UPDATE: The ORC website has removed the posting discussed in the article below. A statement on their website that begins:
“In light of the Mayor’s apology at the October 24th Council meeting regarding her article in the Fall issue of the Oakland Crossroads….”
*It should be noted that there was no apology from the mayor on October 24th
ORIGINAL POST: October 18th, 2012
There are many great things about Oakland, but local politics is not one one of them.
Local politics is the shame of Oakland, a once a year event has now turned into a 365 day campaign season of slurs, slander, and a pettiness that has no limitations.
The blame for this shame, which is shared by the entire town of Oakland, is reflected in a recent addition to the Oakland Republican Club website where they represent the mayor of Oakland as a cartoon character.
“I am sure we all remember the mythical character of Mayor McCheese who was the mayor of a fantasy world called McDonaldland back on the early 1970’s….Oakland ’s own Mayor, Linda Schwager, continues to become a character of her own. Affectionately dubbed Mayor McPology, Oakland ’s Mayor has once again had to make yet another apology to the Residents of Oakland”
In a relatively short amount of space, the Oakland Republican Club refers to Mayor Schwager nine (9 ) times using this lowbrow and juvenile term. It is not befitting behavior for a civic organization in Oakland.
The Oakland Republican Club brings Oakland to a new low, reflects poorly on all the people of Oakland , and is a personal disgrace for every member of the Oakland Republican Club who unwittingly supports such behavior.
The attack on Schwager, including their reference to Schwager “lying”, is reflective of the Republican majority on the council that has no interest in putting Oakland above partisan politics.
This disreputable attack on the person that will be leading Oakland for the next three years demonstrates an unwillingness to put party politics aside, an unwillingness to debate issues, and an unwillingness to put the community of Oakland first.
The 2012 election season is in full gear, but Mayor Schwager is not a candidate. Mayor Schwager will be mayor for three more years, and the Oakland Republican Club post reflects the obstructionist and hostile environment Schwager has struggled with her first 10 months in office.
The personal attack published by the Oakland Republican Club is reason enough to consider voting the incumbent Republican candidates out of office – and allow the work of the people to proceed.
Oakland cannot afford another 38 months of non-stop partisan politics disrupting the governance of Oakland. Oakland needs to bring an end to the Republican majority on the town council making decisions based on a party loyalty oath; bring an end to a culture of putting party politics above Oakland.
July of 2012 saw the launch of CivilityInAmerica.org, a website from the Knights of Columbus, that calls on all Americans to sign their petition that. “…respectfully request that candidates, the media and other advocates and commentators involved in the public policy arena employ a more civil tone in public discourse on political and social issues, focusing on policies rather than on individual personalities.”
According to Supreme Knight Carl Anderson, “The American people want and deserve civility and a conversation on the issues rather than personal attacks.”
As Republican candidates Chris Visconti and Pat Pignatelli have touted their membership in the Knights of Columbus during the course of the 2012 campaign season, it would be hypocritical of them not to denounce the Oakland Republican Club and join the other 1.2 million Knights in the United States in this campaign for civility.
The entire personal attack on Mayor Schwager is built upon a miswording concerning how Oakland achieved a zero percent tax increase in 2012. The Mayor stated in the Crossroads newsletter how trust fund money was used, and council member Chris Visconti took exception to that — and so now the mayor is accused of “lying”.
The truth is, trust fund money was used to create a zero tax increase, that is a fact. It was discussed at length during the televised budget meetings how trust fund money could be used – and that is how the zero tax increase was achieved. Whether it was money already in a trust fund, or money destined for a trust fund, is a matter of semantics – it was trust fund monies.
The Oakland Republican Club’s decision to harp on this insignificant miswording in such a personal and hostile manner is indicative that Oakland has a broken government; a government consisting of a Republican majority on the council that is focused entirely on assuring that the next three years in Oakland is an era of non-stop political partisan politics.
It comes from a Republican majority council that has repeatedly slandered, insulted, and ridiculed residents of Oakland who come before the dais with their concerns and suggestions. Sometime they come seeking help, sometimes they come offering help, and too many times they are met with degradation.
The Oakland Republican Club , and the Republican majority on the council, owe some apologies — should they be mocked and ridiculed for it?
Normally, political clubs – such as the Oakland Republican Club and the Oakland Democratic Club – tend to be officious, a bit stuffy, and reflect a conservative demeanor befitting their role in the community; but the Oakland Republican Club has chosen instead to stain their own reputation, and stain the reputation of Oakland.
Oakland cannot afford a constant state of campaigning, Oakland cannot afford partisan politics disrupting local governance, Oakland cannot afford to be a community that has dysfunctional government because of the petty partisan politics fostered by the Oakland Republican Club.
Oakland has a lot to be proud of, but local politics is a point of shame.
OMG! Did Pat Pignatelli really sign this?
Who is the President of the Oakland Republican Club? Shame on them for allowing this piece of garbage to be on their website.
