Posted on 06/06/2003 10:17:27 PM PDT by A.J.Armitage
For a while now I've been on the mailing list of a group called Republican Young Professionals. I never bothered to block it since it gets delivered to my junk mail folder and deleted. This, however, is worthy of reposting.
Well, the last couple of days have been interesting to say the least. Now that Cathy Santos, my fiancé and RYP Co-Founder has come forward to publicly air her story about her experience in the Treasurer's Office last year, I feel like we have a duty to you - our members - to answer some questions that I'm sure you have, and to address at least some of your concerns. And I first want to thank all of the people who have called or e-mailed to support Cathy. It helps more than you know.
This is the longest e-mail I have ever written. But for people who are wondering what's really going on here - and I assume that's all of you - I think you'll find it worth reading. Cathy did one story for the Chicago Tribune to get her story out, but we probably haven't been responding to some of the things being said, in the fashion that a political consultant would probably recommend. But frankly, it's because we know the truth is going to set everyone free. Cathy didn't come forward in an effort to be a media hound - she's done it to protect herself and RYP.
Given that there is an ongoing Federal investigation, I'm obviously not going to get into the legal issues, and I probably shouldn't be saying anything. And Cathy and I have been around Illinois politics long enough to know how it works, so we were prepared for the worst. We've developed thick skins, and have seen some of this stuff before. But until you actually see someone you love being slandered and bullied publicly, you're never fully prepared. People can say whatever they want about me, but I'm obviously going to defend Cathy's good name, because she's a huge hero here. And the best part is, she's done all the right things from start to finish and has nothing to hide.
We've always tried to stay very positive with RYP, because that's obviously the best way to grow a political organization, and we fully understand that the people of Illinois are sick of party infighting. When we say that we're trying to help President Bush change the tone of politics, we mean it.
But sometimes you have to take a stand. Cathy and I have always followed politics closely, but I didn't get really involved on an active level until 1998. Cathy on the other hand has been an incredibly successful businesswoman and political activist her entire career. Trust me - she doesn't need a state job. And let me say one thing here in no uncertain terms - Cathy Santos is NOT a disgruntled employee. My one word response to press phone calls yesterday about that comment was apparently not used by any press outlet yet - it was simply "ridiculous".
Most people already know that RYP is so successful in large part because of Cathy Santos.
Cathy and I have been together and worked closely with the Party during 2 Illinois election cycles. We've gone-along-to-get-along and put aside some of our concerns in the past because we've tried to follow the 11th Commandment. But guess what folks - it's not working. We've had two horrible back-to-back cycles statewide in Illinois. The problem isn't just George Ryan, although he's always blamed. A first year business student would recognize that's it's a cultural problem with the organization. Everyone knows deep down that the Party needs complete reform from top to bottom, but inertia for the old way of doing business is very strong.
After tons of reflection and repeated failed efforts to do this internally over many months. Cathy and I finally decided we had no choice but to finally break the log-jam. But even then, the decision was only made after some people in our State Party made the decision to slander, badmouth and attempt to undermine us and our organization. The nasty things you are seeing in the press now, are nothing compared to what was being said behind the scenes. We finally had to say, enough is enough. Bullies have to be stood up to.
No one else in our Party was ever going to take on the old establishment like this - or actually, no one was in a better position to do it. Almost all of the true, meaningful changes which have occurred in our Party recently have been indirectly driven by Federal prosecutors. While that's arguable better than nothing, it's an embarrassing situation which no corporation would allow to continue. The way President Bush immediately addressed a similar confidence crisis last year in the financial markets stemming from accounting scandals at several companies, should provide a good example for Illinois Republicans. Major problems should be dealt with fair, honestly and openly. Personal attacks and slander to try and shut people up, is not Bush's way. It's also not something shareholders of a corporation would ever tolerate - for long, if they want to stay in business.
I've never been more proud of Cathy. Supporting her is easy, but she is the one who has really stuck her own neck out for the good of the Party. It takes a lot of courage to stand up and do the right thing in the political environment of Illinois. I honestly don't think there is anyone else in this State who has the spine to do what she is doing. And quite frankly, that's why our Party has lost the good government mantel in Illinois. Historically, reformers and good government people have been shut down temporarily and excluded from the circle, but when the trainwreck finally does happen (and it always seems to), it's much bigger than it needed to be.
