Editor,
I am politically naïve and have been politically inactive for 65 years, but our politics have gotten my full attention for over a year now and I am trying to catch up. Being naïve, I assumed that meetings of political parties were open to the public. That is where new candidates are introduced. After all, I have been to several meetings of the Carroll County Democrats but have no intention of joining.
At those meetings I have always considered myself a guest and have been treated as such, with courtesy and respect. When I saw an announcement in the paper for a meeting of the Carroll County Republicans tonight, I had to go. I signed in as a guest and was treated with courtesy and respect. I took notes and learned a good deal about local concerns from people who are way more involved than I am, people who take time to do what they can to further our democracy and I salute them.
I sensed the meeting was winding down and my bladder insisted I leave. On my way to the restroom I heard a gentleman say that I should not have been there and insinuated that I was there gathering information for the opposition. Reentering the meeting room I listened to him explain that that these meetings are not for public consumption but a private group. He insisted that guests must be Republican or potential Republicans.
I asked the rest of the people in the room if I would be welcome in the future. “Tell me I am not welcome and I will not come.” I can’t fault them for not answering because of the awkwardness of the moment.
The gentleman then approached me and said he knew why I was there, to spy. I told him “you don’t know me or what I stand for. I am here for my own information.” I told him that I often attend the Democratic meetings and he said that seeing my ACLU hat that I obviously align more with them. I explained that the ACLU fights for everyone’s rights, even the KKK.
Before I left I asked if that was Bob Ballinger and I was told, yes, that is Bob Ballinger. I know that this man was not speaking for anyone else in the room. He could just as well have brought up his concerns during the meeting and I would have respected the decision of the committee. Maybe quietly, maybe not quietly, but I would have left.
If a meeting is not open to the public, then that needs to be noted in the “public” notices, “Only right or left leaning citizens need attend;” depending on a party’s current incarnation.
You are right about one thing Bob; I am not a potential Republican.
Mark Eastburn