On Tuesday, August 30th, the Frederick County Republican Party gathered for their monthly meeting.  The room was packed with about 100 people, including Delegate Chris Collins (R-29), Delegate Dave LaRock (R-33), former Delegate Mark Berg (R-29) and John Whitbeck, the chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia.  There was also a fellow clad in a Barbara Comstock shirt holding some of her bumper stickers, most likely a campaign staffer. This was the first meeting of the Frederick County GOP since the Republican State Central Committee upheld the decision of the 10th district GOP to expel Mark Berg and nine other members of the Frederick County GOP from the Republican Party and ban them from Republican functions for the next four years, which presumably also stripped Dr. Berg of his chairmanship of the Frederick County GOP.  Given that development, one would assume that this meeting would likely be quite interesting.
Outside the meeting room there were two tables, one for guests to sign in and another for county party members.  There was also a poster which contained a curious message stating that Frederick County was not Russia.
Inside, there were a variety of additional posters including a supposed quote from 10th district GOP Chairwoman Jo Thoburn denouncing due process and the 1st Amendment, and another declaring that Article I of the RPV Party Plan was unconstitutional.
Shortly after 7 PM, a woman (I’m told it was Rose Focht, the vice-chair of the group), declared that the meeting was likely to be very contentious and therefore announced that a neutral party, Bill Card from Prince William County, would serve as chair for the meeting.  However, as far as I observed, her decision was neither voted upon nor ratified by the membership.  After the opening prayer and pledge of allegiance (offered by Delegate LaRock), the meeting got underway.  It was announced that there were 63 members of the Frederick County GOP present along with 34 guests.
The chair then declared that the group would vote on a slate of new members to the committee.  There were some murmurs from the crowd that the chair had changed the order of the agenda of the meeting as the addition of new members was supposed to be scheduled for the end of the meeting.  In addition, no one presented a list of these possible members either in writing or verbally.  One member objected, declaring that she wanted to know more about these potential new additions, but the chair ruled her out of order.  Then, one of the applicant new members agreed that they should be introduced, but he was ignored by the chair.  In the voice vote that followed to add these new members, it sounded to me as if the nays were more plentiful. Curiously, as some guests were scattered among the membership, it was impossible to tell if any of the guests had voted in the voice vote.  For example, although a visitor from Harrisonburg, I could have easily added my vote to the total and no one likely would have been the wiser. Nevertheless, the chair ruled that they ayes had won and disregarded several protests from the audience.
What was even more surprising was that the temporary chairman then called for the meeting to be adjourned without any further business.  Many folks seemed stunned by the voice vote that followed, but the chair again declared that the ayes had carried the motion and thus the meeting was over only about 10 minutes or so after it had begun.  One exasperated member shouted about fascism.
Afterward, people shuffled out.  An older woman left while wiping tears from her eyes. 8 or so people, including Mark Berg, gathered in a circle for a prayer outside the room.
Inquiring into the matter further I talked with several of the members of the FCRC. I was told that these new members were added to the committee so that one faction would now have sufficient numbers to purge the group of anyone deemed a troublemaker or those who did not support the new leadership.
I spoke with one woman who recorded the meeting and, if I am able to get a copy, will share it as well.
I have to say that although I’ve been going to political gatherings for 21 years now, I cannot recall a meeting so short, or one that was able to ram through their business in such a blatantly corrupt fashion.  One does wonder what sort of fallout will come to the Frederick County Republican Party and the Republican Party of Virginia for allowing these shenanigans to transpire.
54 comments
I don’t know enough about the Berg controversy to comment on it, but I would like to comment on the, “the ayes have it†decision at the meeting. I am seeing a disturbing trend in politics where groups gather, there is a voice vote and chairs ignore the will of the members. John Boehner did it at the 2012 RNC convention, it was done this year at the RNC convention and allegedly, here again this week. The purpose of a voice vote is to move through business quickly when you believe a clear majority agrees on a given topic. When a voice vote is not discernable, a roll call vote should take place. When leadership at any meeting disregards the will of the members in a voice vote, they are corrupt and the membership must rise up and replace them; within the organization’s bylaws. I wasn’t at the meeting to verify this story, but the remedy is there for the membership…they just have to organize and execute.
