The University of Michigan's College Republicans are searching for a new leader after President Gordon Chaffin resigned Sunday. Chaffin told the Michigan Daily that he quit on his own accord.
Chaffin caused some "internal strife" among College Republicans when, on Facebook, he expressed support for President Obama's healthcare reforms. Chaffin also agreed to be interviewed by the Michigan Independent—which, according to the Daily, is a "left-leaning" magazine on Michigan's campus—without getting permission from the College Republicans, the Daily reported. He further ruffled feathers over his comments to the Daily Sunday, when he told the paper of his "forthcoming impeachment" before any impeachment hearings had taken place.
But on Sunday night, as members ambled in for a club meeting, Chaffin ended any suspense by saying, "Don't worry—no drama."
"A couple of hours ago, we decided to resolve the situation," he told the Daily . "I decided to resign. I feel that it is the best way to move forward for the health of the club. I apologize officially and now to you each individually."
Chaffin's Facebook profile didn't have any sign of his pro-Obama comments, but it did contain countless messages of support. And it also had plenty of status updates similar to this one: "Gordon Chaffin will make his life's mission to end up more like George Will, David Brooks, and Peggy Noonan ... than Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Glenn Beck."
At Sunday's meeting, he told his fellow club members why he was resigning.
"There were just some serious disagreements between myself and all of you as to how I should express my personal opinions in public," he said. "That is something that I won't cave in on, and I respect all of your rights to disagree."
The club's board members accepted Chaffin's apology and said they'd be happy to keep him in the club, just not as its president.
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Ralph Cassady of OH 10:31AM October 12, 2009
William G G Blakney of AL 2:59PM October 08, 2009
Michael Papp of OH 10:32AM October 08, 2009