I ask like-minded citizens who believe in peace, tolerance, and respect to join me in calling for LCRC Chairman Mark Sell to resign from office. If he does not adhere to our wishes, I ask the Executive Committee of the LCRC to act swiftly within the by-laws of the party to remove him from office. Mr. Sell’s poor judgment in his choice of communications director for the LCRC, his lack of oversight and quality control of the LCRC’s communications operation, and his half-hearted apology for the shameful and hurtful e-mail that was sent out under the banner of the LCRC merit his resignation or removal from office.
The imagery used in the e-mail in question was immoral, offensive, despicable, grotesque, deplorable, hurtful, and sickening. The use of such images is wrong and indefensible. Period. As Chairman, Mr. Sell has failed the public and exercised conduct unbecoming of an official tasked to invite and unite diverse groups behind a common cause to promote life, liberty, and a better future for Loudoun County.
Additionally, Mr. Sell’s actions and non-actions have undermined the political process for the voters and for the candidates involved in these elections. Candidates for political office make enormous sacrifices in their professional and family lives to serve the public. Staffers and volunteers for these candidates invest their heart and soul into these candidates for very little pay because they believe in the candidate’s vision and the candidate’s character. These candidates and loyal supporters do their work joyfully out of genuine concern for the direction of Loudoun and for the type of county their children will inherit. Loudoun County voters deserve to hear the ideas and the solutions the candidates have on the pressing quality of life issues of their concern free from needless distractions.
Mr. Sell’s continued presence through the election will only serve as a distraction from the issues that really matter to the hard-working people of Loudoun County; jobs, transportation, and education. This unwarranted, inexcusable incident sets a horrible example for our children and is immoral. It does our candidates an enormous disservice and injustice after all the hard work they have done to run positive issue-based campaigns. This incident does our voters an equally enormous disservice as they deserve to make an informed opinion on the candidates and the issues based on reason and reasonable discourse. Mr. Sell will do much good for the political process by resigning immediately so that everyone can move on from this most unfortunate incident.
Update: With the knowledge that the Governor is planning two trips to Leesburg this week, I temporarily took this article offline pending further developments. In the interim, it became clear that Mr. Sell will not abdicate his role as Chairman voluntarily. Until I received confirmations about the Governor’s attendance, I did not want to cause further controversy since my main goal is to help quality, upstanding individuals win public office in Loudoun County. All of these individuals have no connection whatsoever to the LCRC scandal and several have expressed to me that they are even more angry and livid than I am and I am most certainly angry and livid based on my words above. I stand by my words and reiterate the need for Mr. Sell to step down.
Today, I was assured that the Governor remains committed to meet with the business leaders, community leaders, General Assembly members, Board members, political candidates, and citizens of Loudoun County. Loudoun County is a great place rich with Virginia history. Loudoun deserves public officials worthy of her stature and the Governor is committed to ensuring a better quality of life for all Loudoun citizens.
Additionally, Randy Minchew should be commended for using his spot on the Governor’s schedule to raise funds for all Loudoun County candidates. This is yet another example of a humble, considerate action from a true gentleman who will hopefully earn the honor of representing the 10th House District in the oldest, continuously democratically-elected legislature in the world.
About Phil Tran
You’ve nailed it. He’s got to go. Now. It was inexcusable for him to wait all day and then issue a half-assed apology. He should have removed the image last night, with a quick apology. Instead he did nothing all day until after the Governor, the Attorney General, and the state Party Chair had weighed in. WAAAAY too little, WAAAAY to late.
The email in question was in poor taste and has been condemned by many in the most strongest terms. However, I do suggest we leave the question of the Chairmans tenure up to the State Party Chair and his associates at RPV. Now is not the time for the LCRC to be embroiled in a distraction. One persons mistake in putting out a offensive email blast does not change the fact that we have an important mission on Nov 8, that being getting Republicans elected.
I make a point of avoiding reading and responding to local blogs because they are generally about little more than rabble-rousing, but this is the most idiotic thing I have ever read.
Mark doesn’t need to resign over a silly post that has been acknowledged to be a mistake and went up without his knowledge.
Let’s get real here, quit shooting our own and get back to ridding ourselves of a tax-raising, business-busting, job-killing Democratic majority on the Board of Supervisors.
I concur with the distinguished gentleman , Mr. Stone.
While it is horrendous, let RPV deal with Sell and the Communications Chair…and we need to isolate the candidates who had nothing whatsoever to do with this stupidity from it….and concentrate on November the 8th. November the 9th, however….another tab on a can of whoop-ass gets popped. I’ll guarantee that!
If Mark resigns, it’s over. If he doesn’t, it continues to be a story. Let’s put a quick end to this. Drive a stake through the heart of this story, so to speak. I want it over as much as anyone. I don’t want it to effect our efforts for one more day, not one more hour. The sooner our leadership deals with it, the sooner it’s over.
To claim that Mark wasn’t responsible is like a General blaming a private for the mistake heard and seen by everyone. Leadership does not behave that way.
Mr. Maistros, it is more than apparent why you never comment on blogs. May I suggest you stick to that policy? Referring to the ideas of others as “idiotic” rarely advances any debate. Nor does it encourage anyone to support your “silly” points of view.
I agree with the Misters Stone and Monk that our fine candidates need to be isolated from the LCRC. They had nothing to do with this fiasco. They are busy working hard for the people of Virginia and that won’t stop.
Mark Sell has elevated us to a National level…and I do not mean that in a good way, either. The Communications Chair will be blamed, but Sell has other issues that have been allowed to slide for months upon months.
