Justin Zatkoff is a tragic figure in the truest sense of the word.
As we report in this issue, his reign as Chairman of the Michigan Federation of College Republicans (MFCRs) has been nothing short of tumultuous. Having come to power just over a year ago, he has effectively run this state's umbrella organization of College Republicans into the ground, demonstrating more concern for his own consolidation of power than for the health of political discourse. The tragedy, though, has been in Zatkoff's zeal-what we think to be the cause of his marginalization.
Zatkoff has led an organization with a narrow, myopic view of politics. To them, liberals (who this publication often shares as an ideological adversary) are the enemy. Ideological purity even extends to supporting the recall-an extraordinary action in any circumstance-of their own Republican colleagues in office, instead of targeting the Democrats, whose fiscal irresponsibility led to the dire straits in our state budget. Expending energy in such a way does not advance the interest of the party Zatkoff claims to represent, and ignores the extenuating circumstances that the state legislatures were faced with last fall.
It saddens us to see an organization with which we share so much torn asunder by Zatkoff's work. His electioneering tactics have been exploitative and strong-armed. The two conventions at which he won his position, by all accounts, were characterized by manipulation of voters and rules.
In this, he even made U-M's own College Republicans (in which Zatkoff claims to be a member) a victim. His first election saw him stacking the deck with loyalists, who he appeared to have bought off. And his second election saw him entirely screwing his supposed colleagues, by using a nitpicky credentials process that shut U-M out entirely from the process. And when U-M's College Republicans rightly reacted by withdrawing from the MFCRs, Zatkoff threatened the nation's oldest chapter of College Republicans chapter with a lawsuit, after promising to found his own rival organization.
The Michigan Review endorses no candidate or political office. However, what we do strongly endorse is the strength of both major political parties on campuses throughout this state. A vibrant discourse is vital, and we wish to handicap against any party when trying to compete in the marketplace of ideas. It is especially important, though, for the College Republicans on this campus and others throughout the state to be visible, coherent, engaging, and ethical. It is no secret that college campuses (especially this one) lean well to the left. The College Republicans, among others, keep that atmosphere from becoming overwhelming.
But it has become clear to us that, under the leadership of Justin Zatkoff, the College Republicans have become a less effective counterweight. His leadership has been visible, mostly for its negativity. His leadership has not been coherent-no figure who threatens to sue the leadership of his own party is. His leadership has not been coherent; the erratic attacks by and on behalf of Zatkoff on a number of websites exhibit the crack-up. And with the MFCRs' election problems and potential campaign finance violations in mind, Zatkoff's leadership is the furthest thing from ethical.
If Zatkoff truly cares for the election of Republican candidates as much as he says, we are confident that he will recognize that the albatross of controversy he has created for himself cannot allow him to carry on.
Accordingly, The Michigan Review demands that Zatkoff resign as Chairman of The Michigan Federation of College Republicans.
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