You have missed out. Frederick had been one of the most entertaining units in the district and the state.
The makeup of the membership of the FCRC attending that meeting made it clear once quorum was attained that it would not be the usual circus meeting.
The clear majority wanted to and did achieve two objectives: 1) To induct the pending membership applicants and 2) To adjourn.
Your typical FCRC meetings would normally be lectures, decrees, and parliamentary abominations, but with The Exiled Ten officially out of the party, the FCRC had no desire for the spin du jour as to how the party was wrong and the exiled should continue to be worshipped.
The membership DID organize and execute, they fixed the damage and routed around it.
Go ask around around Frederick, 10th district and the SCC about ‘Berg-style’ meeting antics, I bet you’ll get quite the feedback.
A ‘clear majority’ that couldn’t be bothered to raise their hands and be confirmed as a ‘clear majority’. Ramming things through is a tactic of bullies and Bolsheviks, not of those who profess righteous intent or claim the moral high ground.
Votes are more important than righteous intent or the moral high ground.
Any number of things could have been done if the carnival folk had a superior number of votes.
Frederick will no longer stand for parliamentary games and stall tactics to drive away FCRC members until the Minority becomes the Majority through attrition.
Look at the intimidation posters on the walls, look at the handbills of hate put out on every chair. The bullies and Bolsheviks have been handed a defeat. Now, what has happened to the treasury and why?
Those posters were protesting what some saw as injustice, and no threats were written thereon. The money problem needs looking into, as the expenditures were not presented to nor approved by the EB.
Right, and what other posters of injustice are put up on the wall of Republican Unit meetings? What other handbills have you received bashing party leaders at Republican Unit Meetings?
Was this a meeting of the FCRC or the Occupy FCRC Soros Protest Front?
Money Problem looking into? By who? How much money was in the treasury when Mark et al seized control? Where did the money go? What was it spent on and who authorized it? Why has no one ‘looked into’ this? Why was this allowed? Who benefited? The Executive Board is the Officers and committee chairs — they didn’t receive the expenditures, they didn’t approve the expenditures, the entire treasury magically went where? By itself? Was the Cookie Jar lid loose?
And you wonder why the bulk of the FCRC don’t have patience for parliamentary razzle dazzle and sophistry?
Anybody got the last treasurer’s report? What is so secret about the current bank balance? Who gets to know the financials for the FCRC? Which select few? Perhaps this falls under the former Bylaws Committee, was it that august body that decided to reallocate the Unit Funds to something else?
Maybe the money went to buy posters and paints and handbills for the Republican Unit to protest the Republican Party??? What about the balance???
I don’t know where you get your weird notions about Soros being the center of TEA Party people. If that were the case, we’d have money coming out of our ears, we’d be advocating for ObamaCare, we’d be staging violent protests, and the ‘Justice Brothers’ would call us anow oppressed minority.
We want our leaders to follow the Constitution (and understand it), be fiscally conservative and accountable (and that includes the Treasurer who didn’t present his report last week…oh, that’s right!…the meeting ended before he could), and be honest in their dealings. We expect the same things of ourselves.
Sarcasm. You use the tactics of the left, you get the tag.
Honest in dealings? The members and leaders don’t know the financial balances and expropriations performed by the treasurer.
Perhaps if that information had been more … forthcoming, the membership would have been more tolerant.
Did the secret bylaws junta know the balance and spending? Who did the Treasurer share the financial status with if it wasn’t the leadership and/or membership?
Do YOU now know the financials of the FCRC??
I was there. The show of hands/standing/roll call vote favorers outnumbered the RINOs by about ten.
Really, how did you tally that up?
If that was the case, a motion to appeal or a call for division, or even a vote to replace the chair would have been in order and would have won.
