Charlottesville, Virginia, a political stronghold of Marxist-leaning Democrat elected officials, has a serious white-on-black racial discrimination problem.

Charlottesville, Virginia, home to a concentration of socially evolved progressives (e.g. pro “marriage rights” and abortion on-demand), has a serious white-on-black racial discrimination problem.

Charlottesville, Virginia, a politically enlightened community, which voted 80% Democrat in the most recent State and Federal elections, has a serious white-on-black racial discrimination problem.

Charlottesville, Virginia is a community apparently populated with liberal white racists. Or so implies University of Virginia Professor Walt Heinecke’s recent proposal to Charlottesville City Council: Charlottesville Commission on Human Rights, Diversity, and Race Relations

According to Heinecke’s report, Charlottesville, Virginia’s serious white-on-black racial discrimination problem is manifested in racially prejudicial hiring practices in private employment—practices that cannot effectively be addressed by existing State and Federal equal-employment laws.

According to Heinecke’s report, Charlottesville, Virginia’s serious white-on-black racial discrimination problem is manifested in racially prejudicial rental practices in private housing—practices that cannot effectively be addressed by existing State and Federal fair-housing laws.

And, most surprisingly (to some), community conversations suggest that Charlottesville, Virginia’s serious white-on-black racial discrimination problem is manifested in racially prejudicial employment practices inside Charlottesville City Hall—an institution run by Democrats and for Democrats essentially since its inception.

Professor Heinecke envisions the proposed Human Rights Commission as a government-appointed body endowed with investigative, prosecutorial, and judicial powers—a body empowered to impose fines and condemn with public consternation “convicted” transgressors deemed “guilty” by Commission appointees.

While Charlottesville City Hall was the only named violator of existing equal-opportunity statutes during a recent City Council discussion on racism, that avowedly racist institution apparently is exempt from prosecution under Heinecke’s plan:

To engage in anti-discrimination enforcement activities including the investigation and resolution of claims of discrimination in private employment and housing as defined by a new City Ordinance. The Commission would have the power to hold hearings, conduct investigations, issue reports, impose fines and remedies. We recommend that the Commission should be structured to be eligible for designation as a Fair Employment Practices Agency (FEPA) in a contract with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). That means it would receive and process complaints of discrimination in private employment from residents of Charlottesville. [emphasis added]

How could Charlottesville City Hall, arguably the City’s most egregious and prodigious racial offender—an organization that allegedly has institutionalized racist employment practices—be exempt from the Commission’s mandate?

According to Mayor Satyendra Huja, it will not. In January 23 interview on WINA’s The Schilling Show, Huja categorically stated that he would not support Heinecke’s proposal if the Commission exempted government from its purview:

SCHILLING: Why would we exempt the government [from Charlottesville Human Rights Commission oversight] when they are acknowledged as a problem by at least several councilors? Or do you disagree with that?

HUJA: I don’t think, uh, I was unaware that the government was exempt from any consternation…

SCHILLING: Oh, they were. Go read, uh, go read Mr. Heinecke’s proposal. It exempts the government; it is only…

HUJA: I see no reason…

SCHILLING: It is only for private landlords and private businesses

HUJA: I see no reason if you’re going to have commission, uh, the government should be exempt. Uh, no reason for it.

SCHILLING: So you wouldn’t support it under any circumstances if the government was exempt?

HUJA: Well, uh, shouldn’t be exempt.

SCHILLING: So you wouldn’t support it under any circumstances if the government was exempt? In this final proposal, if it came before you, you wouldn’t do that.

HUJA: I, I don’t understand why government is exempt; I don’t see any reason.

SCHILLING: Okay, so you wouldn’t support it.

HUJA: No.

Hear the Huja/Schilling exchange on the proposed exclusion of government from Human Rights Commission purview:

Given Mayor Huja’s additional stated concerns about the $200,000-$300,000 annual cost of the Commission on Human Rights and the lack of data to support its necessity, Heinecke’s current proposal may be DOA before Charlottesville City Council without significant modification.

Regardless of Council’s ultimate action on Heinecke’s remedial proposition, the question remains: Why would Professor Heinecke and his Community Dialogue on Race “working group” champion a proposal that exempts Charlottesville City Hall, purportedly the city’s most notorious racial malefactor?

