Republican Congressman Pete Hoekstra blasted Speaker Nancy Pelosi for taking a five-week vacation to promote her book instead of calling the House back into session to address the country's energy crisis during an appearance at the Cheboygan County Republican Convention.

Hoekstra was with state Representative Tom Casperson, the Republican challenging Democratic Congressman Bart Stupak. The two will make stops across Northern and Upper Michigan over the next couple days. (Stupak's seat -- the 1st Congressional District -- spans 31 counties and two time zones.)

Energy issues dominated the discussion in Cheboygan tonight, and Casperson and Hoekstra criticized Stupak for siding with Pelosi and liberals in San Francisco.

Hoekstra says he will return to Washington, D.C., on Monday to join other congressional Republicans, who are meeting daily on the House floor to debate and discuss the energy challenges America faces.

During the county convention, Hoekstra pointed out Michiganders will love a Barack Obama presidency if they love what Jennifer Granholm has done as governor.

"Michigan is the Democratic experiment," the veteran GOP congressman said. "Jennifer Granholm has driven what should be a great state down the tubes."

Hoekstra emphasized that Stupak isn't the conservative Democrat that many think.

"We got to tie Bart to Granholm to Barack," he said. "If we do that, we will have Casperson ... and McCain."

Hoekstra and Casperson will be in St. Ignace later this morning before heading to the Upper Peninsula State Fair in Escanaba.