Huffington Post and CapitalFax are finally covering the Cook County GOP sex scandal and coverup. That puts them 16 days behind us, as we’ve been on the case since July 12th. Not that we’re keeping count or anything.
We’re just pleased they “get it”, in that this is not just about “The Prophet”, whom Huffington Post (not us) has identified as one Jeremy Rose, and what he did to women in the Chicago Young Republicans organization — this is about Lee Roupas, the Chair of the Cook County GOP, lying in a July 16th email to his committeemen, claiming he did not know about what Rose was up to until June 10th, 2010 (and trying to remove Eloise Gerson from her elected post after she blew the whistle on this whole thing on June 11th, 2010). As we all know, and as two important Chicago attorneys have come forward, on the record, and testified, Roupas was informed of what Rose did back in July of 2009…a FULL YEAR before he admitted having that knowledge.
The Huffington Post piece lifts large parts of this story directly from HillBuzz (but does not, in typical HuffPo style, give us credit…which could be because we make so many Ariana Huffington jokes about straight women who are too dense to know their husbands are gay).
Lee Roupas needs to be removed from his position this week.
There’s just no way the GOP can keep him: he has been proven dead-to-rights to be a liar.
Even if Rose didn’t do the things the complaint states he did, Roupas lied about having information the Committeemen under him asked him directly about. After he lied to them, they were forced to go to their constituents, and the media, and unknowingly lie about all of this as well.
Roupas doesn’t realize it yet, but he ended his political career on July 16th, 2010 with the lies in that email.
We will not drop this story until he is fired, and Eloise Gerson, truthteller, receives an apology from the Illinois GOP for what Roupas tried to do to her. In our opinion, Gerson should be made the Chair of the Cook County GOP…so she would be given Roupas’ position, and afforded the ability to clean house.
Fate, Hera, poetic justice, whatever you want to call it has a nice sense of humor with that outcome: Roupas tries to oust Gerson for bringing the truth to light, Roupas is ultimately destroyed by the truth, Roupas loses his job, and Gerson takes his place.
We like the sound of that turnout.
NOW, this next part is a bridge we didn’t want to come to, and hope we don’t have to cross.
BUT, Illinois State Chair Pat Brady can no longer protect Lee Roupas. Sending out that July 16th, 2010 email, chock full of lies, is a terminable offense for Roupas because it exposed every Committeeman who received it to potentially damaging blowback because Roupas provided them with false information that they then passed on to constituents and the press — making EVERYONE look like liars. That is conduct unbecoming of a County Chair, and Roupas must be relieved of his position because of it.
Pat Brady is one of the best men we have ever met in this world. We worked closely with him (and his wife, who was McCain’s #2 in command here in Illinois) and we think the absolute world of the both of them. If not for the Bradys, we would have never continued our involvement in politics after Hillary Clinton suspended her presidential campaign. We were hesitant to help Republicans, even though we had conservative tendencies, because before the Bradys every Republican we knew had been nasty to us…unapproachable…and pretty much the stereotype the DNC always drilled into us. The Bradys, however, went out of their way to build a connection with us…to rally everyone possible coast to coast to help defeat Obama…and in the process we realized just how much our thinking had in common with the Republican Party. While we’ll never be Republicans, because the corruption in the Cook County GOP is just as bad as in the Democrat ranks, so we feel more comfortable being independents at this point, HillBuzz has evolved into what it is today, with all of you as daily readers, because of the overtures the Bradys made to us way back in the spring of 2008.
We’d give kidneys to these people if they needed them. We love them, and are so grateful to them, and are so inspired by them.
BUT, Pat Brady needs to do the right thing regarding Lee Roupas. As nice of a man as Brady is, and much as Brady likes Roupas and tried to groom him for bigger things, Roupas has lost all credibility and has seriously damaged Republican chances in November.
Pat Brady needs to fire Lee Roupas.
If he won’t, then we need to cross the uncrossable bridge and start advocating for someone to fire Pat Brady and replace him with someone who WILL clean house in Cook County, get rid of Roupas and the other “Romney Guys” frat boys stinking up the place, and prove to the voters of Illinois that there really is a choice to be made in this state: either vote for the corrupt, revolting Democrat party or vote for a party that’s about cleaning up the mess in Illinois and doing the right thing.
If Pat Brady fails to act by the end of this week, then we know he’s not serious about giving voters that choice.
It will break our hearts, and highly disillusion us, but we’ll have to start calling for Brady’s removal at that point.
