David Agema
{{Short description|American politician (born 1949)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name =David Agema
| image =
| image_size =
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| birth_name =
| state_house=Michigan
| district=74th
| term_start =January 1, 2007
| term_end = December 31, 2012
| predecessor = William Van Regenmorter
| successor = Robert VerHeulen
| birth_date ={{Birth date and age|1949|2|11}}
| birth_place =Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.
| death_date =
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| other_names =
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| education =Calvin College
Central Michigan University
| employer =
| occupation =Politician
| title =
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| party = Republican
| boards =
| spouse =Barb Agema
| children =3
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}}
David Agema (born February 11, 1949) is a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. Presently the chairman of the Top Gun Republican political action committee, he is a former member of the Michigan House of Representatives and of the Republican National Committee. Agema, formerly a commercial pilot for American Airlines, is an Air Force Reserve veteran. He currently resides in Grandville, Michigan.
Early life and education
Agema was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on February 11, 1949, in an American family of Dutch origin. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Calvin College in 1971 and an M.B.A. from Central Michigan University in 1975.{{cite web|url=http://www.daveagema.com/|title=Dave Agema|accessdate=September 18, 2015}} He served as a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force but never served overseas. In 1978, he joined the Air National Guard, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. Agema then worked for American Airlines and later as a business consultant.
Political involvement
Agema is an anti-abortion Republican, who is actively vocal in his opposition to same-sex marriage and civil unions.{{Cite web |url=http://michiganmessenger.com/48816/house-approves-penalty-for-colleges-that-offer-partner-benefits |title=House approves penalty for colleges that offer partner benefits | Michigan Messenger |access-date=May 9, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110509084751/http://michiganmessenger.com/48816/house-approves-penalty-for-colleges-that-offer-partner-benefits |archive-date=May 9, 2011 |url-status=dead }}
Agema served three terms (the constitutional limit) in the Michigan House of Representatives, from 2007 to 2013, representing parts of the Grand Rapids area. The American Conservative Union gave him a 100% rating. He was elected at the 2012 Michigan Republican State Convention to the Republican National Committee, defeating incumbent Saul Anuzis. In 2016 he was replaced by Robert Steele.
= Political controversies =
{{cleanup|date=August 2020|reason=illiterate, hard to follow}}
In 2013, he faced calls to resign from the Republican National Committee by only 11 members of Chairman Priebus's executive committee after he posted extracts from an article allegedly written by a doctor entitled "Everyone Should Know These Statistics On Homosexuals" which said that homosexuals lived a "filthy lifestyle", were responsible for 50 percent of U.S. murders in certain cities and that many are pedophiles. Agema was rebuked by RNC chairman Reince Priebus, who drew a distinction between Republican policies on gay rights and the language used in Agema's post, adding "all human beings deserve to be treated with dignity and respect."[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/mar/30/republican-don-young-hispanic-workers-wetbacks Republican Don Young forced to apologise for 'wetbacks' comment], The Guardian, March 31, 2013, retrieved March 31, 2013 The Republican platform opposes gay marriage.
Later that year, Agema was condemned by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder after saying that homosexuals were in favor of healthcare reform because "some are dying between 30 and 44 years old."{{cite news|last1=Alman|first1=Ashley|title=Homophobic RNC Committee Member Accuses Gay Colleagues Of Manipulating Health Benefits|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/09/dave-agema-anti-gay_n_4415489.html|accessdate=June 15, 2015|publisher=Huffington Post|date=December 9, 2013}} Agema posted several statistics on his web page from newer biased sources confirming earlier death.
In addition to his comments about homosexuals, Agema quoted an article written by another in response to Obama's statement that Muslims have a rich fabric in the history of the United States, "Have you ever seen a Muslim do anything that contributes positively to the American way of life?". This was in reference to the lack of historical record of Obama's statement. Muslim Republicans took offense to this and cited contribution from their families and friends. Additionally, his bill to ban foreign law and Sharia Law (ALAC) (passed by several other states) was seen as an attempt to engender paranoia against Muslims.{{cite web|last1=Oosting|first1=Jonathan|title=Michigan Republican Dave Agema under fire again for questioning contributions of American Muslims. |date=January 14, 2014 |url=http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/01/michigan_republican_dave_agema.html|publisher=MLive Media Group|accessdate=June 28, 2014}} Agema's comments on Muslims, "styled as an open missive to President Obama", led to the resignation in 2015 of a Maine private-academy lacrosse coach who had re-posted them on Facebook.Byrne, Matt, [http://www.pressherald.com/2015/04/08/fryeburg-academy-coach-resigns-after-anti-islamic-facebook-posting/ "Fryeburg Academy coach resigns after anti-Islamic Facebook posting"], Portland Press Herald, April 8, 2015. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
On December 31, 2014, Agema reposted an article printed by former Congressman and retired Army lieutenant colonel Allen West in his news letter. West stated he had personally observed some of this and that it would seem racists but needed to be addressed. The article was written pseudonymously and ran in the white nationalist magazine American Renaissance, and included sentences by a public defender concerning certain felons with multiple convictions he had to defend stating certain "[B]lacks are different by almost any measure to all other people. They cannot reason as well (referring to these felons). They cannot communicate as well. They cannot control their impulses as well. They are a threat to all who cross their paths, black and non-black alike."{{cite web|last1=Woodruff|first1=Betsey|title=Why Can't the RNC Rid Itself of a Racist?|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2015/01/the_republican_national_committee_s_dave_agema_problem_the_michigan_rnc.html|website=Slate.com|accessdate=January 16, 2015|date=January 16, 2015}} Chairman Reince Priebus subsequently called on him to resign his RNC position.{{cite web|last1=Hohman|first1=James|title=Reince Priebus wants Dave Agema to quit over Facebook posts, yet he supported Lt. Col West's article- a double standard.|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2014/01/reince-priebus-dave-agema-102573.html|website=Politico.com|accessdate=January 16, 2015|date=January 24, 2015}} He did not resign.
