Bob "The Dandelion" MaGovern

Update from Massachusetts

Well folks, there was another caucus last night to elect a Committeewoman for the Hampden district. As the Chair of two different boards in my own municipality, I can tell you that I have never run such a sloppy meeting. The proceedings at last nights caucus was not only embarrassing, but quite indicative of the systemic problems plaguing the GOP and government in general. Integrity!

I'm not going to sit here and condemn everything that Bob MaGovern has accomplished throughout his professional or political career, but I definitely feel he has now become seriously detrimental to the good Republicans that exist within our communities and to the revival efforts of the GOP brand. As a Delegate to the 2008 RNC, I've seen MaGovern shamelessly attack a fellow Delegate; as a guest at his RTC meetings, I've witnessed him turn his back on two of his own RTC members running for office; and as a concerned Republican I was forced to watch him bumble his way through last night's caucus.

Allow me to explain.

Bob MaGovern is someone who's been in the game for a long time and feels that he has subordinates, not peers. He exhibits an unhealthy, venomous and almost incapacitating hatred for former Ron Paul supporters. Although I know two Ron Paul supporters on the Agawam RTC, to date, MaGovern is the only one that keeps bringing the name up. That's why he didn't provide Laura Jackson with the needed contact information in a timely manner; that's why he supported an out-of-town former Democrat of an inactive RTC. Hatred and power fueled that decision.

I really don't know why he shunned the other RTC member from his group, but he clearly has missed another opportunity assist Republican advancement. What I do know is how shameful last nights procedures were for everyone. Please allow me to recap the event for you.

I arrived early and waited in the lobby with several other friends that drove down from Greenfield. We talked for a while as more people began to filter in. Suddenly the silhouette of a tall stocky figure in a trench coat and cowboy hat approached the entrance. It was Bob MaGovern. He entered the building and informed us that the meeting would be on the second floor and followed him there. Laura was asked by MaGovern to bring the sign-in sheets, which she promptly provided to him. At that time she noticed that he had an outdated voter list and brought it to his attention. Laura pointed out that Barney Keller from MassGOP noted several ineligible voters. MaGovern simply responded that Keller was a lowly intern and that he ran the meeting, not Keller. He immediately recoiled and started painting her as a liar and trouble maker. Laura was completely in the right and justified in her assertion. It was at this time that MaGovern informed Laura he would challenge the election if she won. Nice guy.

On with the show. He used the outdated list and pressed forward. Voters continued to file in and take a seat on the right side of the room, and on the left side of the room, Laura's supporters. There were at least as many non-voting supports of Laura, from Greenfield to Boston, as there were voters from the entire district. Without confirming a single voter, MaGovern called for brief speeches by the candidates and ultimately a vote.

He asked the chairman from each RTC to hand out ballots to the voting members of their respective district. He then removed his cowboy hat and asked the always compliant Mr. Caplin to collect the votes. One after another, the votes were thrown into the hat and brought to the table where vote counters from both sides tallied the results. The first vote count came out to 12 to 12. Following a few awkward moments, another voter arrived late and a second vote was called. It's important to realize that it was uncertain if the number of votes cast was equal to the number of registered voters AND if any of those votes were from ineligible people/wards, which is a real possibility. There were reports of two and maybe three ineligible voters in attendance.

The room was relatively quiet while the second vote was going on. Suddenly MaGovern exclaims that he just "found" another vote....in his hat. First off, what the hell is he doing carrying out such an important duty using that foolish hat? A shoe box or a coffee can would have been acceptable, but not a cowboy hat. This isn't some kind of "Brago" style raffle; it's the election of a GOP Committeewoman. If you can "lose" an entire ballot inside a cowboy hat you can also "hide" a ballot inside a cowboy hat.

Something was still wrong though. The numbers just weren't working out. MaGovern explained this by saying that someone must have decided not to vote. Although technically possible, it's highly unlikely that someone came all the way out there to not vote.

What's interesting is that one of the observers had a video camera and was taping everything. Reports from several people that reviewed the tape indicate that the vote originally "stuck" in the hat, from the first vote, was tossed by Bob MaGovern into the pile for the second vote. Additionally, it's reported that when MaGovern claimed that he forgot to vote, he pulled a ballot from his pocket and added it to the count. MaGovern had votes in his hat, votes in his pocket.... if the event lasted longer who knows how many votes would have appeared on his person.

We can bring as many people as we want, back to the Party, but if the underlying problem isn't addressed, the decline will continue. Growing the Republican Party is like growing a healthy lawn. Misguided and corrupt leaders are the weeds, Dandelions if you will. You can replenish the lawn with seed and cut it to make it look good, but if you only yank the visible part of the Dandelion out and leave the tap-root, you're lawn will soon be re-infested. Fixing what's wrong with the Republican Party is more than enticing people back in; It first requires that the destructive root of undesirables be fully removed. Like the long tap-root of a Dandelion, you have to get the whole root out to fix the problem.

This caucus is going to be challenged. The election is far from over. Until we can learn to keep our own house clean, it's futile to think we can build a healthy and vibrant Party on a failing foundation. MaGovern botched this caucus badly and we have it on tape for the benefit of skeptics. I'll have the DVD by Friday and will gladly share it with anyone that cares.