Libertarian Bentivolio vs. Bush

“Kerry Bentivolio touts his credentials as a conservative Republican in his bid to get voters in western Oakland and Wayne counties to send him to Congress,” writes The Detroit Free Press on Monday. “But Bentivolio, a Milford teacher, had a prominent role in a low-budget Michigan-made film – ‘The President Goes to Heaven’ – released last year that pokes fun at a fictional character based on Republican former President George W. Bush.”

Does The Freep have any idea what a conservative is?

Bentiviolio – or “Reindeer Man” as some GOPers derisively call him for his sometimes reindeer business – is known as a Libertarian supporter of Ron Paul, a segment of the GOP that has been highly critical of the Bush presidency, especially its foreign policy (the subject of the film, apparently). Indeed, non-Libertarian conservatives also are critical of Bush for his big spending (“No Child Left Behind” partnered with Ted Kennedy) and expansion of the regulatory state (ending America’s “addiction to oil” by jacking up auto mpg mandates to 35 mpg by 2016).

Bentivolio’s involvement in “Heaven” – which reportedly traffics in 9-11 conspiracy theories and other nonsense – surely raises questions about the candidate. As does the Freep’s ability to competently report on his campaign.