(Satyendra Huja photo courtesy of Charlottesville Tomorrow.)

Schilling Show Exclusive: Click to play Part of the 99 as sung by Ms. Murray’s 3^rd grade class

Initially, after becoming embroiled in a national school-indoctrination scandal, KPA along with Albemarle County School Administration insisted that the children in Ms. Murray’s third-grade classroom at Woodbrook Elementary wrote all of the lyrics to the controversial song themselves.

Phrases like, “Then the bubble burst” and “Though I lost my yacht and plane” raised suspicions that such lines likely were beyond the intellectual purview of contemporary eight-year-olds enrolled in a government school.

Still, in a January 3 Daily Progress story on the controversy, the group’s Executive Director, Pat Rogers said that KPA’s “sole mission has been and continues to be to inspire and empower children to work together to become creators of their own music.” [emphasis added]

Rogers also denied any political influence of children by KPA facilitators:

“Kid Pan Alley does not promote nor condone any personal or political agenda.”

In the same article, Albemarle County Schools’ spokesman Phil Giaramita stood by the apolitical claims of KPA:

“There’s no question in my mind that [Kid Pan Alley is] firmly committed to teaching kids, and they are not interested in a political agenda.”

The paper’s story continues with supportive remarks from Albemarle County School Board chair, Steve Koleszar, who confirmed his belief that the lyrics in dispute were, in fact, the sole composition of Woodbrook third graders:

“Sometimes, when kids are writing things, they say things that are controversial. I don’t think we need to be censoring what the kids are writing.”

And, in a January 3 Schilling Show debate with J. Christian Adams, Koleszar doubled down on his authorship claims:

“You have underestimate the breadth and knowledge of experience that children have these days when they have cable TV, uh, when they listen to the news, they are up on current events, you underestimate what our kids can do.” [sic]

Today’s KPA press release tells a different story.

In the dispatch, KPA’s Founder and Artistic Director, Paul Reisler, “takes full responsibility for the songwriting process that resulted in the song titled ‘Part of the 99.’”

The release confirms Reisler’s political and lyrical contributions to the song:

“Reisler acknowledges that he should have avoided the introduction of these phrases into the songwriting process.” [emphasis added]

And, KPA’s claim to be a politically unbiased organization has been debunked by newsbusters.org, who detail the left leaning politics of several “Alley” board members and leaders.

Aside from Koleszar, the majority of the board has been strangely silent on the Kid Pan Alley controversy, with the exception of newly elected Jason Buyaki, who during the Schilling Show debate called in to express his concern over the situation.

It remains to be seen when or if Albemarle County Schools’ administration will issue a statement acknowledging the falsehoods promulgated in previous communications regarding Kid Pan Alley vis a vis the charges of student indoctrination and songwriting process manipulation.

Read full transcription of lyrics from Kid Pan Alley’s “Part of the 99”

Some people have it all,
but they still don’t think that they have enough
They want more money
A faster ride
They’re not content
Never satisfied
Yes-  they are the 1 percent

I used to be one of the 1 percent
I worked all the time
Never saw my family
Couldn’t make life rhyme
Then the bubble burst
It really, really hurt
I lost my money
I Lost my pride
I Lost my home
Now I’m part of the 99

Some people have it all,
but they still don’t think that they have enough
They want more money
A faster ride
They’re not content
Never satisfied
Yes-  they are the 1 percentI used to be sad now I’m satisfied
Cause I really have enough
Though I lost my yacht and plane
Didn’t need that extra stuff
Could have been much worse
You don’t need to be first
I’ve got my friends
Here by my side
I don’t need it all
I’m happy to be part of the 99.

Some people have it all,
but they still don’t think that they have enough
They want more money
A faster ride
They’re not content
Never satisfied
Yes-  they are the 1 percent
They’re the 1 percent
They’re the 1 percent

Also participating in the discussion was Albemarle County School Board member Jason Buyaki who called in to take issue with the song’s lyrics, which he says promote “a sense of mediocrity,”  violate “Albemarle County [Schools] core mission statement,” and do not further “excellence in our schools….”