There is a very clear undertone of misogynistic attitude lying right before us. This club has been accused repeatedly of prejudice, bias and chauvinistic behaviors; it now appears to me the accusations are true. I cannot believe they wrote an article where they compare a woman, who happens to be our mayor, to a cheeseburger from McDonalds. Is this because she is not a size 2? I am embarrassed and appalled to call myself a Republican. Is this how the members of this club objectify women; is this how they objectify the mayor? I agree with The Oakland Journal’s article, regardless of my Republican leanings I will not be voting to re-elect Visconti and Pignatelli. We must all stand up and do something and stop these patterns of deplorable behaviors by the ORC!
Resignations are in order:
1. the writer or writers of this piece of trash
2. Anyone who approve for it to be posted
3. Anyone from the ORC who knew about this article but did nothing
4. Either of the candidates that knew about it
5. The ORC webmaster
In the 1990’s Clinton’s campaign had the “soccer moms”, in 2008 Palin had the “hockey mom’s” and now in 2012 Visconti and Pignatelli have “cheeseburger mom’s”. What a darn disgrace.
What a bunch of bullies! We teach our children not to be bullies and then we have adults doing the opposite. It’s a disgrace to Oakland and I’m embarrassed to be associated with this garbage. Just to be clear; my only association to this is the fact I live in town.
The bullying continues. From labeling residents as the angry people, to making an elderly lady cry who came looking for help on the lake, last year Szabo called Coira ignorant, Pignatelli blaming Mr. Steele on the goose issue, Jensen telling an Oakland volunteer that he is blowing smoke, etc etc.
Maybe the ORC should learn something about apologizing when you are wrong. They should apologize for the bullying.
As a father of 4 daughters I am appalled! How dare they label a woman after a cheesburger from McDonalds, how dare they! This is an absolute disgrace.
OK, so the Mayor was once an active member of the Republican Club. She left.
These folks have to get over it. Move on. She found comfort and success with a group of tolerant, civic minded activists. Considering the difficulties and obstruction she has encountered upon being elected Mayor to say nothing of the unrelenting personal attacks I have finally come to appreciate why she left such a corrosively cliquish environment. The Oakland Republican Club has become a vengeful spurned suitor instead of an organization dedicated to fostering traditional Republican values of prudent government.
I have just taken down my Pignatelli and Visconti lawn sign. I am ashamed by their behavior.
The Oakland Republican Club’s website has brought lmuch shame to my party. I have been a lifelong Republican who does not vote straight down the line because I judge candidates by their abilities, not by their party.
What my party is doing in Oakland is akin to what The Nazi party’s propaganda machine did to gain power over the Germans. Because of that, I will vote for Mitt Romney and Ryan but NEVER WILL I BOTE FOR MY PARTY’S CANDIDATES FOR COUNCIL………………PIGNATELLIE AND VISCONTI. I will votte for Peter and Cheryll because I want a transparent government, not a party-run government. in Oakland.
Aren’t these the 2 that like to tell us how religious they are in every single one of their handouts? Hey Chris and Pat, WWJD?
I wonder if the BCRO knows about this. I think the BCRO should pull the club’s charter unless those responsible for this sexist, petty and low class attack resign.
I’m concerned. I’m concerned as to what is so important that these two individuals need to participate in such a reprehensible manner to hold on to council seats.
With this affect the debate in any way? I heard the Republican candidates didnt’t want to debate, it will be interesting to see how this now affects things. It will be interesting to see Pat and Chris on the dias, knowing everyone in town thinks of them as misogynists, well almost everyone, the few ORC members responsible with Chris and Pat for the ORC posting won’t see them as such.
To add, I am a proud Republican woman, but I’ve had it with these ORC behaviors and I along with my family will be voting for Peter and Cheryl on election day.
ORC executive board must dismiss the writer of that piece of trash mmediately. A public apolgy is due our mayor and the women who serve on tour council. Male chauvinism is at work here. It is a dusgusting article……I resent it.
Someone forwarded me this link, and I thought it was a joke. Is this club made up of ignorant people or very arrogant, where they think they can do whatever they want, say what ever they want and get away with it. I have read The Oakland Journal for a long time, and never do I remember seeing so many people leave a comment. This reminds me of the recreation fiasco, the only difference, besides insulting the mayor they insulted 1/2 of the population with the sexist undertone of the article.
Someone forgot to tell the local Republican Party that the 1950’s are over and sexism, bigotry and racism are not O.K. in the 21st century anymore. Believe or not, people come in all colors and shades and we, women, are fully capable of holding office. Shame on them for attacking the Mayor and shame on the citizens of this town that are condoning this kind of behavior by supporting this ugly organization and its candidates!
I wrote to both Republican candidates asking them to have the mean-spirited, juvenile posting removed. They both disavowed it and blamed the Oakland Republican Club. They both said they couldn’t (make that wouldn’t) do anything about it, that if I felt that strongly I should contact the ORC myself. To be honest, I don’t like the nasty anti-incumbent articles on this site either, nor the mis-representations made during the debate. It’s going to be tough deciding to vote for anybody in town this year.