Former Dana Rohrabacher Aide Sent to Jail

Oh my… Today is just not a good day for Rep. Crazy Dana Rohrabacher (R-Insanity). Not only does it looks like his best lawyer buddy’s frivolous lawsuit against Debbie Cook’s placement on the ballot is going nowhere, but another friend of his is on his way to jail. The Register is reporting that Jeffrey Nielsen, a former Rohrabacher aide, has now been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to charges of child molestation.

In case you don’t remember Nielsen, here’s a quick primer:

Nielsen, a lawyer and former aide to Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach), was arrested by Westminster police in May 2003 after authorities found thousands of images of pornography on both his work and personal computers. He was also accused of molesting a second boy, a 13-year-old Virginia resident, while he worked in Rohrabacher’s Washington D.C. office in 1994.

Authorities said he brought the Virginia boy to California from Virginia in July of that year to visit his family in Fountain Valley, and repeatedly abused the boy for the two-week period. He also molested the boy for more than a year and a half prior the California visit.

The Orange County youth, a 14-year-old, was abused in March 2003 after meeting Nielsen on a gay Internet site.

Wow. I guess Crazy Dana really knows how to pick great friends. I bet he must be feeling great about helping Nielsen get into USC Law School and bolstering his career in Republican politics. And oh my, what must the voters in the 46th Congressional District be thinking now? Are they happy with Crazy Dana and the OC GOP Machine that supports “family values” like this?

69 Comments

  1. Are they happy with Crazy Dana and the OC GOP Machine that supports “family values” like this?

    Supporting Jeff Neilsen’s behavior? Could you possibly write something more idiotic? Do you honestly believe Dana Rohrabacher or “The OC GOP Machine” had any clue about Jeff Nielsen’s behavior? Think before you write.

    At least some justice is being served by Jeff going to prison. But your giddiness about it simply because of his party affiliation is childish — as are these nicknames like “Crazy Dana.” Perhaps you would get a kick out of those of us on the other side of the fence writing adolescent blog posts about “Stupid Loretta” or “Short Jose”?

    What do YOU think?

  2. Hi Andrew:

    The Register story, on which you rely, did not say Jeff Nielsen pleaded guilty to child porn charges. Not that the Reg reporter would have known. Not having attended the hearing–or any Nielsen hearing ever, she relied on a press release for her report. It was the paper you can’t name that attended five years’ worth of Nielsen hearings, made the case a matter of public concern, found the key second rape victim: in Virginia–no less, battled Rohrabacher on the case, endured a host of legal threats and was there exclusively at the very end. Sorry you didn’t notice.

    Regards,

    RSM

  3. I’m pretty sure that Dana knew something strange was going on with Jeff.
    And more convinced that Scott Baugh was aware. And Tom Fuentes.
    Etc., etc.
    And, it’s important to give credit where credit is due.
    Mr. Moxley and the OCWeekly did a STELLAR job of covering this story when the rest of the Orange County media ignored it.

  4. I’m pretty sure that Dana knew something strange was going on with Jeff.
    And more convinced that Scott Baugh was aware. And Tom Fuentes.

    “Pretty sure”? “More convinced”? Maybe another call to the Psychic Hotline could provide you with more evidence.

  5. Matt —
    Dana has questionable judgement when it comes to staffing hires; his wife is his campaign manager after all and I can’t remember if it was a felony or misdomeaner she pleaded out to…And the GOP bills itself as the party of family values.

    And Matt, apply some of your criticism of “childish nicknames” to your friend Jon over at Flash Report; he does the same thing. But as we say here, IOKIYAR (it’s OK if you’re a Republican).

    Scott — your work on this story is yet another great example of investigative journalism at work. I’m sorry you were not credited by this blog for your efforts.

