22 Comments on “Blogger Banned from Highlands Republican Club”

1. 
   Rick Ambrosia said at 6:33 pm on January 23rd, 2011:

   Wow…how enlightening.

   You’re always welcome on the side of light and right if you so choose. We don’t have anything to hide, which apparently, isn’t the case with your friends over there…well, you know the old saying…with friends like these…

2. 
   WTF said at 10:35 pm on January 23rd, 2011:

   Seriously? At no time did they say you were not accurate. So, they don’t like the truth? BS.

   Fair and accurate should never be banned.

3. 
   J. L Michaels said at 10:36 pm on January 23rd, 2011:

   umm Art aren’t you the Republican Party municipal chairman?

4. 
   anonymous said at 10:49 pm on January 23rd, 2011:

   If you had said something positive and affirming of Mrs. Little you would still be welcome? But because your comments were controversial, you are now banned?
   This is a secret club? –all discussions will go on behind closed doors, and information can only be released if the president approves? What’s going on here? How does this policy attract others curious about the Republican Party’s plans for Highlands? Doesn’t make sense, and only perpetuates the negative perception of the club. Too bad.

5. 
   ArtGallagher said at 11:22 pm on January 23rd, 2011:

   umm Art aren’t you the Republican Party municipal chairman?

   Ummm, no longer. Anna Little had her own municipal committee slate run in the primary, which beat the line and I lost my seat. Still, as MMM readers know, I strongly supported Little against Pallone.

   The new committee, two of whom are officers in the reconstituted club that no longer wants my participation, supported an Independent for Mayor. Fortunately Frank Nolan, with the help of the “old committee,” especially Rick O’Neil, was able to overcome their subterfuge and win the mayoralty.

   Had I been chairman during the last general election, I like to think that Little would have won in Highlands. It was pretty apparent a week out that she was in trouble, based on some well placed Pallone lawn signs. I like to think I could have turned those voters, and those they influence, around.

   Sey la vie.

   It’s quite the dysfunctional mess, really.

6. 
   James Hogan said at 11:56 pm on January 23rd, 2011:

   I’m mostly curious about the “have you removed” part of the letter. Does the Highlands Republican Club intend to call the local union, that Little was helping out, to administer some UnionThugery upon you if you should show up at the next meeting? 🙂

   I’m also curious, about how many people are members of the Highlands Republican Club …if it’s not against the by-laws to divulge such information?

7. 
   Interested said at 12:59 am on January 24th, 2011:

   I think they have about 20 or 25 paid members in the Highlands Republican Club. Whatever happened to freedom of speech? Ms. Little is a public figure according to her proclaimed candidacy for the District 6 election in 2012. Whatever she says in a public forum is quotable. I don’t understand this censoring.

8. 
   Alfalfa said at 8:12 am on January 24th, 2011:

   I was banned from a club once. I still haven’t forgiven Spanky for throwing me out of the He-Man Woman Haters Club. What a backstabbing SOB he turned out to be!

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBIC8JTQMMQ

9. 
   Wayne Pomanowski said at 8:21 am on January 24th, 2011:

   Even though I have not lived in the Bay Shore for many years I still consider myself a clam digger. There is nothing unusual about us clammies fighting. There isn’t a month that goes by that I don’t have a few scraps myself. As a matter of fact many times the scrap was helpful in resolving issues. But I always mend my bridges. But look at the facts. We have Anna Liitle. When was there ever a Highlands mayor who almost became a Congresswoman? We have Art Gallagher who was recognized on NJN for his successful blog. We have Frank Nolan, Rick O’Neil, and Sean Connolly’s brother now on council. Highlands has a lot to be proud of. I can remember many years ago traveling through Highlands with my old pal Pete Nistock in a much different Highlands. In those days Pete initiated fundamental justice with his right hand.
   Highlands is growing in many very positive ways. This was not your first fight ,it will not be your last. It is time for the players to kiss and make up.

10. 
    Shelly Kennedy said at 8:45 am on January 24th, 2011:

    Art – as a journalist, if you’re not banned at least once a year from somewhere, you’re not speaking loudly enough. (humor) Kidding aside, was this a public meeting? Were other membes of the press there?, or is it usual for press to be there? Just wondering, because I don’t know.

    Keep talking! As a suggestion for a topic this week, it’s national Sanctity of Life month and today is the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Just FYI in case you want to controversial instead of mundane (wink!)

11. 
    Freespeaker1976 said at 9:44 am on January 24th, 2011:

    Definately a wrong thing to do, banning someone over free speach. And these are Republicans?

12. 
    Joseph Irace said at 9:51 am on January 24th, 2011:

    Art-

    You are welcome to attend the Oceanport Republican Club Meeting and report on it anytime!!!!

13. 
    TR said at 9:53 am on January 24th, 2011:

    You’ve been a BAAAD Boy.