Listen to the explosive interview (original air date January 3, 2012):

www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcY_skp8Bjg

Lyrics to Part of the 99:

Some people have it all,
but they don’t think that they have enough
They want more money
A faster ride
They’re not content
Never satisfied

Yes-  they are the 1 percent
I used to be one of the 1 percent
I worked all the time
Never saw my family
Couldn’t make life rhyme
Then the bubble burst
It really, really hurt
I lost my money
Lost my pride
Lost my home
Now I’m part of the 99
I used to be sad now I’m satisfied
Cause I really have enough
Though I lost my yacht and plane
Didn’t need that extra stuff
Could have been much worse
You don’t need to be first
Cause I’ve got my friends
Here by my side
Don’t need it all
I’m happy to be part of the 99.

The 2011 Pat Napoleon Community Service Award was presented to co-recipients at City Hall at last night’s City Council meeting.

Honorees Rob Schilling (host of 1070-AM WINA’s “The Schilling Show”) and Carole Thorpe (chairwoman of the Jefferson Area Tea Party) were commended for their accurate yet unheeded warnings to City Council against their allowance of the Occupy Charlottesville encampment. With media present, Mrs. Napoleon awarded the pair with certificates of merit and hardbound printings of the U.S. Constitution.

Occupy activists were evicted from Lee Park by city police on November 30 following over 40 days of encampment. The action resulted in 18 arrests and the unnecessary subjection of Charlottesville’s Finest to despicable shouts of obscenities that police officers calmly and professionally endured in the line of duty.

From the outset of the occupation to its end, Mr. Schilling and Mrs. Thorpe exposed multiple abuses of power and unequal protection under the law by City Council and its agents which included unprecedented waivers of numerous city codes, the issuance of a verbal directive by City Manager Maurice Jones to restrain police from enforcing park curfew prior to the grant of a legal permit, and an effort by Mayor Dave Norris to unfairly burden city taxpayers with the cost of over 40 days of electrical expense incurred in Lee Park.

Both recipients expressed gratitude for their prestigious recognition.

Mr. Schilling stated, “It is my great honor to receive this award from one of Charlottesville’s finest citizens, Pat Napoleon. Pat has been fearless in confronting corrupt government officials with difficult issues that would not otherwise have been discussed. Carole Thorpe, my co-recipient, although not a city resident, has done more to benefit Charlottesville citizens in the past few months than has the present City Council during their combined elected tenures.”

“I am humbled to receive this honor from Pat Napoleon, a great lady and patriot whose opinion matters more to me than the whole of Charlottesville city government”, Mrs. Thorpe said. “The sharing of this award does not diminish the honor by half, but its value is doubled when the co-recipient is the inestimable Rob Schilling. This award validates my efforts through the Jefferson Area Tea Party to serve our community with honesty, integrity, fairness, and respect for the law – objectives that I wish were practiced by Charlottesville City Council.”

A celebratory dinner with entertainment at another location followed the presentation.

ROB SCHILLING
With an all-Democrat city council that’s likely to stay that way, and a city populace that typically votes 80 percent Democratic, conservative radio show host and former City Councilor Rob Schilling may be in the minority, but his is a loud and persistent voice of opposition to the leaders of what he calls “The People’s Republic of Charlottesville.” The most recent target of his wrath: Occupy Charlottesville, and the city officials who approved the tent city that sprung up in mid-October and remained until November 30. Calling the Occupiers a “lawless group” and criticizing the condition of Lee Park after the group vacated, Schilling has also pointed out that the Tea Party hasn’t been met with the same level of favors by the city.

The Schilling Show thanks The Hook for this recognition, and congratulates POTY winner, Albemarle County Supervisor Ken Boyd, as well as the other runners up.

Problematic for potential endorsees is that the Progress defers—until the last minute possible—publication of their affirmations, rendering them nearly useless for political purposes.

As a public service, and in order to relieve political endorsement-anticipation anxiety syndrome (PEAS), The Schilling Show promulgates here, advance educated guesses on whom the vaunted periodical will praise, and why, in various local races:

Prognosticated Daily Progress
SAMPLE BALLOT
(incumbents italicized)

 

VA State Senate 25: Creigh Deeds (D) vs. TJ Aldous (R)

Projected endorsee: Creigh Deeds. The Daily Progress will not want to rock the boat of this powerful, long-time legislator who will be hard to beat in his left-leaning district.