  6. Matt/Jubal-

    Thanks for dropping by. And no, I’m not “giddy” about this. As an openly gay person myself, do you think I’m happy that so many folks here look at perverts like Jeff Nielsen and associate him & disgusting acts with people like me? Do you think I’m happy that those boys who were molested had to suffer when Nielsen was pursuing them? Gimme a break. Oh yes, and I find it interesting how you come in to trash my post… Yet you still can not refute what I say. Face it, Matt, your Republican Party can not say with a straight face that it’s all about “family values” when so many GOP politicians repress themselves so much that they in turn hurt others when they have their secret affairs with prostitutes or go out and molest kids or name your other favorite GOP sex scandal.

    Scott-

    Fixed. And hey, follow my other linky… It’s to YOUR story on OC Weekly. And there, I named it. I really called out OC Weekly. Don’t worry, Scott, I still love you… And Gustavo. I might still be grieving over the loss of my beloved Commie Girl, but I could never forsake my other favorite OC Weekly writers still writing there. 😉

  7. Matt criticizing people for name-calling is rich, considering he labeled 241 Toll Road opponents “the mice-uber-alles crowd” and Scott Graves called them “lunatic hippie finge” (misspelling in the original). Both of these measured critiques appeared in the august institution called OC Blog.

  8. Do you think I’m happy that those boys who were molested had to suffer when Nielsen was pursuing them?

    I said no such thing, Andrew. Pay attention.

    Yet you still can not refute what I say. Face it, Matt, your Republican Party can not say with a straight face that it’s all about “family values” when so many GOP politicians repress themselves so much that they in turn hurt others when they have their secret affairs with prostitutes or go out and molest kids or name your other favorite GOP sex scandal.

    Refute what you say? I think the burden is on you to prove your ridiculous assertion that Jeff Nielsen’s predations have anything to do with his party affiliation.

  9. Gustavo:

    And “Baby Hewie” is high-minded discourse.

    Sure, I sling invective at groups in order to ridicule their arguments and mindsets. I think that’s different and better than attached childish names to individuals purely for ridicule.

  10. Dana has questionable judgement when it comes to staffing hires; his wife is his campaign manager after all and I can’t remember if it was a felony or misdomeaner she pleaded out to…And the GOP bills itself as the party of family values.

    And therefore your opinion means he knew about Jeff Nielsen’s predations? That sounds like wishful thinking on your part.

  11. Ummm Andrew…please remind me what party the latest Goveror involved in the recent sex scandal was. It has nothing to do with party anyway….it is just deviant bad behavior period. Men are convicted of these crimes daily regardless on what party they belong to. It’s plain and simply sad that these things happen. Why you guys get your jollies off this crap makes you no better then the offenders themselves!

  12. And Matt, apply some of your criticism of “childish nicknames” to your friend Jon over at Flash Report; he does the same thing. But as we say here, IOKIYAR (it’s OK if you’re a Republican).

    OK, Dan. It will be interesting to see if you can apply to yourself this “you can’t criticize one person’s mistake/error/wrong unless you also criticize every other person who has done the same thing” standard.

  13. Matt/Jubal:

    Actually, you did. Check the top comment here:

    your giddiness about it simply because of his party affiliation is childish

    So how exactly do you define “giddiness”? Oh yes, and I never said Jeff Nielsen did what he did because he’s a Republican. I just said the obvious- that there’s this reoccurring problem in the GOP of GOP politicians not matching their “family values” rhetoric with their actions. That’s all.

  14. And oh my, what must the voters in the 46th Congressional District be thinking now? Are they happy with Crazy Dana and the OC GOP Machine that supports “family values” like this?

    Read again what you wrote, Andrew. You’re saying Rohrabacher and O GOP activists support pedophilia.

  15. I used “giddiness” to describe the tone of your post, Andrew. It’s representative of that element of liberal activists who break into a grin whenever a Republican gets caught in a sex scandal. You have your counterparts in my party, as well.

    Neither leering cohort seems to get what Flowerszz pointed out — this behavior isn’t a function of party affiliation. I guess you’re too young too remember Dem. Rep. Gerry Studds, who succeeded in doing on multiple occasions what Mark Foley only dreamed about.