And make no mistake, Cathy and I aren't naive enough to think that what we are doing doesn't hurt us tremendously from a personal political point of view. The enemies we'll make will always haunt us in Illinois. But we honestly don't care. We never planned to do politics forever anyway. But we've brought so many great people into the Party through RYP, and have so much time and money invested, we'll take the fall to clear the way. We'll simply just do something else for a living, but it will be enough to know that people will thank Cathy Santos for forcing the Party reforms that will finally empower and energize the rank-and-file of our Party. When Bush wins Illinois next year - thank Cathy Santos.
Again, without getting into the legal issues, I think a simple explanation of the timeline will clarify a lot of things about why we are doing what we are. Everything I will say here is obviously already out there to anyone who inquires.
Cathy was asked by the Treasurer to come in and help the office with one of its programs. Cathy didn't seek the job, but her organizational skills are well known. Cathy was very excited about the opportunity to help the Treasurer, and she was able to do some great work on behalf of the State during the short time she worked there during the first half of 2002. I can personally testify that she worked at least twice as many hours to get the program in shape, as she was contracted to do. That's just the way Cathy is. Everything she does has to be perfect. I'm one of her works in progress.
Cathy raised concerns about what she witnessed at the Office during the time she was there. But her concerns came up again last November after the election when it was announced that Judy Baar would be replacing Gary McDougal as State Party Chairman. The timeframe was very short between announcement and the actual State Central Committee meeting where the formal change of control would take place. And it was being stated in the press that the change was a done-deal.
We fully recognized that rocking the boat in that environment would not be perceived well by some. But after much soul searching, we decided that we had a duty to the Party to internally voice our concerns to the decision makers - the 19 State Central Committeeman who would be casting the votes.. Our motivation was truly to avoid a future problem, based on what Cathy had witnessed first hand. But again, this wasn't such a hard decision for me, as it would be Cathy who would be the one truly putting herself on the line.
But I used to be the State Party's pro-bono General Counsel, and many of the Central Committeeman still serve from my old days, and I have a lot of respect for them. There are truly some great people serving on the State Central Committee. Cathy and I reached out to the ones we knew personally. There was a short time frame before the meeting, but we must have spent the better part of a week, just on the phone. The tone of our calls wasn't to say, "don't promote Judy," rather it was just to say essentially, "we think there are some concerns here, here is what they are, and we think they deserve at least some review and consideration." I guess I put my corporate lawyer hat back on for a bit - and preached let's do some due diligence - just like any corporation would before such a big decision.
I also called and talked to Judy Baar twice myself in the days leading up to the meeting. I wanted to let her know why we were rocking the boat, and I assumed she had already heard that Cathy and I were making phone calls to State Central Committeemen.
My phone calls with Judy were very cordial. Both Cathy and I always considered Judy a good friend and thought the energy she brings to our Party was a huge, huge asset. But I essentially told her that while I had no reason to believe that she wasn't anything other than a great person, that maybe it might be possible that some people in her office hadn't served her well.
She asked Cathy to put her concerns in writing, which Cathy did in the form of a testimonial affidavit. A couple of the State Central Committeeman also asked Cathy to put her concerns in writing after more than one phone call in most cases. By now, the big meeting was just a couple of days away, so we relied on fax and e-mail to send the affidavit to the Central Committee. We also sent it to some of our friends who we thought might be allies, and who might be willing to also stick-their necks out for the good of the Party. For a while there, Cath and I really felt like we were all alone on a limb. But if one positive thing came out of that experience, it was that Cath and I really found out who are friends were. Adversity really does bring character to the top. And I think Cathy and I gained new found respect with some great people in our Party who might have formerly assumed we led just a young person's group that only had a lot of cocktail parties.
Keep in mind, the main thing driving Cathy and I was that we read the papers, and knew that Lee Daniels was forced to step down as State Party Chairman just a few months before, after disclosure of a federal investigation involving allegations of misuse of state resources for political work. Also, the upcoming Scott Fawell trial - which would be conducted just a few blocks away from the Thompson Center - was all over the press which included charges relating to the misuse of state resources for political work. Just a couple of months ago of course, the jury there came back guilty on all counts (the verdict came down on the same day the Iraq War started, so there wasn't as much press as there might otherwise have been). And if that wasn't enough, we also knew that the young man who ran the Bush campaign in Illinois in 2000, had recently pleaded guilty as part of the Fawell prosecution, to mail fraud stemming from actions on George Ryan's campaign in 1998.
It seems pretty clear to us that Patrick Fitzgerald takes the taxpayer's interest pretty seriously - and that's what this political work on state time is all about. People can say all they want how "everyone does it," but that fact is, not everyone does it, and the people who have are being convicted with increasing frequency. As Republicans, it's also not helpful to complain about how our side has so far been prosecuted more. We have to deal with reality. I think when Fitzgerald sees a crook, he sees a crook, not a Party label. That might be something for our Party to think about when we finally reform.