    Too Funny

14. 
    ArtGallagher said at 11:02 am on January 24th, 2011:

    Digging themselves a deeper whole

    The Highlands Republican Club leadership emailed the following communication to its membership:

    From: Highlands GOP, [email protected]

    Dear Republican Club members,

    The Executive board of the HRC wishes to inform you of a disturbing event that occurred after the last Republican club meeting of 1/17/11. At that meeting, Anna Little made comments about certain issues she felt may have been of interest to the organization. Unfortunately, without her knowledge or permission, Art Gallagher took the opportunity to post her comments from this meeting in an article on his online blog for the purpose of attacking Anna.

    Such an action is unacceptable. At no time during the meeting did Mr. Gallagher represent that he was there as a member of the media. It was assumed that he was present solely as a member of the Republican party. Therefore, there was no expectation by anyone in attendance that anything they said would be quoted or posted without their knowledge or permission on the Internet. In fact, actions of this kind are in direct violation of the Bi laws that govern the operation of the Highlands Republican Club. We feel that no person that attends an HRC meeting should be afraid to express their thoughts or opinions or censor themselves for fear that their comments will be posted online for all the world to see. This is why such actions are expressly forbidden under the rules that govern the club.

    In response to this, the Executive board of the HRC, sent Mr. Gallagher a private communication informing him that his actions were inappropriate, and that he was no longer welcome at Republican Club meetings. It was the intention of the Executive board of the HRC to spare Mr. Gallagher any embarrassment by having to deal with this situation openly at a future HRC meeting.

    However, within hours of receiving this communication, Mr. Gallagher immediately posted the entire contents of the letter that was sent to him by the President of the HRC, Lou Croce, on his online blog. Therefore, Mr. Gallagher by his own actions has made this issue very public. We cannot speculate on his motives, but do not see how this can help to promote a positive image or the Highlands Republican Club, or the entire Highlands Republican organization in general. It has become all too obvious that Mr. Gallagher has certain personal and political agendas that are not compatible with those of the HRC.

    The actions that the Executive Board of the HRC was forced to take to preserve and protect the integrity of the HRC are unfortunate, but also necessary under the circumstances. If you have any further questions regarding this issue, feel free to contact any member of the HRC Executive board.

15. 
    Rick Ambrosia said at 11:48 am on January 24th, 2011:

    I mean, I knew that most republicans were a rancorous lot, but these people are just a bunch of horses asses.

    Do you really associate with them? Please tell me no.

16. 
    Russ said at 2:20 pm on January 24th, 2011:

    You gotta be kidding me.

    Anyone with a computer and a Facebook account is effectively “part of the media” today. Hell, anyone with a 21st century phone is effectively part of the media today.

    If you don’t want what’s said at an open meeting made public, either don’t say it or close the meeting.

    Ridiculous.

17. 
    Interested said at 2:54 pm on January 24th, 2011:

    It appears that the HRC wants to have an exclusive organization that has a secret handshake and agendas not to be discussed in public. Why all the secrecy, why the hidden agenda? I can’t imagine that other republican clubs are run this way. Art you are too talented and too smart to waste your talents on such small minded people. You should concentrate on the news of other towns, the county and state. Leave Highlands to the business of eating its young. (But remeber it is also nice to have comic relief from the Highlands antics now and then.)

18. 
    ArtGallagher said at 5:03 pm on January 24th, 2011:

    Rick Ambrosia said at 11:48 am on January 24th, 2011:
    I mean, I knew that most republicans were a rancorous lot, but these people are just a bunch of horses asses.

    Do you really associate with them? Please tell me no.

    No. I only attended the meeting because Mayor Nolan asked me too.

    I got two good stories and lots of traffic out of going though!

19. 
    neptunematters said at 6:36 pm on January 24th, 2011:

    Shameful action on behalf of the Highlands Republican Club

20. 
    Kelly said at 7:45 pm on January 24th, 2011:

    Art, were you ever given said by laws? Are they handed to people as they enter the meeting? Did you have to sign a confidentiality agreement upon entering this meeting? Give some blood, maybe? I’m very curious how you quoting a Republican congressional “candidate” damages the Republican party in any way? By the way, who are these people? I don’t recall any of these “players” helping during Anna’s campaign. One last thing, Art, you are most welcome to join me for a Hardyston Republican meeting. You can quote me and everything. Wait.. do ya one better, I think I’ll add you to my agenda making you an honorary member for having the balls to say what needs to be said regardless of who is listening. Since when does the Republican party EVER censor open meeting discussions? We don’t because we know enough NOT to speak in public if we don’t want the public to hear it. We don’t send emails or letters if we don’t want anyone else to see them. We DON’T get involved in politics if we DON’T have the guts to handle opposition.

21. 
    Elyse Jankowski said at 11:11 am on January 26th, 2011:

    “We DON’T get involved in politics if we DON’T have the guts to handle opposition.”

    Amen, Kelly!

22. MoreMonmouthMusings » Blog Archive » MMM Year In Review - January said at 11:10 pm on December 26th, 2011:

    […] Club, former Mayor Anna Little declared the New Jersey Supreme Court is unconstitutional.   The the club banned MMM blogger Art Gallagher for reporting what Little […]