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Government

Michigan Congressman Begins Brief, Six-Week Term in Office

Nov. 17, 2012 11:49pm Erica Ritz

Michigan Congressman David Curson Begins Six Week Term in Office | Rep. Thaddeus McCotter

House Speaker John Boehner, left, performs a mock swearing in for Rep. David Curson, D-Mich., accompanied by his wife Sharon Curson, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Photo: AP)

(TheBlaze/AP) — Driving from Michigan in his Ford F150 pickup truck, David Curson arrived in Washington a week ago. He set up an office last Sunday, was sworn in as a congressman on Tuesday and by Friday had logged his first votes and given his first floor speech – one that stretched a bit past the one minute he’d been allotted.

The 64-year-old Democrat has no time to waste. In six weeks, he’ll be gone.

In Congress’ packed lame-duck session, Curson is a curiosity.

He was one of four members of the House sworn in this past week to fill a partial term, but he’s the only one who didn’t win a full, two-year term to go with the temporary gig. In January, he’ll drive his truck home and be replaced by Republican Rep.-elect Kerry Bentivolio, whom Curson beat out for the partial term.

Curson did not run for a full term, only opting to run in the special election after other Democrats took a pass.

The seat was left vacant when Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, a Republican, quit Congress during the summer after he failed to qualify for the ballot because of questions about petition signatures.

Curson, a burly, bearded ex-Marine and United Autoworkers union representative says he didn’t even realize for sure that he’d won until midafternoon the day after the election.

“It kind of stunned everybody, but immediately the phone just came off the hook,” he said. Party leaders called offering “all the help they could to get me off the ground and running.”

Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi and Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., have lent Curson staff to help him with the brief learning curve he has. In just days, he assembled a nearly full staff, including his own chief of staff and communications director.

One aide, Curson says, is “guiding me around” to ensure he doesn’t get lost in the labyrinth of hallways in the Capitol, gets to votes on time and generally knows where he should be.

Curson, who worked on the federal auto bailout on the UAW’s behalf, said he knows he’s arrived in Washington at an important time. He’s keen to play whatever role he can as Congress seeks to navigate the fiscal cliff and a slew of other thorny, year-end issues.

“A lot of different issues that have been lying stagnant are going to come into play,” he said, adding that he’ll be pushing for compromise.

So far, he says, it’s been a frenetic, enjoyable experience.

“I expected to be treated as the naive guy who doesn’t know how all this works, you know, I’ve never held a public office before,” he said, noting he got to stand on the floor with one of his political heroes, Dingell. “But that’s not how it’s been. I’m truly impressed by the forum.”

Impressed enough to consider a run for a full term?

“At this point, no,” he said, adding, however, “I might catch the bug.”

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Comments (30)

denkat56
Posted on November 18, 2012 at 1:07pm
They should get rid of not only their benefits, they should also get rid of their salaries and retirement s. With free insider trading, their speaking fees, and other various forms of in come they don’t need paychecks. Just a thought.

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Eastinfection
Posted on November 18, 2012 at 10:32am
I’m all for 6- week term limits!

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RayOne
Posted on November 18, 2012 at 9:30am
If he were Jesse Jackson Jr. it would be something else.

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Proverbs17-12NLT
Posted on November 18, 2012 at 9:01am
Quick start having sex with interns and spending tax dollars democrat, they’ll never catch ya.

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fschipani
Posted on November 18, 2012 at 8:56am
I live in the MI 11th District. Curson was elected in the old district and Bentivilio in the newly redistricted 11th. While I’m disappointed that he lost to a union thug in the temporary election, the guy the Dems ran for the two year term was much worse. In January we’re sending a solid Tea Party conservative and a combat veteran who was opposed by the GOP party elites during the primary to Washington. I think Kerry will do a great job. Hopefully, the damage from Curson will be minimal.

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progressiveslayer
Posted on November 18, 2012 at 8:42am
Another union pig from Michigan doing his part to kill jobs,he’ll fit right in with the union pigs in DC. The good news is it’s for a short time.

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- G-WHIZ
  Posted on November 18, 2012 at 9:25am
  Lemmee see…He[D] ran for to “fill” a LAMEDUCK position for 6wks?! How d-juh know he was not as bad as a normal-harieazznoreid democrat?! … GET-IN…DESTROY….GET-OUT!!…to be REPLACED BY THE FULL-TERM DULY-ELECTED REPUB in Jan.! VanJones: NONELECTED-GOT-IN…UBER-DESTRUCTION OF CONSTITUTION…GOT-OUT! hairyazz No/reid: GOT-IN when JESUS had t stop and tie his tennis-shoe…AND HE(harryazzR.) is still there…destroying the people who voted for him every single year!!
  
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SilentRunner
Posted on November 18, 2012 at 7:45am
How much damage to America can David Curson contribute to during his six weeks in office? I hope that aide runs off and hides and allows Dave to get lost.

