John Conyers

Longtime Michigan Rep. John Conyers is in danger of losing the Democratic primary scheduled for early August. However, he did get some good news this week…sort of. The Detroit Free Press endorsed him. Unfortunately, it was one of the most tepid endorsements imaginable. The Free Press endorsed Conyers on the hope that he will soon retire.

[H]e’s a civil rights icon who commands respect at home as well as on Capitol Hill in Washington.

That alone should not be enough to recommend Conyers for yet another term; his energy has slowed and he is not delivering for his district the way he used to, or the way he should be.

Then there is the matter of his wife, Monica, who’s serving a federal prison sentence for shaking down vendors when she was a member of the Detroit City Council; implausibly, the congressman swears he knew nothing of the conspiracy she pled guilty to taking part in.

But elections are about finite choices, and while all of Conyers’ Democratic opponents are competent, none offers sufficient support for turning out a congressman of his seniority and influence.

John Conyers gets our endorsement, but it is mostly with the hope that he will soon retire from Congress and the district will produce a more viable alternative.

This is not one of those endorsements that candidates send flyers out to voters hoping that they will be impressed. Conyers has little to boast about in this recommendation. Hopefully, he does not disregard it too easily though. Being that Conyers has served in Congress since 1965, he would do well to take the Free Press‘ suggestion after this election. Fifty years in Washington is enough for anyone.