The point is, we truly thought there was reason enough to at least go slow. Well to make a long story short, apparently there was no official discussion of any Cathy's concerns or her affidavit at the meeting, and the change-of-control occurred as most anticipated.
Cathy and I licked our wounds, admitted we had lost that battle, and just gladly returned to building RYP, which is what we really love anyway.
Well, life went on, but then about 3 months later, two FBI agents showed up at our door with a Federal subpoena which was requesting information relating to the Treasurer's Office. My little story has to end there.
I do want to say though that neither Cathy nor I had filed a complaint with the Feds. That is just one rumor I want to put to rest. It's also reckless speculation to assume that the reported investigation must have started because of the concerns Cathy voiced. We honestly don't know how the investigation of the Treasurer's Office started or with whom, no one does except the Feds, and that's the way it should be.
Sorry for the long e-mail, but I wanted to give you as much background as I thought I ethically could.
I know this message won't put your concerns to rest, a lot of things are being said and circulated and I'm sure even my parents must be wondering what Cathy and I have gotten ourselves into.
But while it's hard to see Cathy under fire, I realize now more than ever that we are doing the right thing. It's also hard to burn bridges with some people you used to consider friends. But again, we're really grateful to all of the people who are standing by us.
Thanks again,
Doug Ibendahl
Cathy was a contract employee for the Treasurer's Office last year, but was a no-show worker. She was let go, so now she's disgruntled.
Then, they crawled in bed with Gary MacDougal because Doug wanted to be the State Party Executive Director. Cathy sent all this around to reporters and State Central Committee members earlier this year in a bid to keep Judy from becoming State Party Chair. Then she took the stuff to the Feds, who obviously are obligated to look into it, but they not done anything more than subpoena records; no employees have been questioned, etc. Sounds like its going nowhere.
This year, Doug & Cathy were sniffing around Jack Ryan and talking him up, but he decided against hiring them, so now Cathy is out bad-mouthing Jack.
Just another example of opportunists "helping" our already broken State Party.
Explain to me, if you can, why Judy Barr would set herself up for this kind of abuse. She never wanted the State Chairmanship. She took it at the insistance of President Bush when no other Republican in the entire state would have it.
Why don't we turn the State Party over to Peter Fitzgerald? After all, he owns the State Prosecutor, Paddy Fitzgerald. Petey would never be investigated, I'll guarantee you that.
Which isn't actually a denial. Just as you still haven't denied the allegations. All you have is spin, attack, and misdirection. Just like Clinton.
Explain to me, if you can, why Judy Barr would set herself up for this kind of abuse. She never wanted the State Chairmanship. She took it at the insistance of President Bush when no other Republican in the entire state would have it.
Really? Every single Republican in the entire state would have refused? Did you ask us?
The fact is, the party establishment she represents stands for corrupt benefits for themselves, and nothing else.
Why don't we turn the State Party over to Peter Fitzgerald? After all, he owns the State Prosecutor, Paddy Fitzgerald. Petey would never be investigated, I'll guarantee you that.
"Paddy". Interesting what bubbles to the surface when your pals get investigated for their crimes.
What part of Cathy was a contract employee for the Treasurer's Office last year, but was a no-show worker. She was let go, so now she's disgruntled isn't true? What part of Doug & Cathy were sniffing around Jack Ryan and talking him up, but he decided against hiring them, so now Cathy is out bad-mouthing Jack is incorrect?
And as for Paddy investigating Petey, why don't you ask Tim Holloway (a man who worked for Petey) how he managed to get off with three years probation after being convicted of crimes that are identical to Scott Fawell's? Could it be because Tim worked for Peter, and Scott worked for George?
What part is relivant?
Attacking the messenger is all you have. Because she's guilty.
The messenger is the guilty one here, not Judy Barr.
Another subpoena, a copy of which was obtained by the Tribune, was also delivered in February to Cathy Lynne Santos, a former contractual employee of the treasurer's office. It sought "correspondence, reports, computer records" and other materials related to campaign activities of regular and contractual employees of the treasurer's office dating to 1997.Santos was asked for records, she supplied a story she wrote. She presented nothing to back up her claims, and no one else has come forward to corroborate her allegations.SNIP
In an interview Wednesday, Santos said she responded to her subpoena by supplying a two-page "testimonial affidavit" to federal authorities she prepared in November. It detailed instances when Santos alleged she and others in the treasurer's office were pressured by supervisors on state time to do work for Topinka's successful 2002 re-election effort.
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