The numbers were on the side of the FCRC members who wanted an end to the madness. This was clear to all who paid attention.
Any business that didn’t come up on Tuesday can come up at the next meeting.
I was the one checking people in. The members checked off their names on list, in lieu of a roll call. The guests signed separate papers.
That significantly differs from my experience, but if true means that even more people supported the body and the chair.
If a significant number of the membership wasn’t happy with a motion or wanted something different, they did not choose to exercise their parliamentary rights.
I’m POSITIVE Cliff would have made the motions if he had the votes — anyone could have if they thought it would pass.
I think all sides and members are just tired of the Berg jihad.
Were you there? The chair refused to allow a standing or roll call vote. Verification never happened, then someone immediately moved to adjourn. Cowards and bullies on full display.
Yes I was there. The chair did nothing of the sort, the chair recognized a point of order that wasn’t and someone (was a member I believe) that commented about his membership application as originally submitted.
There was no motion made calling for division, appealing the vote, any of the parliamentary avenues available to an organization.
I thought the Chairman was incredibly patient and lenient with the point of order that was not a point of order and the commentary that led down the path to the usual FCRC attention/consciousness-suppressing diatribe/drivel.
Republicans in Frederick have had enough of the juvenile behavior and Alinsky tactics of the FCRC occupiers. The non-Republicans have been given a 4 year time-out and should no longer use the FCRC and it’s funds to further their own personal agendas. It’s morning in Frederick and it feels GREAT!
Jill, would you just come off the ‘Alinsky’ garbage for once? There was no opportunity to call for appealing the vote, because a split second after deeming the ‘yeas’ having the majority, the motion to adjourn came up. One-two punch. Cowards.
Who Jill?
The signs, the handbills, the name-calling, the attacks, polarizing, you’ve mastered the tactics of the left!
Your numbers weren’t there. You didn’t make the right motions, you couldn’t win any motions made. It happens.
Correct it at the next meeting.
Thanks, Jill.
I can assure you, there is no Jill this side of the screen… Is she one of our new members?
Cute. If you have been a member for ‘years’, you know her…or at least recognize her when you look in the mirror.
First Jill, now ‘years?’
Why can’t I just be a fellow Republican that cares very deeply about Frederick, our Republican units, the 10th, the party, and electing Donald Trump President?
I am. You have been commenting on TBE, claiming to be a member of the FCRC for ‘years’, so I took you at your word. We’re you lying then, or now?
Me too! I have claimed many things, but not any membership in a particular unit — in that way I belong to all units.
I was brought into FCRC politics by Dr. Berg and I have friends and connections deep within the inner circle.
I know about things like strength, fatigue, counts, etc.
Our (conservative) side was outnumbered and outmaneuvered.
Their (conservative) side was better organized, more numerous, and better prepared.
Somebody comes to town, somebody leaves town.
The FCRC is no longer the Mark Berg Admiration and Appreciation Society. Those folks belong elsewhere.
It is now time to re-elect Barbara and the guy who will sign her bills.
Trump Ho!
Who are the rinos? Mr Berg has caused motion to adjourn previously. He has used the alinsky efforts to dirupt for several years. I am showing my name. Why are you hiding? Why are you calling names? Why are you refusing debate on issues?
I refused nothing. I was one of the ones calling for a standing or roll-call vote. I wanted to hear the campaign representatives give their presentations. I wanted to hear the Treasurer’s report. I expected the agenda to be followed.
I also didn’t know that Mark was sitting in the room a few rows behind me. He’d been outside earlier, and I thought he left.
By the way: Alinsky tactics involve things like vote fraud, theft, hiding information and, well, basic Socialism. For all his faults, I can’t establish or confirm that Mark’s actions qualify under such heading.
“When quick results are imperative, the manipulation of the voting masses through a quick, loud shout may be the only realistic and fair way of getting a critical thing done”.
A quote from a requested submitted addendum update to Henry Martyn Robert, author of Robert’s Rules of Order, from the Virginia Republican Parties’ 10th District “clown pack” to document it’s internal procedures guide for conducting meetings and making decisions as a group.