Here’s what needs to happen, if you have any clout or access to Republican leaders:
(1) Lee Roupas is fired immediately, for lying in that July 16th, 2010 email
(2) Profuse apology is given to Eloise Gerson for Roupas’ attack on her
(3) An investigation is immediately launched into the undue influence multimillionaire Chicago cougar Beth Christie has had on the daily operations and staffing decisions of the Cook County GOP
July 28, 2010 at 4:28 pm
It would seem to me, that if you offered the above post to the Bradys of how you felt, they should either accept your position, and agree that that is how to proceed, or they should provide their overwhelming reasons of why they/he will not fire Roupus. Then you’ll know, there and then, if you have to cross that bridge, and if the reasons for having to do so supersede Brady’s reasons for not firing Roupus. Takes all the guessing out of it, and Brady will know how you feel, up front.
July 28, 2010 at 4:33 pm
Wow: the whole Prophet story reads just like one of those articles Stephen Glass used to fabricate. There’s a lurid pot-boiler here somewhere.
July 28, 2010 at 4:43 pm
I concur with Integrity1st…I assume you have expressed your opinion to the Bradys? If not, you should. Be as transparant as possible.
July 28, 2010 at 4:57 pm
Congratulations, boyz! I thought the ‘Romney Guys’ were going to successfully make this thing go away quietly. They would have, too, if you hadn’t jumped in and hung on like a bulldog with a rag.
They will probably contain the damage just to Rose and Roupas. Rose, particularly, will probably get some quiet perk in exchange for keeping his mouth shut about some incendiary things he could say about some on our ticket this year.
Sadly, it is probably not the end of the line for him. Give it a few more years and, if he plays his cards right, he could be our next Bob Kjellander. We won’t get rid of these bloodsucking mosquitoes until the swamp has been drained.
July 28, 2010 at 5:02 pm
We heard today that Rose will be working for Beth Christie directly.
Pool boy, perhaps? She’s been funding his salary, just funneling it through the GOP. Now, she can just give it to him directly. If there is no pool in her mansion, she can have him be her bathtub lifeguard or something.
That woman is a piece of work, she really is.
July 28, 2010 at 5:36 pm
Boyz, at some point she will wake up and realize what a sordid situation she has created and that she is nothing more than a ‘meal ticket’.
And THAT will be a very sad day for her.
July 28, 2010 at 4:58 pm
I love how Hillary has the DNC spooked, hey they selected Obama and lost all of us, their choice not ours. We did not respect them in the morning, off to PUMA, Tea Party, Republican party, anywhere but the corrupt/inept DNC.
http://pumapac.org/2010/07/28/looking-over-their-shoulders/
Are the Boiz concerned about Hillary sneaking up behind them as the Disaster of 2010 looms and 2012 slouches inexorably toward the Cheaters in Chief? The press is needling Gibby about whether Hillary has “given assurances” that she won’t challenge The One for the Dem Primary. Why ask Goofy Gibbs, when you can hear it straight from Hillary? Remember what she said the night they stole the nomination from the voters and from her, in plain sight?
(more)
July 28, 2010 at 5:49 pm
“If Pat Brady fails to act by the end of this week, then we know he’s not serious about giving voters that choice.
It will break our hearts, and highly disillusion us, but we’ll have to start calling for Brady’s removal at that point.”
This, fellow Buzzers, is something you rarely see in America any more–HONOR. Regardless of their personal feelings, the Boyz know the difference between right and wrong, and they stand firmly on the side of right.
I love you guys.
July 28, 2010 at 6:09 pm
Amen. This is what honest-to-God personal integrity looks like. Watch and learn from the Boyz, people. Watch and learn.
July 28, 2010 at 6:26 pm
Totally agree! It’s an honor to “know” the Boyz
July 28, 2010 at 6:31 pm
One of the magnificent aspects of these guyz is that they do not wait to “sort of see how things fall out” and then “sort of work out what they will do…”
They plainly call it in advance, pointing out, “If A, then B…..if A and B, then there is the option of C or D….and in that case….”
IOW, their decisions as things unfold are not going to be wiggly or varying….the decisions reflect a overall straight line that can be identified ahead of time, without knowing exactly what the connections might be.
July 28, 2010 at 9:13 pm
In case y’all haven’t noticed, Hillbuzz doesn’t sell advertising. A lot of the “big boy” sites visit Hillbuzz.org daily as a matter of course (Michelle Malkin, the HuffPo folks, and others.)
