PUBLIUS: The Poison in Our Party
Posted by: Scott W. Graves | 11/16/2007 6:27 PM
By Mark Bucher
Publius generally writes here, but has agreed to cede the space and allow Mark Bucher, one of our more respected political activists and community leaders, to speak out on an important issue.
~ Publius
Like many activists, I am motivated by a desire to make a difference in our community. My political activism started during the 1993 school voucher campaign, when I became aware that our education system is controlled by public employee unions to the detriment of our children. I have since become involved in the inner workings of our political process as the Treasurer and a member of the executive committee of the Orange County Republican Party.
Edmund Burke once said, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil in America is for good men to do nothing."
With those words in mind, I am compelled to speak out publicly about a poison in our Party that I have stayed silent about until now. The poison is a practice by some Republicans to attack people personally, and destroy their lives if necessary, as a means of obtaining more power, and the reluctance of everyone else to object out of concern for their own political future. The result is that good people disengage from the Party because they feel the process is dirty, tainted, and wrong.
We get used to this tactic during the course of general elections when directed at an opponent from another party with whom there are fundamental differences on important issues and values. Sadly, when we win such contests, we tend to look the other way. It is not until those same tactics are used by and against those within our Party, when winning an important ideological battle cannot be the justification for their use, that their revolting and unethical nature is most obvious.
A series of recent events provide a perfect example. Trung Nguyen and his lawyer, Mike Schroeder, are attempting to weaken Supervisor Janet Nguyen through personal attacks, accusations of criminal behavior, and serial complaints and lawsuits. Their goal is to damage her politically and financially, and thereby increase Trung's chances of winning the seat next year (For the record, Supervisor Nguyen is not a political ally and I did not support her in this race.).
As lawyers, Trung and Schroeder can create expensive litigation for Supervisor Nguyen at little cost to themselves. Regardless of the merits of the complaints, they win simply by forcing her to defend herself. It is an ugly use of our justice system by two prominent Republicans.
Both Trung and Schroeder were forwarded a private e-mail within which I challenged their use of these tactics. Trung defended his actions and while I do not agree with his reasoning, I respect that he engaged the issue. On the other hand, Schroeder responded (and cc'ed multiple parties) by attacking my character, calling me a liar, questioning my motives, and implying that Sheriff Carona would be briefed on our exchange. Simply put, he responded to my privately expressed opinion by attempting to inflict pain with a thinly veiled threat and a public attack on my character.
It is wrong to pervert our justice system and attempt to destroy a person as a way to win an election. So is threatening and attacking a person for saying so. It is time for good people to take the political risk of withholding support from candidates who condone this type of activity or associate with those who are known to use these tactics.
I am determined to do my part and object when I see things being done to others that I would not want to be done to me. My political influence in the county may be diminished, but hopefully the result is a little less poison and a bit more energy to focus on advancing the ideals that originally attracted us to the Republican Party.
Publius generally writes here, but has agreed to cede the space and allow Mark Bucher, one of our more respected political activists and community leaders, to speak out on an important issue.
~ Publius
Like many activists, I am motivated by a desire to make a difference in our community. My political activism started during the 1993 school voucher campaign, when I became aware that our education system is controlled by public employee unions to the detriment of our children. I have since become involved in the inner workings of our political process as the Treasurer and a member of the executive committee of the Orange County Republican Party.Edmund Burke once said, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil in America is for good men to do nothing."
With those words in mind, I am compelled to speak out publicly about a poison in our Party that I have stayed silent about until now. The poison is a practice by some Republicans to attack people personally, and destroy their lives if necessary, as a means of obtaining more power, and the reluctance of everyone else to object out of concern for their own political future. The result is that good people disengage from the Party because they feel the process is dirty, tainted, and wrong.
We get used to this tactic during the course of general elections when directed at an opponent from another party with whom there are fundamental differences on important issues and values. Sadly, when we win such contests, we tend to look the other way. It is not until those same tactics are used by and against those within our Party, when winning an important ideological battle cannot be the justification for their use, that their revolting and unethical nature is most obvious.
A series of recent events provide a perfect example. Trung Nguyen and his lawyer, Mike Schroeder, are attempting to weaken Supervisor Janet Nguyen through personal attacks, accusations of criminal behavior, and serial complaints and lawsuits. Their goal is to damage her politically and financially, and thereby increase Trung's chances of winning the seat next year (For the record, Supervisor Nguyen is not a political ally and I did not support her in this race.).
As lawyers, Trung and Schroeder can create expensive litigation for Supervisor Nguyen at little cost to themselves. Regardless of the merits of the complaints, they win simply by forcing her to defend herself. It is an ugly use of our justice system by two prominent Republicans.
Both Trung and Schroeder were forwarded a private e-mail within which I challenged their use of these tactics. Trung defended his actions and while I do not agree with his reasoning, I respect that he engaged the issue. On the other hand, Schroeder responded (and cc'ed multiple parties) by attacking my character, calling me a liar, questioning my motives, and implying that Sheriff Carona would be briefed on our exchange. Simply put, he responded to my privately expressed opinion by attempting to inflict pain with a thinly veiled threat and a public attack on my character.
It is wrong to pervert our justice system and attempt to destroy a person as a way to win an election. So is threatening and attacking a person for saying so. It is time for good people to take the political risk of withholding support from candidates who condone this type of activity or associate with those who are known to use these tactics.
I am determined to do my part and object when I see things being done to others that I would not want to be done to me. My political influence in the county may be diminished, but hopefully the result is a little less poison and a bit more energy to focus on advancing the ideals that originally attracted us to the Republican Party.