=Electoral history=
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2012 MIGOP State Convention – Republican National Committeeman (May 19, 2012){{Cite web |url=http://www.rightmichigan.com/story/2012/5/25/11349/7426 |title=Showdown In Motown |access-date=November 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120021044/http://www.rightmichigan.com/story/2012/5/25/11349/7426 |archive-date=November 20, 2012 |url-status=dead }}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Dave Agema
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 1,467
| percentage = 69.07
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Saul Anuzis
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 639
| percentage = 30.08
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Gerald LaRouche
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 18
| percentage = 0.85
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 2,124
| percentage= 100.00
}}{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2010 General Election – 74th District State Representative (November 2, 2010){{cite web|url=http://miboecfr.nictusa.com/election/results/10GEN/08074000.html|title=2010 Official Michigan General Election Results – 74th District State Representative 2 Year Term (1) Position|work=nictusa.com|accessdate=September 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006042326/http://miboecfr.nictusa.com/election/results/10GEN/08074000.html|archive-date=October 6, 2014|url-status=dead}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Dave Agema
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 28,846
| percentage = 78.97
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Leon Chase
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 6,908
| percentage = 18.91
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = R. J. Stevens
| party = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes = 773
| percentage = 2.12
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 36,527
| percentage= 100.00
}}{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2008 General Election – 74th District State Representative (November 4, 2008){{cite web|url=http://miboecfr.nictusa.com/election/results/08GEN/08074000.html|title=2008 Official Michigan General Election Results – 74th District State Representative 2 Year Term (1) Position|work=nictusa.com|accessdate=September 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140129154346/http://miboecfr.nictusa.com/election/results/08GEN/08074000.html|archive-date=January 29, 2014|url-status=dead}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Dave Agema
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 36,207
| percentage = 70.25
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Leon Chase
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 13,421
| percentage = 26.04
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Tracy McLaughlin
| party = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes = 1,911
| percentage = 3.71
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 51,539
| percentage= 100.00
}}{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2006 General Election – 74th District State Representative (November 7, 2006){{cite web|url=http://miboecfr.nictusa.com/election/results/06GEN/08074000.html|title=2006 Official Michigan General Election Results – 74th District State Representative 2 Year Term (1) Position|work=nictusa.com|accessdate=September 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140129153631/http://miboecfr.nictusa.com/election/results/06GEN/08074000.html|archive-date=January 29, 2014|url-status=dead}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Dave Agema
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 30,495
| percentage = 70.13
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Steven Kauffman
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 12,109
| percentage = 27.85
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Tracy McLaughlin
| party = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes = 880
| percentage = 2.02
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 43,484
| percentage= 100.00
}}{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2006 Republican Primary – 74th District State Representative (August 8, 2006){{cite web|url=http://miboecfr.nictusa.com/election/results/06PRI/08074000.html|title=2006 Official Michigan Primary Election Results – 74th District State Representative 2 Year Term (1) Position|work=nictusa.com|accessdate=September 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140129154137/http://miboecfr.nictusa.com/election/results/06PRI/08074000.html|archive-date=January 29, 2014|url-status=dead}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Dave Agema
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 4,333
| percentage = 36.92
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Rich VanderKlok
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 1,906
| percentage = 16.24
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jose Gomez
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 1,819
| percentage = 15.50
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Janis DeVree
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 1,567
| percentage = 13.35
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Joe Sierawski
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 550
| percentage = 4.69
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Brian VanLente
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 412
| percentage = 3.51
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Joanne Brownlee
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 387
| percentage = 3.30
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Cornelius VanderKam
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 365
| percentage = 3.11
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Dawn Sloboda
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 249
| percentage = 2.12
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Kyle Braddell
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 147
| percentage = 1.25
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 11,735
| percentage= 100.00}}
{{Election box end}}
Personal life
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{CongLinks|votesmart=66283}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{succession box | before=William Van Regenmorter | title=Michigan State Representative, 74th House District | years=January 2007 – December 2012| after= Rob VerHeulen }}
{{s-ppo}}
{{succession box | before=Saul Anuzis | title=Republican National Committeeman from Michigan | years=August 2012 – present| after=incumbent}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Agema, David}}
Category:American politicians of Dutch descent
Category:Calvin University alumni
Category:Central Michigan University alumni
Category:American critics of Islam
Category:Republican Party members of the Michigan House of Representatives
Category:United States Air Force officers
Category:People from Grandville, Michigan
Category:Republican National Committee members
Category:American commercial aviators