Gridiron star mulls over House bid

[joeybee12]

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0609/23648.html

Former professional football player Jay Riemersma announced Thursday via YouTube that he had filed papers to form an exploratory committee that will allow him to fundraise for a possible bid in Michigan’s 2nd Congressional District.


Riemersma, a Republican, is seeking to replace nine-term Republican Rep. Pete Hoekstra, who is running for governor in 2010.


Riemersma said he will make a final decision regarding 2010 “later in the summer,” after speaking with voters in the district.


“They want leaders with the strength to stand up to higher taxes, Wall Street bailouts and out-of-control spending,” Riemersma said in the video. “People have encouraged me to consider running because I have the strength of my conservative convictions and will show leadership in these difficult economic times.”


A former tight end for the National Football League’s Buffalo Bills and a star player at the University of Michigan, Riemersma has worked for the conservative Family Research Council and coached high school football in Zeeland, Mich., since his retirement.


In November 2008, he signaled his politics when he penned a letter to the editor in the Holland Sentinel titled, “How could Christians vote for Obama?”

_______________________

I love it...he could really damage Hoekstra and pave the way for a Democrat!

[LiberalFighter]

1. Who? Star?

[joeybee12]

3. Hey, I just cut and pasted the headline...

...apparently no one at Politico really knows much about football!

[YOY]

2. "I have the strength of my conservative convictions"

Yes...we've seen those before. THey're hilarious.

[CurtEastPoint]

5. He's one of them: See this...

Riemermsa joined Family Research Council as a regional director. Working alongside policy experts, grassroots activists and conservative leaders, Riemersma was tasked with communicating the values of faith, family and freedom to the organization's national network of supporters.

Jay and his wife Cara have three children and reside in Holland, MI. They are active members of Parkside Bible Church <3>

[grantcart]

4. if Hoekstra is running for Governor how will Riemersma hurt him?

[joeybee12]

6. I didn't know that...

...I thought he figured Hoekstra was too liberal, you know, believes in sins like book-lernin'. The article did say replace hoekstra, but i just figured he wanted him out.

[tularetom]

7. Oh boy another republican jock in congress

Because Jim Bunning has been such a big success for them.

Of course the Democrats can boast(?) of Heath Shuler. A worthless POS who is a distant cousin of mine.

I guess the lesson is do not elect any dumbass jocks. For anything.

[Sebastian Doyle]

8. Oklahoma has done that a couple times too

JC Watts and Steve Largent. As a Seahawks fan, I liked Largent the wide reciever. Not so much the fundie repuke politician.

[Bleacher Creature]

9. Check my avatar.

I can say on good authority that he was no star.

I liked him when he played for the Bills. Reading about his work for the lunatic fringe, however, is really depressing. I had the same moment of disallusion (magnified by about 1,000) when I found out that Jim Kelly supported wingnuts.