I am confident the ‘Friends of Mark’ brigade were going to preach unity and fraternity. That is why they plastered all the walls with those ‘why cant we all just get along’ posters!
**insert sarcasm
Don’t all units at monthly meetings put up screeds badmouthing district officers and distribute handbills criticizing the party chair and committees??
Lord, I remember when the Thoburns were the crazy ones.
The more things change…
And apparently, they still are!
Well, am I ever heart-broken.
You Republicans have brought this on yourselves. For decades you have built a coalition from the fringe of the fringe — biblethumpers who want to replace the Constitution with the King James bible; gunnuts who want a Glock on every hip and an AR-15 slung over every shoulder; AGENDA 21, JADE HELM, and Obama-is-a-Kenyan wackadoodles. Anyone who wanted to take a deep breath and get back to reality was hooted down as a RINO.
Old Chinese proverb: When you ride the tiger, it’s impossible to dismount.
Old jungle proverb: Lie down with dogs, get up with fleas.
Our fringe is better than your fringe.
,.,/
I was there, I’ve been to numerous other FCRC meetings, this one was the best so far. It was fast, fair, and fun. I thought the inspirational posters a nice touch and a good indication of the usual FCRC hullaballoo.
The members of the FCRC decided to fill the ranks with new members (a good thing) and minimize the drama that usually punctuates FCRC events.
The voting was clear, the numbers were clear, the majority of the members wanted to bring in new members and take time to heal.
There was to be no benefit from tribunals, show trials, the airing of grievances, dredging of the past and further embarrassing The Exiled Ten.
There were no shenanigans, fascism or corruption, there simply was no opportunity offered for those to be brought forth by the usual suspects.
Sounds like the vote on the Rules at the Republican Convention. (smh)
Ain’t nothing quicker than Frederick Fast. It went a lot like the RNC Tuesday Rules meeting.
One positive point, the invocation prayer offered last night was the finest one I have ever heard.
./,,
I posited to one of the other attendees, that the ‘guest chair’ of the meeting should have started out by shouting, “I DECLARE SHENANIGANS!!!”, because that’s exactly what ensued. When someone shuts down all debate and swiftly ends a meeting like this, it isn’t fascistic: It’s more Like Stalin or Mao. Next step may be to turn a number of us into ‘Unpersons’.
Side note: Mark Berg has much to answer for regarding his own intrigues, but he never pulled anything like this. The man who stood and spoke of his waiting since November to join received no respect from the chair. The previous regime held onto all of the submitted paperwork for months following the March Mass Meeting, which included his membership form and check…and my and my husband’s forms from February. Translation: the previous large-in-charge folks couldn’t be bothered to process ANYTHING regarding new memberships. Last night, they had no such compunction. Add to that, the reality that some non-members may have voted for themselves, and you’ve got a truly dysfunctional committee on your hands. How swiftly will Jo Thoburn call for the dissolution of the new status quo? Anyone? …Bueller…?
The majority didn’t want debate, they wanted an end to the long nightmare. As far as intrigues, how much was spent, by whom and for what? The days of drama and intrigue are fading in the rear view mirror. Welcome back Frederick!
it sounds like an exclusive Country Club where your lineage must be traced back to the Magna Carta before admission. Why the wait on new members? What is wrong with the Republican Party in our state?
Maybe there was concern that the new members would favor Republicans over non-Republicans?
There was a man whose membership form and check had never been processed until the last ‘leadership’ turned over the materials to the new…in June. He applied in NOVEMBER, 2015. They didn’t make his app a priority of any stripe, and denied him months of participation.
The usual method involves getting to know applicants, and determining whether or not they are Republicans. Many of those ‘voted in’ brought their applications with them, and some thought they were already members. I was at the sign-in table out front, welcoming and directing attendees to the correct tables. I asked one new lady what she’d like to help out with, aka volunteer, and she gave me a blank look. I don’t care what someone’s genealogy is, if they haven’t taken the time to find out about our purposes and work, they need to step back and do their homework.
