Ouch!!!

I have no idea what the OCYR may have been thinking, except that... this game was for charity, wasn't it? And if the YR and YD chose to play a game for charity rather than go hold signs at a rally at Saddleback, I say good for both of 'em!

Vern Nelson,

I'm not talking about the Saddleback rally, I'm talking about the Saturday Phone Bank rally, where McCain showed up with his wife and greeted hundreds of volunteers.

Whether or not it was for charity is irrelevant to me. Common sense dictates you re-schedule it. Period.

We will chalk this up as another leadership failure for Shawn Fago.

So let me get this straight. You are upset that the OCYR's played in charity softball game instead of helping/voluteering for the McCain event and yet, you are even more angry that OCYR lost all together because they didn't play their best players the whole game instead of letting everyone have a good time for a good cause. Viorel, I think your priorities are a BIT outta whack.

You don't think the game could have been re-scheduled? Seems like if that's what the exec committee voted for, then that's what probably should have happened.

As a member of the OCYR board and a participant in the softball game, I would like to set some of your statements straight:

We planned this game several months ago and arranged to have Frank Mickadeit umpire the game. So rearranging the game would not have been exactly the most convenient thing to do. You also failed to mention that many of the participants in the game attended Saddleback event after the game concluded at approximately 1:45pm. If you have a problem with our softball management abilities, please give Mike Sciosica a call and see if he will coach our team next year, he never returned our calls. Also, you failed to mention that after the 7th inning, which was supposed to be the last inning, we remained tied 10-10 and the Democrats wanted to quit, but we insisted upon not giving up until there was a winner. Unfortunately after 2 and a half extra innings the Democrats broke through with a scoring sacrifice ground ball with 1 out.

So did the exec committee vote to re-schedule or not? It seems to me like that is the only relevant question here.

Dear Viorel,

I'm offended that you claim that "not even ONE OCYR member was seen at the McCain rally". I guess me and the other YR members that I noticed at the phone bank don't count as members in your book? I'm sure there were more YRs there, but I don't know the names and faces of all of the members. Besides, I showed up at 9am & started making calls. I was being productive, instead of snooping around to make sure all volunteer groups are in attendance.

You apparently don't know the faces of ANY OCYR member that doesn't fit into your slanderous statement. Good for you to put down a volunteer group *insert sarcasm*... does it make you feel better? It's not like those who played in the game raised money for something noble, like charity... oh wait, they did!

I guess it's more fun to tell people what they did wrong in hindsight instead of joining an organization and making real changes. Like you said you aren't a member, then how the HECK do you know the membership? There are over 350 of us. If you have a problem, then you should join and run to be on the board. If you join by September and attend a few things, you still have time to be eligible to run for a board position.

Making assumptions is way more fun than fact checking, huh? Well, I guess it's easy to assume that you made ZERO calls. Isn't just so fun to gossip instead of getting work done?!?!

For all those who didn't catch the sarcasm of my last two paragraphs (apparently a post was written about it on Liberal OC), let me just say that I don't care whether they won or lost the softball game. I think it's funny that they lost, considering the characteristics of how the game came to be in the first place.

This was the biggest, most important day for the Orange County McCain/GOP team and the OCYRs were nowhere to be found. As commenter Adrian just noted, the only relevant question is: did the exec commitee vote to re-schedule or not?

Softball or McCain?, Softball or McCain? Hmmmm.

I would have chosen softball as well. I think they made the right decision. Especially since Mickadeit gave up part of his vacation to umpire.

We tried to get this game rescheduled, but the YR’s refused. For our part, we would have rather taken part in the day’s political activities. Instead, we had to settle for whooping some YR butt.

As an OCYR Board member, we were not aware of the phone banking until it was too late to cancel. Additionally, we were playing this game for CHARITY!! We had all previously made plans to attend the McCain rally after the event, and WE DID! I have to say I was shocked more people weren't at the rally and left under the impression that the rest of OC had slacked in coming to show support.
Whomever was in charge of gathering volunteers for the phone banking event clearly failed at their job if they did not have enough people in attendance without the few OCYRs who played in the game. As someone who volunteers at nearly every event, and who has been in charge of collecting volunteers, other events will always be scheduled in conflict with yours.

Your accusations clearly lack merit.