VA State Senate 17: Edd Houck (D) vs. Bryce Reeves (R)

Projected endorsee: Bryce Reeves. He has a serious chance of unseating an unimpressive incumbent who has worn out his General Assembly welcome. As a bonus, Reeves carries no previous political baggage into the race.

Virginia House of Delegates 59: Connie Brennan (D) vs. Matt Fariss (R) vs. Lucinda Wall (I)

Projected endorsee: Connie Brennan. Since the other two candidates have potentially embarrassing previous legal entanglements, the paper’s choice is easy. This seat gives the Progress a chance to safely support a liberal Democrat in order to provide the appearance of a balanced endorsement slate.

Virginia House of Delegates 57: David Toscano (D) vs. Robert Brandon Smith, III (I)

Projected endorsee: David Toscano. In addition to the fact that Smith has no chance to win (and the paper is reticent to support underdogs), the Daily Progress editorial board will laud Toscano as a “moderate” who serves his constituents well.

Charlottesville Clerk of Circuit Court: Llezelle Dugger (D) vs. Pam Melampy (I)

Projected endorsee: Llezelle Dugger. Whenever feasible, the Daily Progress will support establishment Democrats in Charlottesville elections in order to maintain a good relationship with the Party. This seat is no exception.

Charlottesville City Council (three seats open, elected at large): Scott Bandy (I), Brandon Collins (I), Bob Fenwick (I), Kathy Galvin (D), Satyendra Huja (D), Dede Smith (D), Andrew Williams (I)

Projected endorsees: Kathy Galvin, Satyendra Huja, and Andrew Williams. Galvin and Huja will secure the water plan favored by the Daily Progress and their “news” partner, Charlottesville Tomorrow. Andrew Williams has received their endorsement previously, and the fact that there are no black Democrats on the ballot will assure him another nod. Besides, Williams is clean, well spoken, articulate, etc.

Charlottesville School Board (four seats open, elected at large, non-partisan): Colette Blount, Ivana Kadija, Steven Latimer, Amy Laufer, Guian McKee, Jennifer McKeever, Willa Neale

Projected endorsees: Willa Neale, Amy Laufer, Guian McKee, and Colette Blount. There will be no fault found with elected incumbent Blount (who will receive secret bonus points for helping to maintain racial balance on the board) or appointed incumbent McKee. Willa Neale and Amy Laufer are typical of the safe, intellectual, mainstream progressive candidates that give comfort to the paper’s editorial board (which strongly opposed Charlottesville’s transition to an elected School Board in 2005).

Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Rivanna District: Ken Boyd (R) vs. Cynthia Neff (D)

Projected endorsee: Ken Boyd. Although the Daily Progress won’t mention it, they know that Neff is a loose cannon who likely would undermine decorum at normally staid supervisor meetings—and they fear her far-left political agenda. Boyd will hold the line on water and the Western Bypass, positions favored by the paper.

Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Scottsville District: Jim Norwood (R) vs. Christopher Dumler (D)

Projected endorsee: Jim Norwood. The paper will profess to like Dumler and will encourage him to continue pursuing political aspirations (à la Paul Beyer), but ultimately, Norwood is an insurance policy against a possible Boyd loss; maintaining a “balanced” Board of Supervisors is a primary objective of the Daily Progress.

The speech was delivered on Friday, October 21 at the Jefferson Area Tea Party’s “Free Speech Rights for EVERYBODY” Rally and Benefit, held in Charlottesville’s McGuffey Park.

