday handily defeated his Republican opponent in the race to represent Michigan’s first district as a state representative, taking 68 percent of the vote.

Banks’ district includes northeast Detroit, Harper Woods, Grosse Pointe Woods and Grosse Point Shores.
The 35-year-old Banks was convicted of credit card fraud and writing bad checks eight times between 1998 and 2004. His latest conviction came eight years ago, when he was 27 years old.

However, Banks, who defeated Grosse Pointe Shores city councilman Republican Dan Schulte on Election Day, has insisted he has turned his life around.

His campaign slogan was “You can Bank on Banks.”

But recent events have cast doubt on Banks’ claims that he has, in fact, opened a new chapter in his life. In August, Banks was evicted from a Harper Woods home on Berden Street. The case involved a judgment of approximately $2,000.

On Oct. 31, a $3,751 judgment for nonpayment of rent was entered against Banks after his landlord discovered bounced checks. Banks was evicted from a second Harper Woods home last week, this time on Fleetwood Drive.

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2012/11/07/f...sentative-seat-on-election-day/#ixzz2BejyolPH


This is what the Demos voted in to Politics from the good Ole state of Michigan. Not like we wouldn't have to keep an eye on him.....huh?
 
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His job is to represent the people of Michigan. With his public record, he seems well equipped to do so.
 
Shouldn't other Democrats be asking for his resignation? Now he has been elected and still has checks bouncing out there. How can a known felon be allowed to run for Office and not be challenged over this?
 
I have no problem with felons running for any office. But in this case I think the voters are bat **** crazy. But only because this guys felony record is so long and spans such a large time frame. And apparently he is still doing things that he shouldn't be doing...

But this is what happens when voters vote along party lines instead of using the brains God gave them.
 
He seems perfect for the job of an elected official. His offenses mostly seem to be spending money he didn't have. Great resume...
 

not knowing any other info than whats here id have to agree 100%

no problem with a felony running or even winning but it seems this was definitely the wrong one

whats the mix of his voting area and how did this not come out during the running.
 
All I could think reading this is that it seems fitting for Michigan.
 
good one michigan. way to attract investment.
 
At least he is an honest crook.
 
At least he is alive... there is a Rep and a Dem who were elected despite dying weeks before the election.

Plus this guy has done nothing wrong for 8 years, so why should his past be a problem?
 
PeteEU said:
At least he is alive... there is a Rep and a Dem who were elected despite dying weeks before the election.

Plus this guy has done nothing wrong for 8 years, so why should his past be a problem?
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What do you mean "nothing wrong"?
Bouncing checks is "something" wrong.
 
PeteEU said:
At least he is alive... there is a Rep and a Dem who were elected despite dying weeks before the election.

Plus this guy has done nothing wrong for 8 years, so why should his past be a problem?
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On Oct. 31, a $3,751 judgment for nonpayment of rent was entered against Banks after his landlord discovered bounced checks. Banks was evicted from a second Harper Woods home last week, this time on Fleetwood Drive.....snip~


I guess he can say he will live out of his Office in Washington now huh, where it will be Free!? Oct 31st of this year was the last known check he wrote that he knew was no good. Image what he can get away with in Washington. Plus don't forget the credit card schemes.

Surely you will want to donate to his future erm I mean Campaign! :lol:
 
PeteEU said:
Plus this guy has done nothing wrong for 8 years, so why should his past be a problem?
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Right! After all, he's a Democrat. That's all you need to know. :roll:
 
Harshaw said:
Right! After all, he's a Democrat. That's all you need to know. :roll:
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Irrelevant what party he is in. He served his time period. He has been "non-criminal" for 8 years.

Are you one of those "make one mistake or a few mistakes in life and you are done" type of people?
 
PeteEU said:
Irrelevant what party he is in. He served his time period. He has been "non-criminal" for 8 years.

Are you one of those "make one mistake or a few mistakes in life and you are done" type of people?
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No, I'm one of those "don't put someone with a long criminal history into public office" types. Silly American sensibility, I realize. :roll:

And don't think you're fooling anyone, Pete; if he were a Republican, you'd be all over him. No one who knows you would ever think otherwise.
 
Bottom line: He was voted in office by the people he will represent. It's more about the people who elected him than it is about his irresponsible behavior. His influence will be minimal. That is clearly what his constituents voted for.

Something, is wrong with Banks, however. He has a master's degree from Wayne State and a J.D. from Michigan State. He's not dumb. He clearly has financial management issues to the extent that he is a repeated felon.
 
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The question is a simple one: once a person has served their time and has paid their debt to society, are they entitled to the rights of other citizens or are they NOT entitled to the rights enjoyed by other citizens.

Michigan has law - (already cited in the other bas Banks thread) authored by Detroit Senator Tupac Hunter - which bars anyone convicted of a breach of the public trust while holding office from running again for a period of twenty years.
 
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why is it that criminals can run for office yet they cant vote?
 
Am thinking our Illinois story is every bit as fun as the Michigan story. Derrick Smith was re-elected (With 65% of the vote) just months after being expelled from from the same State House he won. And the bribe in question was $6000 in cash that he accepted from an undercover FBI agent. Other states may think they have a corrupt political system. But you really have no frigging idea....


"Smith is set to take the oath of office Jan. 9, less than five months after he became the first House member to be expelled in 107 years, following federal charges that he took a bribe. But Smith stayed on Tuesday's ballot as the Democratic candidate and easily won his contest against an independent candidate backed by Secretary of State Jesse White and Gov. Pat Quinn."

Lawmaker seeks way to boot Rep. Smith again - chicagotribune.com
 
Politicaladdict said:
why is it that criminals can run for office yet they cant vote?
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Am thinking in most states felons can't hold elected office. Apparently Michigan is an exception. And Alcee Hastings would suggest Florida is also an exception.
 

I think it's well established that character doesn't mean anything to Democrats.
 
I would have thought that one of the criteria a party would look for in a candidate is the legal ability to vote
 
rjay said:
I would have thought that one of the criteria a party would look for in a candidate is the legal ability to vote
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Most Felons can vote after they serve their sentence. Well except for a few Democratic States where they actually let them vote from in Prison. :lol:
 
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