Viorel,

If I read your comments correctly, you seem to be making the point that you are disappointed that the Young Republicans did not participate in the McCain Phone bank event on Saturday. The rest of the issues are just window dressing, so that leads me to conclude who you are in relation to the McCain campaign. Allow me to say if you would, that the McCain for president campaign is among the most poorly organized, and unprofessionally run that I have ever seen. And I have adequate experience to comment.

Your comments are false. Last night while watching ABC Nightline, a special that was reported nation wide, footage from the rallies for both Obama and McCain were used as background for the piece.

Clearly visible to those watching, a shot of the OCYR President, and two board members carrying signs across the street along with other supporters in the background was featured prominently.

This was part of a national television special with massive TV reach, thus demonstrating the importance of participation at the rallies in front of Saddleback. The OCYR was in fact present and was a part of that historic and important event. Check your facts before wandering down fantasy lane.

Viorel, your word choice and the tone you take shows that you are not a part of the main stream of Republican values. If you were, you would heed the direction of our former President Ronald Reagan (Note the 11th commandment) "speak no ill of another republican"

If our party is to succeed it will be because we are about encouraging each other and uplifting each other, not tearing each other down and factionalizing.

I realize that you may be frustrated that there were not more supporters from the young republicans for the phone banking activities, however volunteer resources are precious and cannot be allocated everywhere at all times.

They need to be cultivated through relationships. That cultivation includes making strong and lasting friendships, and letting people know that their participation counts and is helpful. Part of that is accomplished through team building exercises like the Softball Game. Another way is by asking openly for participation in volunteer events.

Building an organization and providing a point of entry for young people and future generations of republican activists and voters requires media attention and developing recognition publically. This is an important aspect factored into the decisions of the organization and its leadership.

You obviously do not know how to run a campaign if you think it is an appropriate tactic to ask people to volunteer, then when they choose not to because of other commitments, you slam them for not participating.

That is selfish, shortsighted, and ultimately will result in a negative backlash against whatever cause or candidate you are promoting.

The McCain campaign has done very little to reach out to California, and even less to reach out to young republicans.

If the McCain Campaign were interested in enlisting the support of young republicans they would have forged a stronger relationship with them, provided them with access and tasks to accomplish, would have consistently given them insight into the strategic planning of the campaign, would have assigned a point person to make certain that the organization is energized about the campaign, would have delineated specific expectations from young republicans, and would have at minimum had the courtesy to discuss openly what their expectations are.

Instead, what we get from you is, complain after the fact for seemingly suspicious reasons. Many people working for the McCain campaign seem to be too busy promoting themselves and glorying in the status of their position than they are in actually getting to brass tacks activism.

In clear contrast to your methods and attitude, the Young Republicans provide a positive opportunity for young politically interested persons to connect to the political process. This includes many volunteer efforts, as well as exposure to excellent speakers, educational resources, campaign training, and lastly providing a link for young professionals and the county party.

If you would like to bring to bear the energy and enthusiasm of young republicans the way that Barak Obama has done for young democrats, try starting with a candidate that inspires young people, then a campaign that actually sees young people as an important investment as a future voting block, then connect those young people with the resources necessary to become activated, and finally encourage them and promote them within the process.

Everywhere I look, I see people creating political fiefdoms and hedging their security as pseudo political leaders of tiny little castles instead of reaching out to unify the kingdom.

Viorel, try reading The Little Prince, and see if it doesn’t fit your personal persuasion and aptly describe the state of affairs in politics today.

As for young republicans, older generations should be rejoicing that young people care enough to participate and are eager to make a difference where they can.

True committed Republicans like the Orange County Young Republicans will carry forth with or without your gratitude.

I hate responding to anonymous bloggers who have no idea what they are talking about but I feel like I need to clarify a few things here.

First of all, to answer your question… The answer is no. The Board of Directors did not vote to cancel the date. In fact it was just the opposite. The Board voted to try to keep the date that the Young Dems were trying to cancel. The reason is that the weekend of the 16th was the only weekend that would work for a majority of our board members unless we wanted to reschedule for two months from now which would have put us in the middle of election season. Not to mention that we had already scheduled our umpire, made deposits on the softball field, ordered jerseys, coordinated with our charity, etc. Additionally, the OC Young Dems were not trying to cancel the game do to the Saddleback forum but because they were having trouble organizing. The forum was not a conflict for the OC Young Dems as we specifically scheduled the game early enough so both organizations would have plenty of time to get to the church before the forum began.