Watch Rob Schilling’s speech in full (video courtesy of Rick Sincere):

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmRCYJOSJL8

Galvin for Council

For Immediate Release

August 17th, 2011

Today former Republican Charlottesville City Councilor, Tea Party activist, and right-wing radio host Rob Schilling posted a satirical “endorsement” of Kathy Galvin on his show’s website.  [To see the website, click here: http://www.schillingshow.com/2011/08/17/political-endorsement-schilling-show-supports-kathy-galvin-in-charlottesville-democrat-firehouse-primary/] Kathy Galvin and her campaign want to make it clear that they understand this “endorsement” to be tongue-in-cheek satire squarely within the American political tradition, and know that no Charlottesville voter would misunderstand this as an actual, genuine endorsement of the sort Ms. Galvin has humbly received from Kristin Szakos, Kay Slaughter, Leah Puryear, Charles Barbour, Bitsy Waters ,Virginia Daugherty, Meredith Richards, Jason Halbert, Hosea Mitchell, Ned Michie, Blake Caravati, Julian Taliferro, Dave Chapman, Alvin Edwards, Peggy Van Yahres, Jonathan Blank, and Sherry Kraft.

However, Ms. Galvin and her volunteers and supporters do take Mr. Schilling’s satire as an unintended compliment.  When Charlottesville’s most prominent right-wing talk show host, most recent GOP City Councilor, and biggest Tea Party rabble rouser is motivated to work long and hard on a 367 word attempt to influence the Democratic Primary, you know that the candidate who is being attacked is doing something right.

Ms. Galvin’s remarks in response to Mr. Schilling:

“I do indeed take Mr. Schilling’s mock endorsement as a compliment; after all, he’s made it clear that I am the candidate in the race whom he most fears! Now that’s a novelty for someone who is only 5’2”.”

Ms. Galvin continued,

“Although Mr. Schilling was writing political satire, and we had a good chuckle about it while we were working on the campaign today, I do regard it as something of a challenge to live up to the comparison with two former Democratic Mayors, David Brown and Maurice Cox (who is also an architecture professor).  I’m a proud Democrat running in the Democratic primary in a city that voted overwhelmingly for Barack Obama, Tom Perriello, Creigh Deeds, and David Toscano; why wouldn’t I be proud to be the subject of an attack by that same city’s most vocal right-wing gadfly?”

–

Authorized by Galvin for Council

VOTE GALVIN – Greener • Smarter • Stronger

… by design

Kathy Galvin is a perfect reinstatement of the retiring David Brown whose pedantic bromides from the council dais will be sorely missed by the public and by his colleagues, alike. Galvin’s proven ability to bring tedium will ensure council meetings span ample time, and thus, do not end abruptly.  Like Brown, Kathy has demonstrated willingness to receive guidance and direction from experienced party elders, well versed in the manipulation of Charlottesville’s political, economic, and social currents.

Kathy Galvin’s savvy prioritization of time and astute selectivity in discussion venue follow a long-standing tradition of her Democrat council predecessors: elected Charlottesville Democrats can ill afford to engage or even respond to those embracing competing political ideologies. Such individuals represent an insignificant, fractional minority of the city’s general population and are a distraction to the public’s business.  Kathy knows that in a true democracy, time is more efficiently spent on issues of importance to the politically like-minded citizen-majority.

Kathy Galvin’s zeal for direct and overt confrontation of political opponents will be advantageous for council service. Often notoriously contentious, Charlottesville’s City Council meetings routinely require citizen reprimand for those who cross the civility line with unwelcome or unnecessarily challenging remarks, inappropriate laughter, and/or public whispering.

Kathy Galvin will fit well in a five-member council. Her recent proposal to reduce the number of Charlottesville School Board members from seven to five, demonstrates Kathy’s quest to serve in a more powerful, consolidated governing body. Like former Mayor Maurice Cox, Kathy knows that good governance thrives in an environment wherein both discussion and representation are limited to a reasonable, digestible quantity.

Kathy Galvin’s intellectual superiority renders her smarter than any one of her competition. Kathy Galvin’s blunt force of personality renders her stronger than any one of her competition. Kathy Galvin’s willingness to sacrifice human interests for those of plants and animals renders her greener than any one of her competition. And most importantly, Kathy Galvin’s open embrace of top-down, central-planning governance shows that by design she will perpetuate Charlottesville’s single-party status quo. There is no reason to consider any other candidate in the August 20 Charlottesville Democratic Firehouse Primary. Kathy Galvin possesses in abundance, every conceivable trait of the archetypical Charlottesville City Councilor.

