Republican bullies in Northampton Township
Posted: Sunday, August 18, 2013
Source: “Republican bullies in Northampton Township.” Bucks County Courier Times. Sunday 18 Aug. 2013. ‹http://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/my_town/hamptons/republican-bullies-in-northampton-township/article_51b24b84-9a4f-55c8-875d-2dd4a11c0204.html›
Northampton Township resident and Republican Committeeman Joe Scott has been criticized by the Courier Times and in letters to the editor for inappropriate behavior at the July 24 Board of supervisors meeting, most notably his terribly insensitive comments regarding people with mental disabilities. One writer was shocked at seeing an ex-Republican supervisor escort Scott back to his seat after his tirade. And I observed and heard insider Republicans smile and shake Scott’s hand and offer him congratulations for showing fire and compassion. Talk about support and encouragement to continue to behave this way!
One writer correctly called this a form of bullying. But Scott is not the only Republican bully in town. There are at least three other insider Republicans who take the open microphone regularly at supervisor meetings, not because of public concerns but to attack and bully the three Democrats on the board. They have been doing this since Frank Rothermel and Jim Cunningham became supervisors Jan. 1, 2008, but especially since the Democrats became the majority on the board Jan. 1, 2012. The Republicans had been in power without interruption for over 200 years in Northampton Township, and they haven’t liked being out of power for the last two years — not one bit.
Attacking and bullying supervisors and ordinary citizens is also favored by Republican Don George, Northampton Township resident and former Northampton Bucks County Municipal Authority board member. His Aug. 6 letter to the editor needs to be addressed. In it, George wrongly attacks and bullies Rothermel and his supporters. He calls Rothermel supporters “minions”; months ago, I heard George refer to Frank’s supporters as “… rats following the Pied Piper.” Rothermel, liaison to the authority, is relentlessly hammered by George for not reporting enough to the supervisors about the happenings at the authority.
Yet, if not for Rothermel’s insistence, there would be no videotaping of the authority meetings and therefore no chance to watch playbacks on the municipal access TV channel, and no chance to watch playbacks at our convenience on our personal computers as we can now.
Voters should keep in mind that should the Republicans regain power in January, they (Republicans) will end videotaping the authority meetings.
Rodger Bushnell
