State launching investigation on GOP parties

The Michigan Liquor Control Commission is investigating allegations of underage drinking at the state Republicans’ leadership conference on Mackinac Island in late September.

“It’s an open investigation,” said LCC Spokeswoman Andrea Miller.

The investigation stemmed from a Sept. 28 blog post written by Saranac sophomore and Central Michigan University College Republicans member Vanessa Oblinger, which the blog, entitled “A Real Political Party,” said she attended a party hosted by Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Mike Cox, during which the minors at the party were provided alcohol, the blog read.

“Friday night, we were rewarded with open bars and free dinners,” the blog read. “The X’s on the minors’ hands were washed off and the free drinks showered upon us, but this got old fast.”

Cox’s campaign could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Other parties also were hosted by GOP gubernatorial candidates Mike Bouchard and Rick Snyder, Oblinger said.

Oblinger said she originally intended on going to Snyder’s party, but was turned down at the door because she is under 21.

“My intentions were not bad,” Oblinger said. “The blog was a stupid thing that I just wrote for class.”

Oblinger issued an apology letter to the Snyder campaign regarding the leadership conference events, after the Detroit News reported on the story last week.

“It was with great regret when I read the Detroit News story this morning that implied your campaign had anything to do with my blog posting. That couldn’t have been further from the truth,” the statement obtained by Central Michigan Life read.

The e-mail also said Oblinger attended the Bouchard party as well, but she told Central Michigan Life on Tuesday this was never the case because she was off the island before the party took place.

“The only party I recall being at was the Cox one,” she said.

She also said she never wrote the apology letter in the first place, but someone from the Snyder campaign did, which she approved.

“It was prepared by someone else,” she said. “I didn’t really read over it… it was while I was distracted.”

Jake Suski, communications director for the Snyder campaign, denied it.

“No one directly affiliated with our campaign contacted her or asked her to send us an apology,” Suski said. “I can’t speak for her motivation in making that claim.”

Suski said Snyder’s party did not violate any laws.

“This campaign did not provide drinks to any minor,” he said.

Aftermath

Oblinger said she wants to set the record straight about her blog post and, since the aftermath of the issued statement, she feels she is the victim of a political trick.

“I’m kind of turned off to politics at the moment,” she said. “I understand politics… it’s about trying to win.”

Oblinger said she hopes to stay involved with College Republicans in the future.

Coleman freshman and College Republicans Vice Chairman John Porter said it is not an issue for the organization.

“It was not a College Republican event,” he said. “She was not with us that weekend.”

Other campus Republican groups were present from different parts of the state, Oblinger said.