In the last couple of weeks, we have been seeing some local organizations endorse candidates for local offices. How important is this show of support? What if the bulk of the group doesn't agree with the committee that made the decision?
I read some posts created by Cheryl Hentz that got my attention. I didn't think too much of it until I read an anonymous comment on Michelle's site that led me in the direction of some older posts that directly contradict the statements that she is making now. Funny how she has changed.
The most recent post was lashing out on Michelle because the AFL-CIO endorsed candidates for local office without so much as sending out a questionnaire for answering. They based their "endorsement" on the WEAC assessment. They stated that they had questioned Michelle and Ben in the past and didn't feel that they needed to question them again. I guess nothing has changed with the district since the last questionnaire made it's rounds. They also must have questioned Lemberger in the past too because they opted to "endorse" him without knowing his position on anything.
The anonymous post provoked me to do a little research on what I remember from that campaign. I found a past posting in March 2005 from Cheryl regarding endorsements. She didn't feel that it was necessary to respond to this same group as long as they didn't let their membership make the endorsement decision. As a matter of fact, she goes on to say "I believe people should be able to make decisions on their own; and they cannot make fully informed decisions if they do not have complete answers. This is the same stand I have taken with other groups and that includes the Oshkosh Northwestern." Going back a little farther, you will also find this regarding Forward Oshkosh.
Funny that her opinion changed full circle and said that Michelle had "sour grapes" (could this be the pot calling the kettle?) about the process. What is even funnier is that Michelle doesn't really care about the endorsement to begin with. Both her and I (in previous years) were endorsed by UAW 291 and 578. Those are two of the few labor unions that we have respect for.
The process that Cheryl has no problem with now is even WORSE than what she participated (or didn't participate) in the past. Perhaps we should start referring to her as "Hypocrite Hentz" since it seems that she sure didn't think too much of the endorsement process used by Steve Dedow and company then but has no problem with it now. She will do anything to be contrary to what a Monte says or does. She uses her specialized "journalistic" techniques to tell an "unbiased" story that gives us both sides.
AND if you believe that...
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Copyright 2007
Sounding board and Opinions of politics in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The views expressed in each post are solely the opinion of the author and should not be attributed to any other person or group.
15 comments:
I believe Steve Dedow has had questionable dealings with endorsements in the past with other candidates. But hey, when you have Jeff Hall as your leader in the Democrat party, what can you expect.
This sounds like a Bill Clinton rant! He tried too hard to help Hillary and you seem to be doing the same thing for your wife.
She was doing quite well by herself!
Clinton would have been endorsed by the AFL-CIO. I would be more concerned if a husbnad didn't support his wife. This post wasn't so much about that than about the double standards of Cheryl Hentz and the idiocies of the AFL-CIO.
If I were in the UAWs I would be mad that the only union whose opinion matters with the AFL-CIO is the OEA. Isn't AFL-CIO supposed to be a labor union group? What labor does the OEA do, lift chalk? Same with the AFSME Chicks. One guy holds a shovel and the secretaries call themselves laborers in the city union. Yeah, right. No wonder Cheryl supports them. Can't get endorsed by them, might as well defend them. Maybe they'll throw her a bone now.
Monte is a much more appealing candidate not being endorsed by elitist hypocrites.
The OEA sent both a questionnaire and an invitation to a "meet and greet" to all of the BOE primary candidates. Sadly, neither Ben Schneider nor Michelle Monte responded to either. The teachers of the OEA implement the policies set by the BOE everyday. What message does this send to all of the hardworking people employed by the Oshkosh Area School district?
I posted a response to this on my blog earlier this morning. I DID mail back my responses to the questions. I mailed the letter at the post office, so I do not know why it was not received. I was not able to make the meeting that the candidates were invited to because I did not have enough notice to get the afternoon off from my job.
Future note for me, pay extra for the return receipt.
Anyone with questions can reach me via telephone, email, and blog posts on my blog. My conservative views guaranteed two years ago that I would never receive the OEA endorsement. I have returned every questionaire I have ever received and did attend the meet and greet last year as my schedule allowed attendance. I go to PTO meetings and Town Board meetings whenever I can. I attend meetings coordinated by community members to include teachers. To incinuate that I do not care about issues of concern to "hardworking people employed by the Oshkosh Area School district" is inaccurate at best.
Just for the record, the Labor Chicks aren't city employees. And to that end, say that to the guys who are fixing the potholes on the streets of Oshkosh. How sexist to make that remark about secretaries. Shame on you.