  16. Flowerzzz-

    OK, do I need to go through this again? I’m not happy about that those kids were abused by Nielsen. Try reading the whole post before commenting. And yes, Eliot Spitzer did wrong… And he resigned over it. But when will David Vitter resign after what he did with the DC Madam & his New Orleans call girl? And how about that Larry Craig? As Democrats, we don’t let hypocrisy stand… Too bad Republican leadership is much more lax.

    Why you guys get your jollies off this crap makes you no better then the offenders themselves!

    HUH?! Again, we’re not “getting the jollies”? And now we’re as bad as these sex offenders for exposing their hypocrisy?

  17. “liberal activists who break into a grin whenever a Republican gets caught in a sex scandal”

    Jubal,

    This isn’t a “sex scandal”, Jeff Neilsen is a predatory child rapist. Three years in prison is too easy for someone of his ilk. They should hang him from his balls as far as I am concerned.

  18. Matt:

    I get your point but I think your slap at Andrew is misplaced. Today was a sad but necessary experience in the life of your former–and often angrily pompous–OC GOP colleague. I’m convinced that far too many folks around him–his parents, close friends and fellow conservative activists–allowed Jeff to evade reality by either remaining silent (despite the overwhelming evidence of his abuse of minor boys for sex) or by employing passive aggressive defense techniques of the indefensible. Nobody–and certainly not Andrew, I’m sure–believes that pedophiles come solely from one major political party. But, quite frankly, this is a day to celebrate. Knowing this case better than any non-cop alive, I can tell you that somewhere in OC a boy who is now eight or nine or ten won’t have have his life wrecked because the OCDA’s office and–allow me to brag, a lone alternative newspaper–helped put Nielsen in prison for the next couple of years.

    Regards,

    RSM

  19. Kudos to you Scott for your work on this. Had you not remained vigilent this scumbag would have gotten away with this scott free. I think he got off pretty easy. Hopefully someone in prison uses some of his techniques on him.

    And kudos to the Weekly in general. People like to criticize and insult the Weekly, but it does a far better job of investigative reporting than either the Times or the Register.

    If it were not for the Weekly, Neilsen, Greg Haidl and Mike Carona would never have been brought to justice. Thanks for all you guys do.

  20. Jubal,

    Why haven’t you said anything about Neilsen going to prison over on Red County? Jeffy was a mover and shaker in the OC GOP and a good number of your readers probably know him personally. Don’t you think his friends would like an update on Jeffy?

    Maybe you’ll write a post if anything should happen to poor Jeffy should the folks in general population get their hands on him. You can write a post on jailhouse justice for child rapists should that happen.

  21. “And therefore your opinion means he knew about Jeff Nielsen’s predations? That sounds like wishful thinking on your part.”

    I didn’t say that; you pulled that from your own Private Psychic Hotline; I am saying he doesn’t have the best of track records with staffers. And besides, its really high class to show up at your victory party — apparently tanked — wearing an oversized Uncle Sam Hat. Very dignified.

    “OK, Dan. It will be interesting to see if you can apply to yourself this “you can’t criticize one person’s mistake/error/wrong unless you also criticize every other person who has done the same thing” standard.”

    You really don’t want to go there; do you?

  22. Andrew perhaps you do not see the “tone” of your post. I suggest you go back and read it again unless your goal was to sound like an ass. I mean look at your opening sentence….come on Andrew what do YOU think? It is hard to tell in posts but to me it sounded like you were (and it was not just me) quite pleased that yet another republican was caught molesting boys. This issue is not about a republican hypocracy – it is about an evil person regardless of his political affiliation. I personally am embarrased that he was a republican and like Sean I believe he deserves more jail time.

    Sean perhaps Jubal has not addressed it on OC blog is because it is not a partisan issue….it is a criminal issue and he does not deserve his name in ink (or on blog) anywhere as far as I am concerned.

  23. Sean-

    Agreed. OC Weekly may have caused me some heartache sometimes, but there are still amazing writers like Moxley & Arellano that give me reason to keep reading. And really, why should we expect anything like that on OC Blog? Sure, Matt keeps things interesting… I actually do like his blogging & would read more often if it weren’t for the new confusing layout of the web site. But still, all the shilling for the GOP Machine can wear on me.

