Annapolis Capital Punishment

Part One of "Weikel on Weikel" focused on some of the most recent divisive and public attacks by this Democratic activist that have caused some notoriety. But why take my word for what Chuck Weikel says and does? Let’s see what Weikel says about Weikel at his democratsforchuck web-site (his words are shown in italics):


What Weikel Writes:
“As Democrats, I believe we must reach out to others. That’s our tradition and our charge.” -- Chuck Weikel
The above appears in a red box across the front page of his web-site, but just below that he attacks Democratic Alderman Shropshire and Republican Alderman Cordle. Then he says:
"Remember, some Aldermen want even more power by establishing a City Manager that bypasses the Mayor and reports only to them. They must stop their own illegal meetings and demand transparency in the City's finances."
By some Aldermen, we assume he means Democrats Arnett, Shropshire and Israel, and Independent Stankivic for supporting a city manager amendment and Republican Cordle as well as Shropshire for what Weikel claimed was an illegal Finance Committee meeting (A recent story he ran running with to the local paper).

Weikel says this: "In politics, Chuck has been a tireless advocate for Annapolis Democrats and has worked on the campaigns of Dick Israel, Sam Shropshire and Ellen Moyer in 2005. Nevertheless, Chuck understands that being an effective Democrat means more than just advocacy – he also has reached out to all those politically involved. He founded and chairs Positive Voices, a Maryland registered bi-partisan PAC that is trying to stop personal attacks on individual candidates by focusing on issues and facts."

[CP NOTE--I can't find anything about a Positive Voices PAC on the web except there is a similar group concerned with AIDS/HIV. If there were such an active PAC, the first thing it would likely do is speak out against Weikel for making personal attacks. ]

..and this:
“ Chuck will also push Democrats to initiate quick and truthful responses to suppress the distortions of opponents.” {CP NOTE-Perhaps Democrats should be doing this to Weikel. I know that Democratic mayoral candidate Trudy McFall has had to do that already.}

What Weikel does: CP has seen emails where he attacks Alderman Shropshire and now, he attacks both Shropshire and Israel for their support of the city manager form of government, not "by focusing on issues and facts" but by virtue of their race and gender. Again I refer you to the wacky-wacist-world-of-weikel .

What Weikel says: Chuck Weikel also believes our county’s central committee has important additional responsibilities including organizing and leadership within the party and improving the quality of political discourse in our daily political life.

What Weikel says: Chuck Weikel understands that hard-core political partisanship is rejected by citizens. Chuck will reach out to the media, community and political groups across the spectrum and work together to change the political tenor of our daily civic life. Politics is not bad and we should be proud to be Democrats!

Not only is his "hard-core political partisanship" rejected here, but I think hard-core political partisans such as Weikel are getting rejected as well. The only question is when is the Anne Arundel DCC going to act "to change the political tenor of our daily civic life" wrought by Weikel?

CP asks-Now that Chuck has attacked the white, male Democratic Aldermen Shropshire and Israel and Arnett for being white males who support a city manager style of government, which he absurdly claims will disenfranchise Blacks in Annapolis, will he remove the below endorsements from his web-site?:

Alderman Sam Shropshire said: “The Democratic Central Committee can use a strong energetic voice like Chuck’s. Please vote for him on September 12.”

Alderman Dick Israel said: “Chuck Weikel has the energy and commitment to be an outstanding member of the Democratic Central Committee.”

In response to his recent wacky, wacist email, Alderman Israel, ever the voice of diplomacy and deliberation wrote a polite and well-reasoned letter to Weikel reminding him of certain historical facts about Annapolis government and politics. I have excerpted a portion of it below:

"While your concern for minority voters is admirable, isn't it time for white folks to step back and let African-Americans speak in their own voice?" Israel went on to remind Weikel of some local history, and then concluded, "If you are truly concerned that the city manager form of government would dilute the democratic principle, I suggest that you use your influence to get the city council to approve the city manager amendment. The amendment can then be petitioned to referendum. Let the people decide. What could be more democratic?"

Weikel wrote a lengthy response to Israel which Weikel copied to me-and at least one other with whom I spoke. He blames Israel for suppressing votes in Ward 6, and says he has worked hard to distance himself from the mayor (Hey Chuck--she does that without the help of others). He says that Israel is "leading what is tantamount to a coup against our 300 year old Charter [which] is both self serving and dangerous. In my opinion, it displays your unfitness to lead on a larger stage."

Tantamount to a coup? He can't be serious. He then says, "I also find it distasteful that you perceive racial issues in everything." Huh? Wuh? Isn't that what Weikel did in his inexcusable rant about the city manager issue?

He reminds Israel that he, the mayor and the central committee worked on his campaign. Wow. I did not know the mayor got involved in aldermanic campaigns. Is that right? I had heard such rumors. I am shocked. Mr Wiekel should do well to remember tht Israel endorsed him for central committee.

Weikel takes off the gloves."You are now running for Mayor. At the same time you are trying to shrink that stage to a size that fits your mind and abilities."

Ooh. What nasty words--a size that fits your mind and abilities. Israel is highly respected for his wit and wisdom as well as his deliberation. For Weikel to attack him in such a manner is ludicrous. But is Weikel running for mayor? Some thought he was, but maybe not anymore. Of course, based on his words and actions, one wonders whether a Weikel administration would be more years of the same anger and finger-pointing we've had for the last seven years.

He continues. "I certainly am not the voice of [sic] Democratic Party in Annapolis. Yet I was elected by over 5,000 Democrats in D-30 in a 6 way race to represent them at the State Party level. I take this responsibility seriously. I believe that we hold the only real [sic] in Annapolis."

The only real what in Annapolis? We are certainly relieved to learn that Weikel is not the voice of the Democratic Party in Annapolis as well. As for his level of seriousness, well, it's open to debate. Weikel concludes:

"It's a large tent. You ought to figure out how to get back under it. Chuck "

Luckily for Weikel, it is a large tent, but perhaps he ought to figure how to get back under it. The question is whether he is the camel sticking its nose underneath that tent-or will soon be that camel. One must ask if Weikel is working for the mayor (on a public salary) to act as her attack-dog, growling at the sponsor of the city manager charter amendment, or maybe even running for mayor himself.

Visit democratsforchuck to see what Chuck Weikel says about Chuck Weikel. One might ask when will there be a "democratswho onewereforchuck" web-site?

In tomorrow's final installment of "Weikel on Weikel" we turn our attention to the business he once successfully ran--or so he says.


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