I recently got screwed by Experian when I ordered a credit score in Feb. 2010. I didn’t read the fine print so I’ve been charged $14.95/ mo. since Feb. for “credit monitoring”. I never noticed that crap until today… trust me it’s canceled!
The point is… I can afford $14.95/ mo. to keep Hillbuzz up and running.
Guyz… how’s the best way to do this?
July 28, 2010 at 6:02 pm
If they actually deal with this, party members and leaders, I won’t be disillusioned, I’ll be impressed. Sadly it’s an all too familiar story and few people ever have the courage to confront it. So my hat is off to all of those who have decided that integrity should matter. How refreshing!
July 28, 2010 at 7:03 pm
That’s called karma, my friend. And the politicians are all in deep karma doo-doo.
July 28, 2010 at 7:21 pm
Looks to me like your Catholic school background is coming through. Those nuns taught you well.
July 28, 2010 at 9:28 pm
Moi… St. Peter and Paul grade school; Regis Jesuit high school. Currently not particularly religious… but I know the difference between right/ wrong! (And my spelling is good… Pete)
July 28, 2010 at 7:28 pm
Kinda on topic maybe – have you heard about the ruckus in Bell, CA? little town of about 37,000 mostly blue collar workers located in LA County – city manager making almost 800,000 a year, chief of police making 457,000 a year – another crook making a bunch – plus the city council members making 100,000 a year for part time job – seems the city held an election to change to a charter city which allowed them to pull shit like this – nobody paid attention to the election – turnout was really low plus now there may be absentee fraud –
My point – VOTE – if you don’t vote, you can’t bitch…………………. I’m going to be an election judge for the upcoming primary here in MN on Aug 10 – will see what the turnout is like – am thinking will be pretty low – bunch of dems running for their spot on the November ballot -
July 28, 2010 at 9:45 pm
If I’m not mistaken MN=Maine.
Northeast USA tends toward liberal voting with a largely conservative daily lifestyle. I know this because all of your retirees that are moving into my NC neighborhood.
They see the light.
Buzzers… keep an eye on this attempt to get rid of the Electoral College.
July 28, 2010 at 9:53 pm
MN = Minnesota
ME = Maine
July 28, 2010 at 9:59 pm
Too many M’s and A’s, if you ask me. And the abbreviations are confusing.
MA, MI, MN, ME, MO, MT, MD, at the very least. Plus AZ, AK, AL, AR. No wonder we get mixed up!
July 28, 2010 at 11:02 pm
Given how much of our government is done w/o a vote and by administrative process, yes, you have a cause to gripe even if you don’t vote.
July 28, 2010 at 7:49 pm
Too bad her name is not Esther Gerson. That would make for some super irony.
July 28, 2010 at 8:41 pm
Rose must step down as leader of the Chicago Young Republicans. Lee Roupas must resign as Cook County Chairman. I am hearing this from Commiteemen and major donors. It is unfortunate, but these fellows created their own demise.
The issue is Bill Brady. Who would like to see him answering questions on this in the next months with these two still in power? Not me.
The GOP has to come together and support the candidates, and I can’t see that happening while they are still around. Opinions of those I know are starting to turn sharply against them.
If Rose and Roupas really care about the GOP, or have any concern for Pat Brady’s predicament, they should be face reality and step down on their own. It might end this, becasue it obviously will not end while they are still around.
July 28, 2010 at 10:25 pm
Off topic, LOL@Obama not invited to Chelsea’s wedding.
July 28, 2010 at 11:39 pm
Congratulations HillBuzz on moving this story forward and getting a big shoe to drop.
I’m with you on everything here with the exception of saying Pat Brady is wonderful and the idea of Gerson as Cook GOP Chairman.
But those are side issues for now. Friday is nearly here and a buck says Pat Brady isn’t going to step up. It’s going to take more pressure to get Brady to do the right thing. But I hope he proves me wrong. If he does, I’ll be VERY surprised. I think you’ve laid out your ultimatum in a fair and reasonable way. Ball’s in his court.
July 29, 2010 at 8:02 am
“I’m with you on everything here with the exception of saying Pat Brady is wonderful and the idea of Gerson as Cook GOP Chairman.”
If you have better ideas, please share. Honestly, I’m not being sarcastic.
Please share your thoughts further, and educate those outside of IL.
July 29, 2010 at 8:02 am
This was directed at #14. FYI.