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- Stuck_in_CA
  Posted on November 18, 2012 at 8:36am
  Voter Fraud: Calling A Spade A Spade
  http://freedomoutpost.com/2012/11/voter-fraud-calling-a-spade-a-spade/
  
  Report this comment
gatekeeper96740
Posted on November 18, 2012 at 4:59am
Important! forward asap. fight not over.
John 8:32(KJV), “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” This election does not get decided until Mid-December when the Electoral College cast their votes.
According to Article II of the U.S. Constitution AND the 12th Amendment – if 1/3rd of the States do not cast their votes in the Electoral College — then the matter falls onto the House of Representatives to choose the President.
In other words — if we pressure Congressmen, State Party Officials, and groups such as Tea Party Patriots, Heritage Foundation, etc., to call on RED States to NOT have their Electors cast their vote — then the House of Reps CAN choose the next President!!!!!

The democrats are stealing this election and it is up to WE, the people, to put the hammer down on their widespread vote-fraud. The founding-fathers gave us the Electoral College for several reasons.
Vote-Fraud is one of those reasons.
But it is up to us to hold tightly to the Constitution. If we don’t – then we are just as guilty as those who would ignore it.

The Constitution can stop the socialist machine in its’ tracks.
But it is up to YOU to get on the phone and make some noise.
Please call your State Party Officials, your Congressmen, and any political groups or organizations ASAP.

WE do not elect the President. The Electoral College elects the President. But if enough of them do not cast their vote – then the responsibility falls onto the House of

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- reform
  Posted on November 18, 2012 at 6:35am
  How do the 31 states stand?
  
  Report this comment
- WarMunger_Al
  Posted on November 18, 2012 at 8:01am
  So, you would be an election obstructionist. I doubt that would work and even if it did,no one would let it stand. You would better off to start shooting. There will be no republican president. By 2016, the GOP will look almost identical to the Dems. They are almost there as it is.
  
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JACKTHETOAD
Posted on November 18, 2012 at 4:55am
He’s gonna have to take the long way around on the way home, as I’m trying to round up a posse and declare war on Ohio.

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- johnpaulkuchtajr
  Posted on November 18, 2012 at 5:46am
  If he’s trying to portray himself as the last honest guy in Washington, DC, I hope he abandons the effort soon. L
  
  Look where it got Jack Kennedy.
  
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- RIGHT_WHERE_IT_HURTS
  Posted on November 18, 2012 at 9:20am
  JFK killed by a commie. Bobby killed by a Muslim. What’s up with THAT I wonder? The plan was in place even then.
  
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TheRagas
Posted on November 18, 2012 at 2:11am
All we can do is pray for our country and the ppl we elected to run it. Instead of being negative, how about we find other ways to deal with our situations? Anyone with me?

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DadRocked
Posted on November 18, 2012 at 1:46am
CATB – “He’ a Michigan Dem .. and union to boot .. he will do all the damage he can.”
Watch this guy for the next six weeks… watch the smoke-n-mirrors of his tenure.
– Something just fits too conveniently… Just speculating on some hunches…

Visits to the WH = 500 by union lobbyists.
This guy, “Curson, who worked on the federal auto bailout on the UAW’s behalf”

The White House has hosted James Hoffa, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters 22 times; Mary Kay Henry, president of the Service Employees International Union,15 times; Edwin Hill, president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, 13 visits; Larry Cohen, president of the Communications Workers of America, and Lee Saunders, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, 10 times. http://watchdog.org/59851/white-house-visitors-log-shows-a-list-of-rich-famous-and-powerful/

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Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on November 18, 2012 at 12:57am
The DNC puppet machine had everything set up, staff and all- He will of course be lock step….

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Diane TX
Posted on November 18, 2012 at 12:42am
I’m so glad that a Republican replaces him in the new Congress. The less commie Dems – the better!

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sandy21957
Posted on November 18, 2012 at 12:12am
He still qualifies for retirement and benies. S u c k s!!!!!!!!!

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- rickc34
  Posted on November 18, 2012 at 12:18am
  He is a union monkey.
  
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- Anonymous T. Irrelevant
  Posted on November 18, 2012 at 12:46am
  That SHOULD be prorated on length on the term one has served, instead of full benefits. These one-term Congressmen are only part of the expensive government that we have.
  
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- grayling646
  Posted on November 18, 2012 at 1:07am
  Sandy, search ‘congressional pensions and benefits’. Might make you feel better.
  
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piper60
Posted on November 18, 2012 at 12:00am
At least, when he goes back home, he’ll be able to tell someone how D.C. really works. There’s a concept.

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DadRocked
Posted on November 17, 2012 at 11:59pm
“Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi and Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., have lent Curson staff to help him with the brief learning curve he has.”
He would be better off with no staff and just ask directions to the chamber, mens room, dining hall and parking lot to find his truck.

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Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on November 17, 2012 at 11:52pm
The least amount of damage any democrat could do in office.Ever.

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- Psychosis
  Posted on November 18, 2012 at 12:35am
  dont get your hopes up ……………dems find a way to screw things up in mere seconds ……..its a ” gift”
  
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- CatB
  Posted on November 18, 2012 at 1:03am
  He’ a Michigan Dem .. and union to boot .. he will do all the damage he can.
  
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- USAMama
  Posted on November 18, 2012 at 3:02am
  “It kind of stunned everybody, but immediately the phone just came off the hook,” he said. Party leaders called offering “all the help they could to get me off the ground and running.”
  
  I’ll bet they did!
  
  Report this comment
- JACKTHETOAD
  Posted on November 18, 2012 at 4:52am
  Look at the bright side. He was sworn in by a demonrat too.
  
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