Dear Putnam Family,

It has taken me nearly two years to write this letter as I have spent the time contemplating and coming to grips with the fact that George passed away. As today is George’s birthday (Bastille Day as he always referenced), I thought it time to complete my thoughts and forward them to you.

Growing up in Los Angeles, I knew peripherally of George when I was a child; he was on the television news in my home during the 1960s.

In the mid 1970s I began to listen to talk radio, and by the latter part of the decade, I had “discovered” Talk Back with George Putnam on KIEV.

George was “larger than life” to me. I loved his booming voice, his laugh, his courage in calling out injustice in local government and taking on politicians by name (Zev Yaroslavsky comes to mind).

Upon graduating from high school in 1979, “listening to George” became a part of my daily routine. A number of times during the next few years, my mother, knowing my admiration for George, would take me to the Arco Towers to watch Talk Back “live.” What a thrill for me!

I occasionally would call into the program to speak with George, and one day I won a gift certificate to the Smokehouse Restaurant—one of George’s long-time sponsors. On the evening we utilized our certificate, I was amazed to see George dining with friends on the other side of the restaurant. He really did eat at the Smokehouse, just like he said every day on his program. I spent the evening looking over my shoulder just hoping to catch George’s eye.

During my college years, I would schedule classes around lunchtime so that I could listen to Talk Back. Being in a rock band, my friends were bemused by my radio habits. When traveling to midday rock-and-roll “gigs”, I would have George blaring from my car radio.

In 1981, I took a job managing a men’s “big and tall” clothing store in Sierra Madre. As the store’s sole employee, I often was there by myself, and thus took the liberty to play to Talk Back over the store’s radio system during my working hours. As you can imagine, George’s opinions and guests elicited interesting responses from the store’s customers.

By the mid 1980s, I had graduated from Cal Poly Pomona, and I realized that life was about to hit full force. It was time to get a “real” job.

In great part due to my tremendous love of Talk Back, I decided to join the ranks of the self-employed and I started my own business. I did not want to miss even an hour of George’s daily program, and I figured that if I was working for myself, I could have the radio on whenever I pleased. Over the subsequent years while running my business, I turned-down several outside job offers solely because they would have interrupted my noon-to-2:00 radio-listening schedule.

I “met” so many interesting people on George’s program, and nearly 30 years later, I still distinctly remember:

• Caller, “Anthony,” who began his calls: “Hey old class of ’14,’ this is Anthony, and I’ve got two subjects…” To which, George always replied, “The first, please…”
• Victor Christian, the 90+ year-old car salesman. After George talked with Victor, he would often reference his own desire to do a program-topic called “life begins at 90.” I looked forward to hearing that show, but I’m not sure George ever got to it.
• Rosendo Rodiguez and his seeing-eye dog, Nardo. I don’t remember how George “found” Rosendo, but I was fascinated by Rosendo and Nardo’s walk across America, and George’s chronicling of that amazing event.
• Caller, “Harold,” was dubbed the “Poet Laureate” of Talk Back. A frequent caller, Harold usually was antagonistic toward George, and sometimes they would quarrel intensely over issues. As years went by, George, in his own unique way learned how to disarm Harold. When the call would come in, George let Harold have his  “say,” and then George would say, “can you give us some poetry, please?” Harold was flattered by the opportunity, and the “tone” of his calls became much softer in nature as he and George were now “friends.”
• Then there was, “Doc,” the documentary person. His liberal rantings annoyed George, but George always let him “talk back.”
• And, “Art, from Outer Space, “ who frequently began his calls by saying, “George, dig….”
• The man who “took out the bodies,” Hal “ILLEGAL” Ezell,  Howard Jarvis and Paul Gann, Doris Day, Lucille Ball, Bob Barker and so many more will live on forever in my memory.

And who could forget the advertisers? No one read an ad like George did. I can still hear George pitching for Altadena Dairy, Salon Pas, Steve Dewey and so many more.

My wife and I moved from California to Virginia in 1998, and one of the most difficult issues for me was leaving George behind. I could barely stand the thought of life without Talk Back, and in that way, the move proved as heart wrenching as I’d feared.

The multi-media Internet as we know it today was still in its infancy then. But, I did find a web site that was posting some of George’s programs online. However, we were living in the country and the dial-up connection was spotty at best. I was not able to hear much.