    FLowerszzz-

    Remember that I WROTE the post, so I know what I meant. And again, I’m not “giddy” or “happy” about the things that Nielsen did. If I’m relieved about anything, it’s the fact that this disgusting child predator is being sent somewhere where he can’t hurt any more kids. I’m sorry that you interpret my words in a way that I never meant, but what can I do?

  24. Sean says it best,

    Jubal can say all he wants here, but the stories noticable absence on his site says it all.

  25. Andrew perhaps you do not see the “tone” of your post. I suggest you go back and read it again unless your goal was to sound like an ass. I mean look at your opening sentence….come on Andrew what do YOU think? It is hard to tell in posts but to me it sounded like you were (and it was not just me) quite pleased that yet another republican was caught molesting boys.

    Flowers, you and I often disagree but frequently when you point out something like “tone” I agree with you. In this case I think you’re seeing something that isn’t there. I think Andrew’s tone was pretty measured.

    I want to point out one other thing. As I think everyone knows, many of the men writing and commenting on this blog are gay. I believe they’re in a unique position to express their outrage over crimes against what I assume were young gays. I don’t think I’m qualified to tell them how they should feel about this and I’m going to suggest that neither you nor Jubal are either.

  26. Ok Andrew why does what Nielsen did have any impact upon Dana at all? Why would the voters on the 46th put that behavior on him? Its just a silly line that you drew to prove that all republicans are child molestors. Tell me I misinterpreted that?

    And as for your family values comment in reference to republicans come on now….because a rep molested boys, we all must molest little boys? That is the line, dashed or not, you were trying to draw when the real story has nothing to do with party lines. It is that a child preditor is off the street….and we all should be united in that, not gloating in the fact that a terrible republican, that worked for another republican you do not like, is going to jail.

  27. Gila I am in no way trying to tell Andrew how to feel about this crime, and never would. Although I suspect we both share at least the outrage of it.

    I am pissed about the inference that was made that it was because he was a republican when he knows better, this is not a politial party issue but a criminal one.

  28. I never pretend to be above the fray like you, Matt, so keep whining that my characterization of Hugh Hewitt as a big, crying duck is juvenile–tough. Besides, your rationale that your name-calling is somehow “better” is laughably lame. Either you call people names, or you don’t.

  29. Flowerszzz,

    You said, “Sean perhaps Jubal has not addressed it on OC blog is because it is not a partisan issue”.

    I agree with you this isn’t about Jeffy being a Republican it’s about him being vile piece of trash.

    That being said, the Red County ran a story about Janet Nguyen being a staffer for Ken Maddox prior to becoming a member of the Board of Supes. Perhaps they could run a story about Jeffy being a staffer for Dana Rohrabacher before becoming a convicted child rapist.

    Like it or not Jeffy is closely tied to big wigs in the local GOP. I wonder if they’ll be regulars on visiting day at the big house?

  30. I find it amusing that Matt will bitch slap us on name calling when he allows horrible references to Congresswoman Sanchez on his site. The males that comment say such degrading and horrifying things and yet, Matt says nothing… I think I will call Matt a name – Hypocrite. What is that saying? “Do as I say, not as I do”. Sorry Matt, your high and mighty attitude doesn’t hold any water this time.

  31. Flowerszzz & Jubal–Andrew is not saying that there is a correlation between Republican registration and child molesting or child porn. He’s suggesting that there is a gap between the GOP family values(read here anti-homosexual and anti-child molestation)rhetoric and some of the practices of a few GOP officeholders and activists.

