7/25/14 - A bungled attempt at political espionage in Michigan has some political factions crying âfoul,â including the local Democratic Party. On July 16th, a staffer and an intern for the Michigan Republican Party attended a campaign event for Mark Shauer, a Howell High School graduate and Democratic gubernatorial candidate. At least one of the two was wearing a spy camera hidden in a pair of glasses in an attempt to gain information that could be of use in Republican Governor Rick Snyderâs reelection campaign. The scheme was uncovered when the memory card for the camera got left behind at the event, where Democrats found it and viewed the footage. The state Democratic Party has condemned the tactics as underhanded, saying the use of spy cameras brings political campaigning to a new low. Locally, Livingston County Democratic Party Chair Judy Daubenmeier says a Republican involved in the scheme visited a local Democratic event under a false name, but was found out. She tells WHMI the most offensive part of the scheme is the fact that Republicans conceal their identities or use false names when attending these events. She says Republicans would be welcome to attend if they were honest about their identities. However, Republicans say the process of monitoring or recording political opponents, known as âtrackingâ in political circles, is nothing new and that both parties do it. Livingston County Republican Party Chair Dan Wholihan says Democrats have even been caught spying at local Republican activities using cell phone cameras, and that they usually do not sign in when attending. He adds that he believes most voters are more concerned with the real issues, like the economy, than with the internal mechanics of political campaigning. Trackers gather information to help political candidates plan their campaigns around those of their opponents, as well as to catch the opposition saying something off-color when they think they are not being recorded. Rick for Michigan Communications Director Emily Benavides told WHMI "these individuals are employees of the Michigan Republican Party, they are not affiliated with Governor Snyder's re-election campaign in any way." (TD/JM)
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