Say it ain’t so.

Apparently, my recent criticisms of Hanover Board of Supervisors Member Angela Kelly-Wiecek and her recently un-closeted Liberal Tax and Spend ways has not set well with the little lady. And I happen to know (and there are witnesses) that Kelly-Wiecek and Hanover GOP Chairman Nancy Russell and others are seeking to “punish” your humble correspondent – me – for daring to openly give my opinion of Kelly-Wiecek’s record as an elected official.

The problem is, as most of us who have actually read the Constitution know, an elected government official who seeks to silence a citizen because they do not like what they are saying is in violation of the First Amendment. And what I am saying is actually published on this blog. Freedom of the Press!

Last night I attended a Republican Committee meeting where Attorney General and GOP Nominee for Virginia Governor Ken Cuccinelli was speaking. You know Cuccinelli. He’s the one guy in Virginia that is a staunch defender of Constitutional Liberties including the First Amendment.

After Cuccinelli concluded his remarks and left the building, in what I can only describe as an ambush, Nancy Russell recognized a former Hanover elected official Buddy Klotz to deliver an obviously rehearsed speech coordinated with Russell. And Klotz pontificated about our duty to support elected Republicans. And members of the “Home grown” Media (meaning Tom White) who need to stop criticizing Republicans and blindly support them no matter what if their name is followed by the letter “R”.

And now my little birdies tell me that the above mentioned suspects are plotting to remove me from the membership rolls of the Hanover Republican Committee as retaliation for exercising my right to free speech and my rights as a Citizen Journalist.

I had to look at the map. Is this really the same Hanover County, Virginia where Patrick Henry breathed the same air that inspired his “Give me Liberty or Give me Death” speech? The very same soil that inspired our founders to take up arms against those who oppressed them and denied them the basic rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? The rights given by the Creator?

How far we have come!

The arrogance and hubris of an elected official and the Chairman of a Republican Committee must have to feel the need to reach out and silence those who do not agree and blindly and unquestioning acquiesce into submission because they said so.

Last November, just before the election, I made the decision that I could no longer sit in silence as our elected Republicans promise to be fiscal conservatives only to stab us in the back after then are elected. At the time I was a Magisterial District Chairman and, looking at the requirements, duties and responsibilities of that office decided it would be improper to continue as a member of the Executive Committee and as MDC and be able to speak out and report my opinion on Republicans gone wild. And Lord knows we have some wild running RINO’s in the Commonwealth – and in Hanover.

So I resigned when the polls closed on Election Day 2012 and decided to focus on fixing the Republicans who have forgotten the Republican Creed. Or exposing those that run afoul of the Republican Creed.

For those who have not read the Creed:

We Believe:

That the free enterprise system is the most productive supplier of human needs and economic justice,

That all individuals are entitled to equal rights, justice, and opportunities and should assume their responsibilities as citizens in a free society,

That fiscal responsibility and budgetary restraints must be exercised at all levels of government,

That the Federal Government must preserve individual liberty by observing Constitutional limitations,

That peace is best preserved through a strong national defense,

That faith in God, as recognized by our Founding Fathers is essential to the
moral fiber of the Nation.

And further, it was pointed out in last night’s “ambush” that I was in violation of the Committee Bylaws which have almost magically appeared on the Hanover GOP Website.

However, when we read the Creed and the Bylaws, it is clear that is is my duty and responsibility as a member of the Committee to point out the failures of the elected officials as a means to assist elected Republicans in the execution of their office. When they stray from the Creed, they are improperly executing the office to which they were elected.

Below are the excerpts from the “conveniently” posted “bylaws”, however the Hanover GOP Website leaves out the actual heading in the bylaws from which this passage was copied. This passage is not actually bylaws, but is actually titled ARTICLE III: Objectives. Far different from the actual rules Russell pretends this to be:

The purpose of the Hanover County Republican Committee is to:

 

• Promote and promulgate the principles of the Republican Party

• Seek out and encourage qualified candidates to run for public office

• Elect Republican candidates to public office

• Assist generally the citizens composing the districts served by the County Committee

• Assist elected Republican officials in the execution of their responsibilities

So when a politician such as Kelly-Wiecek or others ignore the part of the Creed that reads “That fiscal responsibility and budgetary restraints must be exercised at all levels of government” then it is my duty, according to the bylaws to “Assist elected Republican officials in the execution of their responsibilities“.

