Can Krazy Kerry Bentivolio survive his own antics?

Posted by hpayne on September 10, 2013

Congressman Kerry Bentivolio is celebrated by tea party members, but mainstream Republicans question whether Michigan's 11th District can be better represented.

Congressman Kerry Bentivolio is celebrated by tea party members, but mainstream Republicans question whether Michigan’s 11th District can be better represented. (Jose Juarez / Special to The Detroit News)

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130910/OPINION01/309100009#ixzz2egy58IbNAt an Aug. 21 town hall meeting in Birmingham, Rep. Kerry Bentivolio, R–Milford, told constituents that he would call a Congressional hearing to investigate the conspiracy theory that the government is secretly spewing toxic “chem-trails” from military planes to change the weather or control the population or something.

“We’ll bring in some Air Force folks right here in our district. We can have an oversight reform committee hearing right here and we’ll investigate,” said Bentivolio in response to an audience question. “I’d like to find out about it too.”

This is the kind of black helicopters-are-coming stuff that earned Bentivolio the nickname “Krazy Kerry” (from fellow Republicans) during the 2012 Congressional campaign. The debunked chem-trails conspiracy — that “contrail” vapor condensation from airplane engines is really something more insidious — has long been the fevered talk of fringe Internet chat rooms.

But despite such embarrassing diversions the first-term Congressman, say political insiders, will be difficult to unseat in 2014 — even with last week’s announcement that businessman and Michigan Republican Party establishment favorite Dave Trott has thrown his hat into the ring. Such is the power of incumbency, and the deep pocketbooks of the GOP’s insurgent Ron Paul/Libertarian wing that backs Bentiviolo.

The accidental Congressional career of Iraq War veteran Kerry Bentivolio once brought hope of a real life “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” who would speak truth to power. But Bentivolio’s congressional term has been unremarkable after he was the only candidate left on the ballot when shoo–in incumbent Thaddeus McCotter imploded in 2012.

Unremarkable, save for his signature loose cannon antics. His Birmingham town hall was a mess.

The forum made national headlines in The New York Times and Politico as he seemed to encourage President Barack Obama’s impeachment. “If I could write that bill and submit it,” said Bentivolio in response to an audience question. “It would be a dream come true.”

Democrat-leaning media seized on the comment as evidence of an alleged Republican impeachment plot. Bentivolio’s lack of discipline was in evidence throughout the town hall (now helpfully available on YouTube).

Aside from the chem-trails nonsense, Bentivolio embraced the far left movement to label genetically–modified foods (GMOs). “I love that idea,” said the congressman, endorsing the campaign to marginalize a bio-technology revolution that has accelerated food production by making crops drought and disease-resistant.

Indeed, while Bentivolio poses as an anti-Big Government crusader, he drifts to fringe theories on the right and left.

Such wanderings do not serve his 11th District constituents well. When contacted about setting a date for the chem-trail hearing, a Bentivolio spokesman said the hearing has been canceled for lack of evidence. Better that he didn’t go down that blind alley in the first place. But there are a lot of blind alleys in Bentivolio’s uneven career that includes runs as a school teacher, actor and reindeer rancher. His teacher tenure provoked reprimands that would make suspended Michigan State Professor William Penn proud — including bullying students and lapsing into classroom political tirades. He also claims a bit part in a conspiracy film that suggests President George W. Bush plotted 9/11.

Wary of such antics, the Michigan Republican Party establishment first tried to defeat Bentivolio in the 2012 primary with a write-in candidate. This go-round, attorney David Trott’s candidacy has all the earmarks of a second establishment run to bury Bentivolio once and for all.

But Bentivolio has been a loyal GOP soldier, voting the party line. The power of incumbency is deep (as districts like the 11th have been gerrymandered to favor one party), and Bentivolio will have fundraising support from party leaders like House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio.

“Trott will have trouble beating him,” says Michigan political guru Bill Ballenger of Inside Michigan Politics. “Trott will have more money, but the Ron Paul crowd will support Bentivolio. He’s the real deal as far as they are concerned.”

With state party backing, Trott hopes to put an end to the brief, bizarre political career of Kerry Bentivolio. He can only hope that Krazy Kerry does more town halls.

 

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