RED COUNTY MAGAZINE: The Poison in Our Party

Over at the Orange Punch website, the OC Register's Steve Greenhut offered his comments about the recent article titled, "The Poison in Our Party" that appears in this month's issue of Red County magazine. Mike Schroeder's comments to Steve are posted here.

Here is the complete article as published:

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 [read e-mail thread here, here, and here] 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.

Comments

[Been Around]

Congratulations to Mark Bucher for writing the truth about Mike Schroeder's despicable actions.

have the four indicted CUSD Trustees resigned yet?

[OC Madness]

Good for Mark Bucher. I wish more people would stand up for what is right rather than what is good for the Schroaders, Baugh's and Fleichman's of the party.

Hurrah Mark! Saying what needs to be said, not that the rest of this party doesn't know what's going on, because they have seen it, but as you so succinctly point out, they ignore it for fear of their own political future.

Being attacked in a recent election myself, and losing the race much due to what I see as tactics of deceit by members known to associate with those to whom you refer; I can identify with what you are saying. Actually I've been saying the same thing on the blog, and actually in some newsprint on occasion. But you have more clout than I do, God Bless You for stepping forward ...

[Willie Wonka]

Thanks to the folks at Red County for providing a forum that holds elected officials and their circles of insiders accountable. Thanks to Mark Bucher for having the courage to say what needed to be said.

[Pepin]

Will Red County offer Mike Schroeder the space in its magazine for a response? I think that would be the fair thing to do.

[Jubal]

Absolutely.

[d'Anconia]

Not to rain on anyone's parade here but let me just remind people that for every action, there's a reaction.

Someone should remind Bucher of that.

[Dan Chmielewski]

Kudos to Matt and Red County for running this story. Having the spine to run something like this when other conservative blogs might ignore it (vis-a-vis Carona's indictment) is worthy of respect from all sides of the political spectrum.

[Also Station 18]

d'Anconia,

Mark speaks the truth... is that another veiled threat

[d'Anconia]

Threat? I'm no one to make a threat; just pointing out the obvious.

[OC Madness]

Dan,

I agree. Why are other blogs ignoring the issue? They love to "hold republicans accountable" most of the time, but not now. It's almost as if they hold their enemies accountable and ignore their indicted friends. They own the printing press...so i guess it's their right. But, i think this shows their real colors.

[Scott Graves]

Pepin -

Prior to any of these recent developments, I communicated in person and via e-mail to Mike that he has an open invitation to use Red County magazine and the Red County website to communicate on matters of interest to our readers. We have not heard from Mike, but the offer still stands.

Scott W. Graves
Editor-in-Chief

[One Who Knows]

d'Anconia:

"Not to rain on anyone's parade here but let me just remind people that for every action, there's a reaction?"

Under the circumstances, there is not a jury in all of Orange County that wouldn't construe the above quote as a threat of bodily harm or economic retaliation.

[Random GOPer]

"One Who Knows":

How is quoting Newton's Third Law of Motion a threat of bodily harm?

I sure hope you don't serve on a Jury any time soon, that is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.

[Patriot 2]

My hat is off to you, Mark, for shining the light of truth about Mike Schroeder. You are a man of integrity and character and we applaud you.

[Whaaaaa?]

Bravo Mark.

But there was one inaccuracy in the article:

"It is an ugly use of our justice system by two prominent Republicans."

I'll accept "prominent" for Mike, but Trung? It's the wrong adjective, which is the nicest thing I can say.

Well done on the article.