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Michigan Republicans Want Dave Agema Ousted At RNC Meeting

LANSING (WWJ/AP) - Some Republicans are calling on the Republican National Committee to expel Michigan's Dave Agema after he linked to a racist article from Facebook.

State Sens. Mike Kowall and Jim Marleau and state Rep. Jim Tedder have signed a letter imploring the committee to "take all necessary action to end our party's long nightmare involving" Agema.

The RNC begins a three-day meeting Wednesday in San Diego.

The article Agema shared on Dec. 31 includes a purported public defender saying blacks are different and can't "control their impulses as well." In his post, which has since been deleted, Agema described the link -- which is copied from the May 9 edition of "American Renaissance," a white supremacist magazine --  as a "very interesting article by a public defender. We are in a cultural battle. Very enlightening for anyone who is concerned about crime in America."

Agema's detractors say the national or state parties can and should remove the politician from office. Others contend the rules don't allow it.

Agema has since responded that he isn't racist and doesn't support the article's contents.
http://www.facebook.com/daveagema/posts/335386246650498
Agema, no stranger to controversy, refused to resign a year ago after criticizing Muslims and gays.

TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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