Eventually, I had to move on with my new life in Virginia. I never forgot about George, though, as over the interim I’d often check the KRLA web site just to make sure George was still there.

As technology caught up with my desire to hear George again, I would tune in through the Internet occasionally, and I delighted in hearing Talk Back once more.

I listened to George’s 93^rd birthday special and then learned that he’d been ill and away from the program. In spite of his struggles, he remained optimistic and sounded characteristically upbeat during the program that day.

A year or so later, I learned from Sandy Frazier that George had passed. I cannot describe the deep sadness that I felt. George had always been there for me, and even though I’d not heard him regularly in years, I felt the void.

It so happens that life for me has taken an unexpected turn, and I now host a talk radio program of my own here in central Virginia. The Schilling Show has been on the air since 2008, and coincidentally, my air time is from noon to 2:00 PM.

George and his Talk Back program have influenced me and my show in so many ways. I reference him often on the air, and earlier this year, on Ronald Reagan’s birth date, I played portions George’s moving tribute to the Gipper on The Schilling Show, not only for the audience to hear how George eulogized his dear friend, but for them to get to know the man who played such a formative role in my life.

The Putnam family is in my prayers as we approach the 2^nd year anniversary of George’s passing. I’m grateful to have met him on a few occasions and for the tremendous education he gave me through his life’s work.

Watch the late George Putnam sing a couple of his favorite compositions, W.C. Handy’s The St. Louis Blues and The Empty Bed Blues, on the Dr. Gene Scott television show:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=mc-jZ0bUXig

Herein lies a musical tribute (audio posted below) to four timid office-seekers, advised by Party bosses not to appear on The Schilling Show—with apologies to Dion DiMucci…

Listen to The Schilling Show Singers performing McIntosh, Galvin and Paul:

McIntosh, Galvin and Paul

Anybody here seen my old friend Peter McIntosh?
Can you tell me where he’s gone?
He sued a lot of people
In the Charlottesville court house
But invite him on the Schilling Show and he’s gone

Has anybody here seen my old friend Kathy Galvin?
Can you tell me where she’s gone?
She spent a lot of money
On the Charlottesville School Board
But invite her on the Schilling Show and she’s gone

Anybody here seen my old friend Paul Beyer?
Can you tell me where he’s gone?
He built a lot of houses
In that old Charlottesville
But invite him on the Schilling Show and he’s gone

Did you love anything they stood for?
Didn’t they try to buy some votes from you and me?
But they’re not free
Some day soon, maybe on the Schilling Show…

Anybody here seen my old friend Huja?
We he ever take my call?
He’s tricked a lot of people in old Charlottesville
With McIntosh, Galvin and Paul

Democrat Paul Beyer, 29, announced his candidacy on June 8 with a well-orchestrated kickoff on Charlottesville’s downtown mall. Prior to the public briefing (and unbeknownst to the general public), however, Beyer had sought political guidance from Schilling Show host, Rob Schilling, on multiple occasions.

On January 3, Beyer reached out to Schilling via email, re-establishing a relationship Beyer had initiated during Schilling’s City Council term (2002-2006).

From: “Paul Beyer” <beyer@beyerhomes.com>
Date: January 3, 2011 05:12:31 PM EST
Subject: meeting

Hey Rob, we had lunch a few years back and talked about City Hall, politics, and real estate development. My brother, Scott, is back in town and listens to your show every day on the construction crews. Richard Lloyd is an old family friend of ours and of course you have come up many times in those conversations. We both thought we’d be seeing you at one of Richards get-togethers but we always seem to miss you. I was wondering whether you were free for lunch or breakfast some day.

Hope you’ve had a great New Years. Best,

Paul BeyerR.L. Beyer Custom Homebuilders
www.beyerhomes.com
www.ashcroftviews.com
www.huntleyincharlottesville.com
c (434) 981-7045

Beyer and Schilling conducted the clandestine political powwow at iHop on January 11. Over a nearly 2-hour breakfast the aspiring Democrat candidate shared his desire to serve on Charlottesville City Council and requested advice in the areas of message shaping, media relations, issue formation, and campaign strategies among many related topics. Beyer took copious notes, profusely thanking Schilling upon the conclusion of their meeting.