One week before the McCain event I was invited and attended a McCain Team organization meeting regarding the Saddleback forum. I explained to McCain’s OC Chair and the OC Field Rep that the OCYR’s had a previously scheduled event so many of our members would not be able to make it to the phone bank but that we would go directly to the church after the game. Nobody from the McCain campaign asked us to reschedule or even voiced a concern.

At the last OCYR meeting we notified our membership about the phone bank and the rally at the church. Our members were instructed that if they were not playing in the game then they should attend the phone bank in the morning. I made this very announcement, the OC Chair for McCain also made the same announcement and gave the details, and the McCain Future Leaders Chair also made this announcement. We passed out a signup sheet for the phone bank which the McCain campaign took with them at the conclusion of the meeting so that they could follow up with those who agreed to volunteer at the phone bank. At the conclusion of the meeting the sign up sheet was full of names (multiple pages). To my knowledge, we had multiple members at the phone bank.

At the conclusion of the Softball game, many of us (including myself) went directly to the church for the rally (we arrived at approximately 2:30pm). Clearly Viorel was not at the church or he/she would have known that. If you would like proof, all you need to do is watch the latest edition of ABC’s Nightline and you will see an entire group of OCYR’s rallying for McCain.
Viorel, in the future you should check your sources a bit better. Or, you can contact me directly. I would be more than happy to give you my side of the story so you can have a bit more credibility when you try to trash us.

Shawn Fago

Viorel,

Thanks for your support of our organization. Now that I know we are not appreciated I will stay home in the future. This last Saturday I was yelled at, intimidated and shoved by Code Pink, Anarchists, Hippies, Ron Pauliacs, Communists and the like all because the McCain campaign asked YR's to rally at the Forum. Who needs the abuse from the libs and our own at the same time. I'm out.

How many phone calls could Viorel have made for John McCain with the hours spent on writing this dissertation?

If we could turn 'total hours blogged' into 'precincts walked', we could have a shot at winning California.

Viorel, I've been around many campaigns more than a decade. I have never seen a volunteer group lambasted in a public forum because 15 of their members played in a charity softball they agreed to before they knew a campaign event would be taking place. I certainly hope you are not a campaign staff member for McCain or Victory '08, because by making this post you have discouraged the YRs from participating in future campaign events. This blog entry is a disservice to the McCain campaign in Orange County and it is shameful.

Lots of ouch here. Unwise post. Schadenfreude galore on my side. And sounds like folks from across the spectrum agree with me that playing the game for charity, as long scheduled, took priority over last-minute McCain drone work. This Dem over and out!

It's stupid to think that the YRs should have rescheduled the game for a hastily organized phone bank and I generally think that the YRs are too much of a social club.

First, is a perfect opportunity to point out the likely disconnect between Republican volunteers and John McCain. Here is just one example: http://www.flashreport.org/blog0a.php?postID=2008081918232920&post_offsetP=0&authID=2005081622025042

Second, there have always been some age issues between YRs and other Rs. In the 15 years or so that I've been involved in OC politics, phone banks are usually staffed by RFW and precinct walks are run by YRs. It's called specialization of resources and younger people generally find it easier to spend an entire day walking than someone who is a little older (I'm trying to be nice and had I used Viroel's tone, probably would've said something mean about the elderly).

One way of looking at this is that the softball game was training for more precinct walking.

Lol

No guys, even though I'm not a McCain staffer I would not bat an eye about your threats of non support for the future if I were. Why would I?

Like I said, I'm not a member of the club. I do know a lot of folks in your club who are clearly upset with your failed priorities and are too afraid to use other means of communication to express their feelings, and that's what this blog is here for. If you want to lock down on dissidents you might want to start in your own room guys and girls. I'm just the messenger.

Hopefully, for the sake of your members, this post will encourage an honest discussion, but that's all up to you. If you choose to ignore dissent and pretend it doesn't exist, go ahead!

In the meantime you guys and girls may want to make sure you don't schedule a social bowling match for Nov 4th....I hear it may be a busy day...

Viorel, why don't you tell your "sources" to address the YR leadership directly? Instead they complain to you with half-truths so that you can anonymously take a cheap shot at our organization. I am sure many people visit this blog regularly to check local political news that I would not read about in the newspaper, not to read about some apparent frustration within Republican volunteer organizations. I was not aware that taking a swipe at the leadership of the OCYRs on behalf of members who are afraid to do so was the reason "this blog is here."