    Andrew–I think you stretch the above point however(and I don’t think I’m trying to tell you how to feel. Au contraire). It’s news that Neilson was convicted and appropriate to note that he was an aide to Rohrbacher and once a campaign aide to Scott Baugh(sorry flowerszzz, the Register reported that, Andrew just linked it). But unless you can demonstrate his knowledge of this abhorent behavior, its a reach to suggest that Dana and the GOP machine supports this behavior. Dan, I’ve known a couple of people on Dana’s staff and they were good people. The Rhonda story was a long time ago and involved some political hijinks that I don’t think call into question Rohrbachers staff selection. If Moxley had come up with some information that Dana actually knew of neilson’s perverted activities then I think its open game. if he should have known then its a closer call and depends on the facts. I know I sure as heck don’t know the sexual activities of most of the people I work with. maybe Dana didn’t either.

    Jubal— You’re over reacting to this. I think the point that Andrew was trying to make was that the GOP is constantly puffing about family values and blocking various bills supported by the gay community and yet a number of high profile legislators or staffers seemingly sin without shame. It’s similar to the GOP Congress talking the talk about cutting government waste and spending and then wasting and spending like drunken sailors. The hypocrisy kind of jumps out at you. Dems are not immune-Umberg’s problems were aggravated by the fact that he campaigned on a family values theme. Floweszrzz notes Spitzers fall but that fall was so far and the landing so hard because he had been a holier then thou prosecutor. Spitzer does not represent Democratic governors any more then toe tapping Larry Craig represents GOP Senators, but when there is hypocrisy involved, expect the incoming. Neilson’s activities were reportedly pretty blatant so that if Dana didn’t know then perhaps he reasonably should have known what was going on.

  32. Bladerunner – where would we all be without you? But do note, there are times when provoking a reaction is fun

  33. Bladerunner – what is the statue of limitations on things that happened a long time ago. There are different standards for Democrats and Republicans. I’m not being sarcastic here, just want to know why the elephant never forgots a Dem faux pas, but disavows all knowledge of more recent history.

  34. This isn’t a “sex scandal”, Jeff Neilsen is a predatory child rapist.

    Sean, I don’t disagree with you. I wasn’t using the term “sex scandal” specifically about the Nielsen case.

  35. Bladerunner-

    Thanks for stopping by. It’s always an honor to have you here. But hey, I don’t think I really stretched anything in the post. As Scott Moxley said upthread, it seems like there were plenty of warning signs early on regarding Nielsen that were just ignored. Sorry, but I just don’t get how everyone in Surfin’-Dana-land could not see that there was a problem with this guy. But hey, maybe it’s just me.

    Anyways, thanks for coming by to critique all of us… Is there anyone safe when Bladerunner stops by? 😉

  36. Scott:

    I disagree my slap at Andrew is “misplaced.” He claims that Dana and OC GOPers support “family values” like Nielsen’s behavior. Andrew wrote that, not me. Other than BR and Flowerszzz, no other commenter here is taking issue with that assertion.

    As for Jeff, he’s getting at least some of what he deserves. I knew Jeff in a socialize-at-political-events way. He seemed perfectly normal. Maybe his family and close friends had some inkling that something aberrant was going on. I don’t know. But to try and hang this around Dana and the OC GOP’s neck — as Andrew is trying to do — is absurd.

  37. Why haven’t you said anything about Neilsen going to prison over on Red County?

    Are we going to get into that game, Sean? Do you write about every Democratic politician’s foible? Every incompetence and shenanigan in Santa Ana government?

    Whenver there’s a news story about the Nielsen case, I’ve included it in the Daily News Roundup. And I don;’t post about most items in the News Roundup. I rarely — if ever — post about crime stories.

    Jeffy was a mover and shaker in the OC GOP and a good number of your readers probably know him personally.

    “Mover and shaker”? You have got to be kidding me. Jeff was nothing of the kind.

  38. I am saying he doesn’t have the best of track records with staffers.

    Based on what, Dan? Do you know how many staffers Dana has employed since 1988? Do you know anything about them?

  39. “But still, all the shilling for the GOP Machine can wear on me.”

    Andrew, I can see you haven’t completely recovered from your intellectual infatuation with Art Pedroza.

  40. “I don’t think I’m qualified to tell them how they should feel about this and I’m going to suggest that neither you nor Jubal are either.”