Secondly, what the heck does Jef Hall have to do with the Labor Council. He is not a union member.
Finally, as far as I know, neither of those UAW locals are dues paying members of the Winnebago County Labor COuncil, OEA is.
"hardworking people employed by the Oshkosh Area School district"
In the normal workplace, a standard work year equals 2080 hours of "clocked in" work. Thats 8 hour days, 5 days a week, 52 weeks a year.
How many hours does a teacher work in comparison? As I understand, most make about $45,000.00 - $50,000.00 a year.
With all the time off I'm aware of, that's a sweet job indeed!
Where is the hypocrisy? The OEA does exactly what Ms. Hentz believed organizations should do, they provide the answers from all the candidates to their membership, while the committee recommends candidates, the members are provided with all the answers so they can make their own choices.
And Kent do you truly not understand the difference between someone acting as a journalist in a professional capacity and also operating a blog on personal time, that, just like your blog is an opinion piece, not unbiased journalism... they are two different things... show me ANY blog, anywhere that is unbiased... that is NOT the nature of blogs, I would think after all this time you would understand that.
Anonymous 2:30,
OEA was not in question here. AFL-CIO is. I even linked to her opinion of the Winnebago Labor Councils handling of endorsements. OEA was simply the tool that they used to make this years endorsement. Otherwise, they really don't matter. It does lead me to another thought though... Why would anyone want to elect the OEA's choice of candidates? Seems to me that they have more to gain from the ones that they endorse and the taxpayers have more to lose. After all, why else would a union that represents the district endorse candidates unless they have something to gain from it?
The difference between my blog (and many others) is that it is meant to be an opinion site. It is to give my opinion and allow most others to express their anonymous opinion within reason.
Cheryl Hentz operates a blog that is tied to "Eye on Oshkosh". Her "award winning" public access show that IS reporting news. Adding opinions to her "reporting" is not professional in any way. If she would like to give her opinion, she should start another site to separate news from opinions. Otherwise, do like the other media outlets handle it, add an editorial section to the existing site.
It really doesn't matter though. We all know what her opinions of Michelle, Ben, Paul, Dan and myself are. I was simply pointing out how much she has changed in just a few years. We have learned to accept it. I just felt that since she is so quick to point out that any of us are "hypocrites", I should take an opportunity to return the favor.
Eye on Oshkosh is not a "reporting" show, it is an interview show, sometimes a commentary show (if there are no guests and the hosts talk about issues). If you really don't know the difference between an interview show (like the old Phil Donahue show, the Milwaukee show "Sunday Night with Mike Gousha" etc.) and a news show then there is nothing I can do to explain it further for you.
Also you might want to look up the definition of hypocrite... it is NOT someone who changes their opinion over time... it is someone who says one thing and does another. Though I'm sure you won't understand the difference there either.
As for endorsements, why would any organization endorse someone unless they had something to gain from it? And I've been wondering what does it mean when a restaurant endores someone? Does that mean the owner endorsed the candidate but didn't want his/her name used, does it mean the employees endorse the candidate? Just wondering.
"This sounds like a Bill Clinton rant! He tried too hard to help Hillary and you seem to be doing the same thing for your wife. She was doing quite well by herself"
That's right. It's downright embarrassing the way you and CH go at each other. Please stop it.
If I were Michelle, I'd distance myself from the whole, twisted fracas the two of you enjoy so much.
You may be doing Michelle more harm than good.
CJ is right. It is definitely time to keep our distance. It would be nice if Hentz and Thiel would do the same.
As of this moment, any comment containing either of their names or websites will not be published. If a commenter would like to express their opinion of them or their blogs, they can start a blog themselves.
Thank you for your cooperation.
[comment modified by blog owner]
Stu Riekman of the ONW should do the same. He places his dribble on the FRONT page of the Sunday paper. Doesn't this nut know that opinions should be placed on an opinion page on news on the front page? It seems that the [news media outlet] that we have in this community [is] lame at best.
Kent, Just wanted you to know that I cruise many political blogs and your site is one of the most ametuerish that I have seen. I am sure you won't post this but I thought you should know that if you really want to develop credibility you need to be objective.
Actually you are quite right. I am not objective enough and frankly can be quite bull-headed. For that reason I have been considering my departure from this arena for some time now and your assessment will be considered in that decision.
Thanks.
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