Next time you decide to misunderstand, misquote, and misrepresent your "sources" please contact someone who really knows the story beforehand. Many YRs who attended the campaign events on Saturday either before, during, and/or after the game have been insulted because of your lack of journalistic integrity.

Mr. Carpenter,

"I was not aware that taking a swipe at the leadership of the OCYRs on behalf of members who are afraid to do so was the reason "this blog is here."

This blog is here to certainly give a voice to those who are usually too afraid to speak up for the fear of repercussions. May I remind you again that this is a blog, not a newspaper? Thanks for reading.

1. I could have sworn that Shawn Fago (president), Scott Carpenter (VP), Josh Hawskins (volunteer Coordinator), Kat Vermelis (recruitment)all participated in the rally at Saddleback, I wonder what other organizations or clubs were represented with that many board members at the rally.

2. I remember Shawn Fago calling upon the OCYR's at the softball game to go rally for McCain (I think that shows leadership)

3. I think it's interesting that Viorel wants responders to his lackluster comments to not be anonymous, yet he or she is

4. I to have been frustrated with the lack of volunteering done by the YRs and many other organizations, but when they show up and do what their supposed to, you cut them down and give them a hard time... if that’s your plan to encourage them to volunteer more, you should never be left in charge!

5. Note to the OCYRs it's a very bad idea to raise money for charity, and rally for your Republican nominee, shame shame

6. I wonder how many hours Viorel volunteers in a week for anything

7. Oh, make sure next time OCYR plans something you get approval from everyone running a campaign, even if you plan to help out after your scheduled events.

8. Viorel, not a great idea to belittle the entire organization. You should have probably mentioned those people who actually volunteered; I think you would find it about even with all the other organizations that showed up at the event. We have around 50 Republican organizations in Orange County, if every organization brought 10 or so people to the phone bank on Saturday you had about 500 people, sounds like a good turnout. Sounds like the OCYRs made a good decision not to phone bank but rally instead. Although, there were OCYR members at the phone bank, and raising money for charity and rallying for McCain… I am so confused; sounds like OCYRs had a phenomenal weekend of volunteering. You picked the wrong circumstance to give them a hard time!

9. I have to say Congrats to Shawn for rallying people to play a game of Softball on a hot day and then being dedicated enough to go rally for McCain.

10. And Finally, since Viorel can't say it...
Thank you to all the OCYRs who did help out this weekend. Thank you for participating in the phone bank, and the rally. Our country depends on the youth to get the message out. Don't let this one post discourage you from all that you do. I spoke with many board members last night and they are all extremely happy and thankful to you for giving up a Saturday to rally for McCain, raise money for charity and phone bank.

I’m like Shawn, I don’t like to respond to anonymous bloggers, but since Viorel thinks he/she knows most OCYR folks, then it’s clear you don’t know me. I was on the board for 2 years and I’ve been active with the organization for some time now. I guess me sitting in the front row; under the blistering sun making calls for 3 hours doesn’t count as a person in your book. Since you apparently need proof, I have pictures and Fox News has been showing the clip of me shaking hands with Senator McCain. By the way, I was sitting next to another OCYR member, I saw at least one board member there, the YRFC Chairman came and said hi to me, and some other YRs were helping coordinate the event. I guess we don’t count in your book? There were hundreds of people there, so I don’t have a head count for you, because I was too busy making calls.

Viorel I’m also perplexed by your last comment to Scott “May I remind you again that this is a blog, not a newspaper?” I think many bloggers on this or any site would be offended by your statement. The bloggers I know check their facts and sources and try to bring some type of journalistic integrity to the blog. I guess you prefer to fit in to the stereotype of sensational news instead of having some integrity in your writing.

Viorel sounds like another Art Pedroza in the making :)

Viorel,
Your comments are absurd. You just accused the OCYR’s of not providing volunteer opportunities to our members and accuse us of repercussions to anyone who speaks out about it. This accusation is laughable. I just outlined for you that we had members from the McCain campaign at our meeting. We passed out a signup sheet for both the phone bank and the rally. Additionally, we sent out emails encouraging our members to attend the phone bank. Anyone who feels we are not providing volunteer activities is simply not paying attention. Send me your email address Viorel, I will be more than happy to send you a copy of our meeting minutes. I am happy to forward our meeting minutes to anyone else who would like to see a copy.