    With all due respect, I’m not telling anyone how to feel about Jeff Nielsen’s predations. I’m taking issue with Andrew’s attempt to hang them around Dana Rohrabacher and the OC GOP.

  41. “I never pretend to be above the fray like you, Matt, so keep whining that my characterization of Hugh Hewitt as a big, crying duck is juvenile–tough.”

    You’re so authentic.

    I don’t dive into every fight or pick a side in every post I write, but I don’t “pretend” to be above the fray. Never have. And your characterization of Hugh as a big, crying duck is juvenile.

    “Besides, your rationale that your name-calling is somehow “better” is laughably lame.”

    I’ll reiterate: I lampoon groups and philosophies I disagree with, and don’t criticize others for doing the same. But I don’t express my disagreement with individual politicians by just calling them names. If I did, then I’d imitate Andrew’s “Crazy Dana” and your “Baby Hewie” name-calling by writing about “Dingy Loretta” or ‘Bald Lou.”

  42. “I find it amusing that Matt will bitch slap us on name calling when he allows horrible references to Congresswoman Sanchez on his site.”

    If you can point to one of these examples, I will deal with it. I do my level best to police the OC Blog comments section.

    Funny how that usually earns me scoldings here and on OJ for “censoring” comments. Now I’m criticized for not censoring them enough.

  43. Matt/Jubal-

    Is that the best you got? Again, it seems like you can’t refute the facts, so you have to play these rhetorical games. So now Dan doesn’t know anything about Dana’s staffers & I’m Art Pedroza’s biggest fan? Gimme a break. This is why the GOP has such a huge problem: Far too many in your party lecture all of us on “moral values” while doing such horrid things that none of us would ever do.

  44. Matt,

    Jeff is responsible for his crimes. But from my POV, Rohrabacher shouldn’t have tried to lie to me about the closeness of his Nielsen ties. He did so without knowing how much I knew. Why didn’t he just say, “Yeah, I hired the guy, Brought him with me to DC as my aide for two years”? He even could have added, “Sure, I knew Jeff was gay, but not a gay pedophile.” All of that would have had the ring of plausibility. But acknowledging publicly that he’d hired a gay boy as his aide and moved him back to DC would have taken him out of his public persona. (Dana went on an unnecessary anti-gay rant after Brian Bennett, the former Bob Dornan chief of staff, came out of the closet. If my memory still works, I recall you telling me (when I first wrote about Jeff’s crimes several years ago) that you weren’t featuring it on your website because nothing had been proven in a court of law. Well? The ink has been dry on those guilty pleas for quite a while now.

    Regards,

    RSM

  45. “He’s suggesting that there is a gap between the GOP family values(read here anti-homosexual and anti-child molestation)rhetoric and some of the practices of a few GOP officeholders and activists.”

    You are being your usual charitable self, BR — but I think overly-charitable in this case.

    Andrew claimed Dana and the OC GOP support these kind of “family values” — by which he meant Nielsen’s behavior. Further, he says he can’t see how “everyone in Surfin-Dana-land” didn’t see there was a problem with Jeff. What magical powers to see into the private lives of others does Andrew think “everyone in Surfin-Dana-land” possess? Does Andrew know about the sexual activities of all his family, friends and acquaintances?

  46. Scott:

    As you said, Jeff is responsible for his crimes — not Dana. And I can’t answer for conversations you had with Dana. You have your version of them, and Dana probably has his own.

    For myself, I don’t recall saying that to you about Nielsen. Like I said in an earlier post, I rarely, if ever, post about crime stories. I hardly ever include them in the Daily News Roundup — but I did so with your Nielsen stories because of the political aspect.

    Would you like to start up a silly game of “why aren’t you writing about this?”

  47. Again, it seems like you can’t refute the facts, so you have to play these rhetorical games.

    What facts am I supposed to be refuting, Andrew?

  48. Andrew-

    These “rhetorical games” that you claim Jubal is playing are nothing else but the application of logic to an existing argument.