On January 18, Beyer again asked for counsel, this time texting Schilling directly from City Council chambers regarding astronomical salaries paid by City Hall Democrats to other Democrats inside City Hall—an issue the two had discussed previously:

On Jan 18, 2011, at 08:37 PM, Paul Beyer wrote:

Hey Rob, sitting in a city council hearing right now. Reminded me that I’ve never found your report on salaries for city employees. Could you send it my way? Hope you’re having a good one, Paul Beyer

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The relationship continued as Schilling inquired as to Beyer’s candidacy status on February 17:

From: Rob Schilling
Date: February 17, 2011 07:45:17 AM EST
To: Paul Beyer <beyer@beyerhomes.com>
Subject: City Council Run

Hi Paul,

I appreciate our recent breakfast and your sharing your plans with me. I do not wish to break your confidence, so I wanted to see if it would be okay for me to reference your name in a general discussion of potential City Council candidates.

I will respect your wishes either way.

Beyer responded within hours, seeking continued anonymity and soliciting additional campaign strategy and issue consultation:

From: “Paul Beyer” <beyer@beyerhomes.com>
Date: February 17, 2011 03:46:08 PM EST
To: “Rob Schilling”
Subject: RE: City Council Run

Still working on it, Rob. Hope to have something official in the next couple weeks, but not ready to have that possibility discussed yet. Meeting with Jim Nix tomorrow. I’ll send you more information as I make a decision.

In the meantime, I’d be curious… we had a great time talking and I think we had some shared concerns about the lack of “business-sense” in the City. What’s your take on a pro-business platform in Charlottesville? How would you sell fiscal responsibility and economic vitality to a voter?

Let’s get together again soon.

But Schilling’s status as trusted, confidant-advisor instantly dissipated to that of political pariah as Beyer’s announcement date drew near. Beginning on June 3, and over the next several days, the fair-weather friend ignored a series of email invitations to appear on The Schilling Show, finally responding noncommittally on June 7:

From: “Paul Beyer” <beyer@beyerhomes.com>
Date: June 7, 2011 01:20:29 PM EDT
To: “Schilling Show”
Subject: RE: Beyer – Campaign Announcement – June 8

Hi Rob, this is a pretty hectic week for me and I apologize for the slow response. I look forward to talking with you and being on your show, but at some future date. Hope all is well, best,

Paul Beyer

Paul BeyerR.L. Beyer Custom Homebuilders
www.beyerhomes.com
www.ashcroftviews.com
www.huntleyincharlottesville.com
c (434) 981-7045

In deference to his immediate scheduling issues, Schilling invited Beyer to set a date some time in the “next few weeks.”

After three days of silence and another email prompt, Beyer responded negatively:

From: “Paul Beyer” <beyer@beyerhomes.com>
Date: June 10, 2011 02:12:11 PM EDT
To: “Rob Schilling”
Subject: RE: Beyer – Campaign Announcement – June 8

Hi Rob, thank you for the invitation to be on the show. At this time, I will decline the invitation but will be in touch when I think it would be appropriate for a conversation. Best regards, Paul

Beyer’s poltroon declination is shortsighted but not particularly surprising. His closest political advisors, Jim Nix and Tom Vandever, gave similar advice to Democrat Mike Baird, in the deputy’s failed attempt to win the Democrat nomination for Sheriff in 2009.

In a city that hates developers, loathes development and is hostile to business, Beyer faces an uphill battle under the best of circumstances. But, by bedding himself with the establishment wing of the Charlottesville Democrat Machine (i.e. Caravati, Vandever, Nix, Brown, Conover, Daugherty)—Beyer has committed political hari-kari. This cabal will position him as a reasonable, conservative anti-Norris, but political winds are shifting, and today’s Charlottesville voter prefers overt rather than covert socialism.

The political neophyte’s short-term memory for friends does not bode well for his political future or his personal character. Beyer’s refusal to appear on the region’s premier political forum shows a profound lack; it exposes the candidate as “unfit for service” to the citizens of Charlottesville.

[Photo courtesy of Charlottesville Tomorrow]