Craig Mauger at The Detroit News:
Michigan’s four living former governors participated Wednesday in a panel discussion in downtown Lansing, where they spoke out against divisive rhetoric and called on candidates to attend debates in the state’s top political races.
Republican former Govs. John Engler and Rick Snyder, along with Democratic former Gov. Jim Blanchard, sat together on a stage in a banquet hall inside the DoubleTree Hotel. Democratic former Gov. Jennifer Granholm participated in the hour-long discussion through a video feed.
The event launched the Michigan Civility Coalition and was organized by Michiganders for Civic Reliance, Oakland University Center for Civic Engagement, Democracy Defense Project, Mackinac Center for Public Policy and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation.
“The greatest threat to America in my view is us,” Snyder said at one point. “That is our lack of ability get along with one another. That’s our greatest threat. We need to do something about it.
“It can’t be something passive. We have to be proactive.”