    I wouldn’t expect you to know anything about that though…

  49. Matt/Jubal-

    Follow the link to The Register’s story. Follow the link to Scott Moxley’s OC Weekly stories. Oh yes, and check out Scott’s comments… After all, he was courteous enough to actually stop in the thread to share his knowledge with us. But instead of discussing the facts here, it seems like you’d rather belittle me, Sean, & Dan.

  50. Matt,

    I was under the impression that your website had ignored yesterday’s Nielsen event. If that’s mistaken, my apologies.

    There is obviously a political element to the Nielsen saga. He was buds with a congressman, two local party bosses, a slew of party activists and a chairman of the state party. His daddy is a former mayor of an OC city. Covering courts like I do, I can testify that’s a rare bird. Want more? Okay. Jeff used his Republican connections as a prop to awe these boys into molestation activities. Whatever your personal experiences with Jeff, it seems to me that that fact alone would make him of great interest/concern to your readers.

    Regards,

    RSM

  51. Matt only posts about crime stories when it suits him. Look at his extensive coverage of the pedophile-protecting John Urell–what did that have to do with Republican inside-baseball politics? The Nielsen case is much more relevant to his readers than the (in)actions of the Diocese of Orange, no?

  52. Andrew,

    I do not believe that Jubal is trying to belittle us, he is just trying to persuade folks that the Neilsen story and Republican politics are not intertwined.

    I agree with him in that it isn’t because Neilsen is a Republican he is a child rapist. Neilsen is a child rapist that happens to be a Republican. I also agree that Neilsen’s actions have nothing to do with Republican politics or policies.

    Where I disagree with him is in his assertion that this has nothing to do with the local Republican party. Neilsen has close ties to many in the local GOP. We’re not talking about ties to people who happen to be registered Republican’s, but major leaders in the local and state party.

    Dana, Baugh and others have all been tied to Neilsen. That doesn’t make them guilty, but it does make this story one that is political in nature. For Jubal to dismiss this as some court case is way off the mark.

  53. Scott:

    There are many things that are of interest to OC Blog readers, but they don’t come to OC blog to read about all of those things. they are also very interested in state and national politics, neither of which I blog about very often.

    I’m sure, during the 1st Supe District special election, lurid details of Tom Umberg’s marital problems would have been a great interest to OC Blog readers — and I didn’t blog about those either. Funny how I never heard any complaints from these precincts for “ignoring” that.

    And am I to understand that whenever you or any other OC Weekly writer doesn’t write about a story or issue or event of which they are aware, then they are “ignoring” it?

  54. Gustavo:

    I write about anything “when it suits me.” So do you. So does anyone in the blogosphere. My posts about Msgr. Urell are the exception that proves the rule.

  55. “he is just trying to persuade folks that the Neilsen story and Republican politics are not intertwined.

    Sean. respectfully, that is not my point.

    My point is exceedingly simple. Andrew claimed that Dana and the OC GOP “Machine” support Jeff Nielsen’s behavior.

    Do you think Andrew is right or wrong?

    It’s plain that Andrew’s wrong

    My other point is that Nielsen’s behavior has nothing to do with his party affiliation or activism.

  56. Matt/Jubal-

    Your question has already been answered repeatedly. And no, I’m not saying that the GOP is “pro-child molestation” or that Dana was physically there when Nielsen did his disgusting deeds. I’m just pointing out the hypocrisy of Dana & the OC GOP Machine lecturing all of us about “moral values” when they can’t even take care of the immorality hiding beneath the surface in their own party. Really, it’s not that difficult to understand.

  57. It doesn’t “suit me” to write most of my stories. If it were up to me, all I would write about is The Simpsons. But because I work for a paper that purports to tell Orange Countians the stories that should matter, I must often push aside my interests and write about something else I might not necessarily like to cover.

    OC Blog, on the other hand, is a vital place for county Republicans to get their news. For you to pretend that the Nielsen affair is of little interest to your readers–considering the connections Scott outlined–seems almost as strange as the Flash Report–another place where conservatives in California get their news–not talking about Carona. Speaking of which: Dan, has Jon broken his embargo yet?