Now, he resigns and takes his lumps like a man, or he let’s a whole organization fall into disarray because of his pride. Which will it be?
But at any rate, we make it absolutely clear that the candidates were blind-sided by this debacle as much as anyone else was.
They had zero input into the productions of an inept Communications person (This would have never happened with D’onofrio, I promise) and a less than stellar Chairman.
Now, there’s an election in 7 days. Shall we focus our energy on that. I have a full day of councils on the 9th.
This happend on his watch. This sick bastard needs to be investigated by the Secret Service and at best he should resign citing incompetence. The notion he did not know is bullshit.
So who is “The Chosen One” to succeed Sell? Someone with the proper connections to the crew opining here I’m sure!
No LI the bylaws have a provision in such an event: the first vice chair would become chairman. Always seeing shadows when there are none.
LL and company- I understand what you say, but the fact of the matter is that the individual who produced and sent the email has given Mark his resignation and apologized to the Committee. Im sure Mark accepted it with reluctance and grace, as they are friends, but the damage has been done and the resignation became inevitable.
That said, it is time for THIS committee to move on and get to the business at hand, electing our Republican slate. By today the media will have moved to some other political tragedy or injustice.
Mark should publically thank his patriot friend for his resignation, make a more firm statement of apology and denouncement and ask his team to move forward expeditiously.
There is no time or reason for a change in leadership at this juncture.
Unfortunately, a weak apology that has to be reworked and reapologized is what begat Macaca. The statement should have read like McDonnells and left ZERO room for interpretation by the leftists in the media.
I think this goes well beyond a “silly little joke” as described by one poster. Were this a republican official pictured in such a matter, the uproar would be tremendous. Mark needs to resign so the committee can move forward and distance itself from such inflammatory conduct.
You can’t just ignore the international condemnation and expect the Loudoun candidates to escape unscathed.
Glad to see this post back up. Why wasn’t it taken down during the heat of the storm?
wasn’t=was
Just read your UPDATE. I accept your explanation.
Will the Governor still be meeting folks after the luncheon as previously planned? I believe the rally was going to be at the Court House.
Blackout, you aren’t fooling anyone. You could be more of a jackass, but I can’t think how, you seem to cover all the bases.
International condemnation? Hahaha, as if the whole world cares what happens in Loudoun county on Halloween! Some countries have MUCH bigger problems. You democrats crack me up with your hyperbole!
There you are LvL, what happened to your post over at VV? Did you get in trouble? Just wondering since Phil put his post back up I thought maybe you would have also been released. Must be complicated right?
You are so funny! I’m a grown up, just who would I get in trouble with? Are you a grown up? It doesn’t sound like it.
It’s not complicated at all, nor is it any of your business. I had a change of mind. Isn’t that a woman’s prerogative? I sure hope. I do it frequently. Heck, I changed my shoes 4 times today, and changed my mind even more often.
Why must you follow me around and harass me all over the internet? Sheeze. Democrats are such bullies. Get a life of your very own, or at least an opinion of your very own. You don’t really need mine, do you?
Forgot to add, Blackout,
Phil and I don’t coordinate our thoughts, or our posts. I post on VirginiaVirtucon, he posts here. Thought you would have noticed the difference. Two different websites. We don’t even live in the same county or belong to the same republican committee. I’m surprised that you never picked up on the differences. Try to keep up. It’s not that difficult. Everyone else can, I’m sure you can too, just give it a try.
LL, do you or you not think Sell should resign?
No, I don’t think he should resign. It’s too late for anything like that. LCRC needs to remain focused the election that we have in 5 days. You might have heard about it. If not, be sure to read my letters to the editor in the Loudoun Times and Leesburg Today about the race in our mutual district.
Oh, I am sure I have already, LL. Probably commented a time or two as well, y’know. Need to set the record straight just a bit.
But, wow you really pulled a Mitt Romney there – what was it a 48 hours for a complete turn around?
LvL, do you or you not think Liz should resign?
There is a parallel here.
The line was clearly crossed!
Sell and anyone else involved in that treasonous act should resign or be fired immediately. Until then, Louden County businesses should be boycotted.
Why isn’t the Secret Service doing something?
Excellent commentary.
Now is not the time for resignations. We’re focused on the election on Tuesday. It’s very reassuring to know that the democrats aren’t, but instead are hyper focused on my opinions. You guys are too funny! Please, carry on.
Just pointing out your hypocracy there LvL. First you are all for Liz to resign and also for Sell to resign. Then you are told to drop the post on your request for Sell to resign. Now you say no one should resign until after the election. Just sayin people noticed. You are too funny. Please carry on.
I think I will call her Lovemittsville Lady from now on. Seems to fit.
Let us focus on getting our Republican candidates elected on Tuesday. Hate and disrespect is not funny. President Obama still holds a duly elected office. He has not delivered on the promises of his rhetoric that got him elected but ugly caricatures are bad form. He has not delivered because we the people bought into his words and overlooked the many things that mattered such as a history of accomplishments. He may be bright and capable of evaluating information, but lacks the experience to prioritize and motivate people to act for the best interests of the American people. Ugly hateful actions such as these only enables the race card and sympathy which might get him re-elected.
Methinks that some democrats are too transparent. It is obvious that they’d like any type of break that they can get this year….even if it requires a forced error, which Sell gave them.
As for the effects of that mulligan?
Not much. I’m canvassing voters everyday who’ve never heard of the Halloween foul-up…and it doesn’t seem to have dulled their support for republicans this year, either.
Sell will meet his destiny in March, 2012.
I don’t see a re-election in his future.