Viorel, I encourage you to attend an OCYR meeting. You will see that we provide volunteer opportunities at almost every meeting we host. You will also notice that we have one of the best turn outs of any Republican club in Orange County. Our last meeting had over 80 attendees. We had to add chairs to the meeting just to accommodate the size of the turn out. By all measureable accounts our club is doing very well and growing. Part of the reason is that we balance our club with both social and volunteer activities. If anybody is to afraid to speak out about an issue they have with the club then that is there problem, although I must say that I do not think this situation exists.

Like most chartered clubs, we are a bottom up organization. The club membership has the vote to decide the ultimate direction of the club by majority rule. The minority will always feel upset that they did not get their way. I am assuming that your “friends” are a part of that minority. That does not mean however that the club is not healthy, happy and growing.

But to get back to my original point, your claims are simply false. You claim that your “friends” are upset that we do not provide volunteer activities for them. I can prove that at almost every meeting we make an announcement and pass out signup sheets for voter reg, precinct walks, phone banks etc. Again, send me your email address and I will forward you a copy of the meeting minutes for any meeting you would like. If you are not interested in the facts and wish to slander a Republican organization based off of comments by your “many friends” about an organization that you admit you are in no way apart of, then I am sure your lack of integrity will show through to the readers. If you do not present your arguments with facts then your future posts will have no credibility as I know this one does not.

-Shawn Fago

Mr. Viorel,

I hate to break it to you but I don't think that Jubal himself would appreciate your last comment denigrating the legitimacy of this blog. In fact in 2006 Jubal wrote himself about this blog's history:

"I started OC Blog to fill what I saw as a void in political news. Political coverage in the OC Register and LA Times was shrinking, and I believed there was a demand for the kind of political information that MSM editors would dismiss as too "inside baseball" for the general audience -- an as such, never got report."

Clearly the intent of this blog is deliver some sort of ACCURATE news and insight that cannot be found in the newspaper. Posting misinformation you receive from your "sources" amounts to nothing more than a baseless rumor. I hope in the future you take this thread into consideration before slandering a volunteer organization.

OCYR has played an important role in the conservative movement in our county for many years now. From the days of Lee Lowrey to the current days of Shawn Fago, it has gone through many changes. It is not a purely grassroots organization, nor is it a purely networking group. It has provided young Republicans, including myself, with opportunities for both.

This last weekend I walked a precinct for Victory '08/Diane Harkey. Shawn Fago was at the San Juan Capistrano office to pick up his own precinct map that morning. He asked me if I knew who wrote the post about his club. I told him I did not. I don't know who Viorel is, but I can tell you that he or she does not speak for the McCain Campaign. I can also say that OCYR has been a tremendous help to us in our efforts to make America's Most Republican County a stronghold for John McCain.

The Super Saturday Phone Bank and show of support for McCain outside of Saddleback Church went better than we could have planned, in large part due to the efforts of OCYR. We reached the target number of 500 supporters for the phone bank, and the pictures the press got of John and Cindy greeting callers were said to be some of the best ones in months. We made over fourteen thousand calls that day from Newport. Many of those calls were made by OCYR members.

When most people went home after the senator left the phone bank, OCYR members were among the busload of supporters to travel to Lake Forest and show upside-down flag waiving out-of-towners that McCain would receive a hero's welcome.

Members of OCYR have taken leadership roles in the campaign, too. Past OCYR President Jeff Corless is now the Future Leaders for McCain State Chair. Erik Brown has contributed to the finance and marketing operations. I have reached out to these friends for help, and they have done so willingly.

On behalf of the McCain Campaign, thank you.

See you at Thursday's mixer.

Kevin Muldoon
John McCain for President
Orange County Regional Chairman

You know, sounds like a lot of excuses from OCYR's.
I don't mean to belabor this whole thing but I hear YRFC Chairman Ben Lopez is hampered with a $7000 debt from OCYR's that was due a year ago. Shawn Fago, OCYR's failed president and who is YRFC Vice Chair, has not paid this debt to YRFC. Seems to me like they have money for deposits on ball fields, pay for an umpire and for jerseys. Im sure YRFC would be more effective if Lopez was paid the money he is owed so he can start bussing in true YR activists into key areas. Why is the so-called fiscal conservative OCYR's spending money they keep telling YRFC they dont have? Hey OCYR's, get your act together, stop lying to YRFC. Many of us from others chapters are getting tired of a year plus debt owed to us. People better start holding Fago accountable. YRFC isnt moving because Fago's f-uped club wont pay their debt!!! Its time to strip OCYR's of their standing.