  58. “I’m just pointing out the hypocrisy of Dana & the OC GOP Machine lecturing all of us about “moral values” when they can’t even take care of the immorality hiding beneath the surface in their own party.”

    You people are nuts.

    “I’m pretty sure that Dana knew something strange was going on with Jeff.
    And more convinced that Scott Baugh was aware. And Tom Fuentes.”

    Since I have yet to find a political staffer who isn’t somewhat strange a more aggressive method must be used so we are no longer the party of hypocrisy.

    Here is the solution.

    The Republican Party of OC has a Republican Staffer organization that gathers once a month. They should have a vetting process where every staffer turns over their personal email information, records to be examined.

    Anything found in any correspondence smacking of sexual perversion will be brought to light and they can be terminated.

  59. “You people are nuts.”

    We’re nuts? Aren’t you folks the ones who tell us that if we allow same sex couples to marry the next thing you know people will be marrying their goat?

    Your party has no problem preaching “moral values” and wanting them imposed on others. They just have a problem following those same values.

    Dana ranted about Brian O’Leary Bennett being gay, yet one of his own staffers was not only gay, but a child rapist. Why does he remain silent now?

  60. For you to pretend that the Nielsen affair is of little interest to your readers…

    Gustavo, that’s a classic straw man. Where have I said — or “pretended” — that?

  61. Your party has no problem preaching “moral values” and wanting them imposed on others. They just have a problem following those same values.

    All of us, Sean? Every single one of the tens of millions of Republicans? More accurately, it is a tiny handful that are used by a set of Democrat partisans to paint Republicans as being hypocrites.

  62. Bob-

    So now I’m “nuts” for pointing out GOP hypocrisy? Wow, what a way to prove my point.

    Matt/Jubal-

    Sometimes, I wonder why I even respond when you play these rhetorical games. Your question has been answered repeatedly in this thread. And clearly, it seems like all you’re interested in doing is twisting my words… Whatever.

    Sean-

    Good point. How are we “nuts” for pointing out their hypocrisy problem on “moral values”? We’re not the ones saying that allowing marriage equality would lead to humans marrying toasters… Or centaurs.

  63. Andrew:

    Once again: you have accused me of not refuting “the facts.”

    I think you’re all wet, but in case these facts I am supposedly not refuting do exist, then I respectfully request that you list them and I will address them. For all the effort you’ve put into dodging my request, you could have easily complied with it.

    Instead, you’d rather sidestep the matter and accuse me of “rhetorical games and “twisting your words.”

  64. “Dana ranted about Brian O’Leary Bennett being gay,”

    Where’s the rant? Your mixing up him and Dornan.

    How about my solution for rooting out child molesters? Do you have another suggestion for finding them in the ranks of OC Republican Staffers?

  65. Bob,

    Dana has had a long record of anti-gay rhetoric. Remember him on 60 Minutes pontificating about why gays shouldn’t be Boy Scout leaders? Maybe he meant gays like Jeffy who rape children. I agree that we shouldn’t allow child rapists to be Scout leaders. However the overwhelming majority of gays are not child rapists. In fact profiling shows us that most child rapists live their lives as “straight” men.

    Scott Moxley referred to the Dana/Bennett issue above. Maybe he can help clarify. Bob Dornan however did not go on a rant against Brian. He thinks of Brian as a son. Dornan said he would “pray” that God would save Brian from homosexuality. And you call us “nuts”.

    Dana had no problem speaking out against gay Scout leaders. Why does he have such a problem speaking out against child rapists that raped children while working for him?

  66. Matt/Jubal-

    No one dodged your request. In fact, it’s been answered repeatedly. Maybe instead of immediately preparing a new snide remark about me or Sean, try seeing what Scott Moxley has already been saying in this very thread. It clearly looks like you won’t follow the links I provided in the story.

    Sean-

    Again, great point. None of us on TheLiberalOC.com are child rapists, so what is it about us that is “immoral”? And why are these same “moral values” Republicans always looking the other way when another one of their own is caught in a sex scandal?

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