It’s a good thing his membership was approved by the body on Tuesday. No doubt the 10th and SCC will help Frederick clean out any more non-Republicans as necessary. We really should give our fellow Frederickians the benefit of the doubt and allow them to sign our pledge, participate in our events, and then bounce them if/when they choose other than Republican in a contested race.
I believe we voted him in back in June. Good thing the last regime was voted out: he’d still be waiting. They didn’t like actual Conservatives, who wanted to work on campaigns and outreach, coming in and making them look bad. Now, with most of the newbies being friends of RINOs, the old status quo may return.
Then I missed his point, glad he got in and no one blackballed him. As long as the campaigns and outreach were to elect Republicans, I’m good with that. Too much rhetoric with terms like ‘actual Conservatives, newbies, RINO’s, old status quo, regimes. We have to work together to elect REPUBLICANS and not spend time with the silliness and high school cliquey parliamentary ball. Enough with the Star Chambers, hidden agendas, secret treasury, etc.
Despite some good people speaking out, as a whole the SCC perpetrated an injustice last Saturday at their meeting by letting the 10th District Committee continue their ongoing vindictive vendetta against Dr. Mark Berg and other members of the Frederick County Republican Committee.
The travesty was disgusting to watch. The 10th District Committee just kept flinging different purported violations of the SPP at Dr. Berg until they got one to stick.
The new Frederick County Republican Committee – with their blatant disregard of the SPP (which takes precedence over the unit Bylaws BTW) – seems to be quite as dysfunctional as the 10th District Committee and THEIR flouting the SPP.
All in an effort to squash Dr. Mark Berg. What did HE DO that was so terrible? Are we still back to the laughable infraction of not disavowing a write-in campaign?? LOL the SCC overturned THAT point a while ago. Or is his worse sin he ticked off the wrong people?
This IS NOT going away. I’m glad Dr. Berg is a fighter and won’t let this go. The 10th District Chairman had the gall to say a couple times Saturday, “If Mark Berg had any integrity” .. THAT was the absolute low point of that meeting to impute him that terrible way! For shame, RPV.
Dr. Mark Berg has plenty of integrity. And he will prevail because the truth will out.
Connie — Frederick County has had the epitome of a ‘good ole boy network’ for the longest time, and that’s why it was so important to RINOs that conservatives not gain control: The Frederick County Board of Supervisors remembers their wealthy friends (contractors, businesses, etc.) when it’s time to spend taxpayer money, and they didn’t care who noticed. But that cozy arrangement was threatened when Berg was elected, and at the time he was, the Frederick County Republican Committee membership was tilted far enough to the right with conservatives that the RINOs were outnumbered. Oh, a problem then arose for our Board, because for the longest time, the FCRC chose who the Republican candidates for the county board could be, and the RINO majority always chose the ‘good ole boy’ incumbents, and always voted down fiscally conservative challengers.
Not quite Capra: ‘Mr. Berg goes to Richmond, does a crappy job, picks a primary, loses a primary, runs a write-in, loses a write-in, gets kicked out, occupies GOP, still kicked-out, appeals, loses appeal, removed, appeals, loses appeal, really really kicked out for 4 years.’
Numbers showed a high Berg fatigue for everyone except the mandarins and inquisitors.
Ah, yes. And that frustrated member justifiably “shouted about fascism” — and as such, FCRC no longer stands for Frederick County Republican Committee, but Fascist Commune of Republican Concubines, with the RINOs once again in bed with Whitbeck and Thoburn.
I do not think that word means what you think it means.
I’ve learned not to argue with idiots like you — but maybe I’m just confusing the word idiot with Don Quixote’s old nag horse . . . Rocinante.
Yes, I think you are. Idiot is different than worthless old nag or hack. And I’m not understanding your use of ‘Fascist,’ I know the left use it incorrectly as well, but I think more highly of the wise elders of the Frederick County Republican Committee.