Tag: OCDP

PONTIAC, Mich., Jan., 11, 2012 - A second Democrat Party official was sentenced today for his role in creating a fake "Tea Party" in order to confuse voters in the 2010 election cycle. Jason Bauer served as political director to the Oakland County Democratic Party and as campaign manager to then-secretary of state candidate Jocelyn Benson. Former Oakland County Democrat Party Chairman Mike McGuinness was sentenced on similar charges in December. Bauer was charged with five felony counts and sentenced to probation by Oakland County Circuit Judge James Alexander.

"The actions by these Democrat Party officials is disappointing and was a serious attempt to undermine our system of government," said Bobby Schostak, chairman of the Michigan Republican Party. "Voters expect political parties to disagree not lie, cheat or steal. These individuals attempted to confuse voters and manipulate the election by fraudulently creating a political party. It is disappointing such high level Democrat officials were involved in this scheme and even more troubling to learn that one served in such a prominent position to a candidate running to be Michigan's chief elections officer. We can only hope that my counter-part at the Democrat Party joins me in condemning these individuals and their action."

The scheme involved creating a fake Tea Party by Mark Steffek of Clio, Mich., which then held a "convention" to nominate 23 candidates to various legislative offices both at the state and county level. The names of the 23 candidates were then submitted to the Michigan Department of Secretary of State. An investigation into the names by then-Oakland County Clerk Ruth Johnson revealed that some of the candidates were not aware that the fake Tea Party had nominated them, signatures were forged and at least one no longer lived in Michigan.

OCDP Chair Mike McGuiness Steps down.. The Ivory Tower has him citing personal ambitions as the reason.

"Because of a new professional opportunity, effective tonight, I'm resigning my position as chair of the Oakland County Democratic Party," McGuinness said in a statement.

It gets better..  All this time tossing his best pet under the bus, he claimed he knew nothing of the Bauer involvement in the fake Tea Party.

McGuinness, who also is a candidate for the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, has said that he had no knowledge of Bauer's actions. But records obtained by the Free Press through the Freedom of Information Act show that the two are registered to vote from the same address in Waterford.

Often we will find ourselves with opposing viewpoints from the Ivory Tower.  There is a point I guess, when things become more than obvious, and "bad" can be called what it is.   Apparently today we are allies:

If voters' faith has already been shaken by the corruption we've seen in southeast Michigan and the inability of public officials around the state to work together to solve our problems, this Tea Party nonsense rattles it further.

And how desperate do Michigan Democrats look by trying to pull this off? It's almost an admission that the party's candidates need something other than merit to win this fall.

The editorial is correct in questioning who planned, financed etc..  

The lawyer, Michael Hodge, is expected to be challenging the 2-2 decision by the board of canvassers tomorrow.  Who might he present as willing to stand for the party?  Will Mark Steffek show up? What of Jason Bauer, who now bears the tire tracks of Michigan Democrats on his back? Benson and Brewer, and McGuinness, Democrats who have effectively "blanket partied" that fourth stooge at the OCDP sure as heck won't, but will be there in spirit.. to be sure.

The Donkeys that have brought us the RMGN, High taxes, Granholm, Obama, and this year the FAKE TEA party, have taken a blow on the face.  The Fake Tea Party has been denied its position on the November ballot for now:

Petition forms didn't have "The" before "Tea Party" on it, which is the proper name that the mysterious startup political party used on other campaign documents. The vote to approve The Tea Party petition failed in a 2-2 vote with the two Republican board members voting not to approve it.

Michael Hodge, the attorney representing The Tea Party, said he expected to be in the Michigan Court of Appeals as early as Wednesday. At issues is whether the missing word on the petitions is "substantially" not in compliance with the petition gathering laws, given that there is another entity claiming the title of "Tea Party," without the definite article "The" in front of the name.

Although forgetting "The" in the proper name was considered a technicality by Hodge, there were bigger issues presented to the canvassers during the Monday meeting, including allegations of fraud involving the creation of The Tea Party.

Oakland County, Mich. - Friday, August 20, 2010 - Ruth Johnson, the Oakland County Clerk/Register, said her office has uncovered apparent evidence of fraud involving the so-called "Fake" Tea Party and one of its candidates.

In a release just received, Johnson explains

"We have a candidate filing with signatures we suspect are forged and an out-of-state high school teacher who says he never filed to run for office and has no idea what this is even about,"

Why does this not raise eyebrows?

Its been a busy year.

In fact, between keeping the business afloat, deaths of family and friends, and personal political bids, its amazing I can even find the wherewithal to think, much less put those thoughts into readable and coherent text.  As a matter of priority however, the text finds its way to the top.  Hopefully as a time goes on, the big picture bears out the information flow's importance and effect on our political landscape, and ultimately on our lives.

The truth shall set us free.  Deception however.. abounds.

All I can say is I wouldn't want to be the dog waiting to be kicked when the Oakland County Chair gets home.  

According to the Detroit News, the Oakland County Democrat Party will:

"review its protocols after reports that a top staffer appears to be among the operatives behind the effort to get Tea Party candidates registered in Michigan.

County party Chairman Mike McGuinness said operations director Jason Bauer may have crossed the line when he notarized many of the affidavits filed by 23 candidates trying to get on the November ballot as members of the newly formed Tea Party."

He crossed the line.. the line on the side of the road.  Then he was hit by the bus McGuinness is driving, then backing up.