Which is exactly what I did.

But I will say this, if the Hanover Republican Committee and Angela Kelly-Wiecek wish to remove me from the committee, silence me, censor me and violate my Constitutional rights, that is probably not something the Republican Party will appreciate – you better call Pat Mullins – because I am perfectly within my rights and I am in complete compliance with the Bylaws. And unlike other elected officials who have supported candidates other than Republicans, I have never done so.

And if you plan a great inquisition and party purge for anyone critical of Republicans who claim to be Conservative you might as well close up shop and shut down the Hanover GOP Committee.

Virginia depends on Hanover’s Conservative votes to overcome the more liberal areas. For the Committee Chair and an elected official to pick a fight with the media – even “just a blogger” – is not a helpful move and is proof that both Kelly-Wiecek and Russell are not fit to serve.

I am a strong supporter of Conservative Republicans who are faithful to the Republican Creed and the Constitution. Ken Cuccinelli has my full and complete support and I will be working hard to elect him as our next Governor along with the nominees for Lt. Governor and Attorney General.

I really don’t have the time or desire to write dozens of posts about an elected official violating my Constitutional rights. But I WILL NOT BE SILENCED!

And that is something I will not allow.

If Kelly-Wiecek does not like the criticism, then all she has to do is live up to her campaign promises. Remember – I have a LOT of video from several speeches as well as the Candidate Forum posted on this site. And when I say Angela Kelly-Wiecek is not keeping her promises, the proof is here. Her rhetoric is well documented as is her record.

And I will close this post with the text of the Hanover Republican Committee Bylaws concerning membership and challenge any of the folks wishing to remove me from the committee to point out my violation under the two sections below, Qualifications and Removal:

SECTION A: Qualifications

All legal and qualified voters, regardless of race, religion, color, national

origin or sex, under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, who reside in

Hanover County, who are in accord with the principles of the Republican Party,

and who, if requested, express in open meeting their intent to support all of its

nominees for public office in the ensuing election may participate as members of

the Republican Party of Hanover County in its mass meetings, Party canvasses,

conventions or primaries in their respective election districts and are eligible for

membership on the County Committee.

A signed membership form expressing the applicant’s intent to support the

nominees of the Republican Party and intent not to serve on any committee to

elect other than the Republican nominee must be presented to the Chairman of

the County Committee (or Acting Chairman) prior to a vote of acceptance. The

annual membership fee shall be paid at the end of the meeting at which said vote

takes place.

SECTION E: Removal

1.) Any member shall automatically lose his status as a voting member of

the County Committee who:

a. Fails to pay his annual dues by April 1 of each year; or

b. Serves on any committee to elect other than the Republican

nominee for any public office.

The Corresponding Secretary shall notify in writing such member of his

failure to comply with the provisions of paragraphs (1a) and (1b) within 30

days of such failure.

2.) The Chairman or any other officer or member of the County Committee

may be removed for cause from office by a two-thirds vote of the

membership of the County Committee. However, such person shall be

given 30 days’ notice in writing that such removal will be sought and

the grounds upon which such action is based and signed by not less

than one-third of the membership of the County Committee. Such

person shall be given reasonable opportunity to appear and respond to

the allegations.

About Tom White

Tom is a US Navy Veteran, owns an Insurance Agency and is currently an IT Manager for a Virginia Distributor. He has been published in American Thinker, currently writes for the Richmond Examiner as well as Virginia Right! Blog. Tom lives in Hanover County, Va and is involved in politics at every level and is a Recovering Republican who has finally had enough of the War on Conservatives in progress with the Leadership of the GOP on a National Level.

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