October 31, 2008

The critical election is four days away, and certain Charlie Brown supporters have abandoned any pretense of telling voters the truth. Obfuscation and lies have always been critical components of the Brown campaign, and a fair amount of this has always been dumped onto my Blog site. It's been an interesting test, bearing daily witness to the abuse that can ride shotgun to freedom of speech. It's been good for me in a way, offering a view of the temptations of tyranny, and the rationalization that precedes it.

However, some of the lies have become so contrived that I realize my Blog site is being used to trick voters into thinking Charlie is an entirely different man. I'm going to set the record straight here, and then move on. Hopefully the most egregious lies will stop, now that I'm "outing " them, and then we can focus more on healthy debate.

A strong Brown supporter and frequent blogger called Skeptic, recently stated in my comments sections that Charlie Brown was a teacher.

Charlie Brown has NEVER BEEN a teacher. He ostensibly got a teaching certificate, but for some reason never got a teaching job.

In the last couple of days, Skeptic also created yet another fake career to pad Charlie's resume. In two different comments sections on my site, he stated that Charlie was a cop.

Charlie Brown has NEVER BEEN a cop. He worked for eight years as a records clerk at the Rosevillle PD. The closest Charlie ever came to being a cop was to work in the same building as the actual police officers. But the language on his website is cleverly designed to trick readers into thinking he's more than he is. It's so blatant, it actually starts with,"Charlie continues to serve. He’s earned his California Teaching credential, spent the past 8 years on the Professional Staff of the Roseville Police Department..."

Well, that certainly sounds more impressive than the truth, and of course voters will assume that Charlie had a managerial or executive position, or voters may even be tricked into assuming Charlie was a cop. The point is, it's a deliberate strategy of deception.

Here's how the truth looks: "After retiring from the Air Force, Charlie worked for eight years on the clerical staff of the Roseville Police Department." The obvious natural reaction? To dismiss him as a candidate. No Congressman I've ever known could have, or would have worked as a clerk for more than two months before getting promoted up and out of that job, never to look back. Eight years is cause for comment.

THE CREDIT UNION ARTICLE PROVED A BREEDING GROUND FOR LIES BORN IN THE BROWN CAMPAIGN. THEIR COMMENTS, AND MY SET-THE-RECORD-STRAIGHT RESPONSES, FOLLOW THE ARTICLE...

"Charlie Brown's $195 Million Credit Union Discrepancy"

10/14/08 11:26 AM | 890 views | 9 comments |

Posted by: winston_niles

As issues go, the economy is the 800 lb. gorilla in this Congressional race, and many Californians will cast their vote for the most qualified and trustworthy financial expert. Dire warnings from the Federal Reserve Chairman about the next Great Depression have a way of focusing the mind.

The election is 21 days out, and absentee voting is underway. Charlie Brown's formidable Congressional opponent Tom McClintock is respected nationwide as a brilliant economics expert and strong fiscal conservative.

Charlie has several debates with McClintock and at least a few radio interviews under his belt. The whole point of these appearances is to get to know the candidates better. Few voters would send a rank amateur in financial matters to Congress right now. The stakes have never been higher (at least not in the last seven decades). The millions of Americans who opposed the $770 billion bailout are especially wary.

And yet, 4th District Congressional candidate Charlie Brown barely mentions his sole financial credential - approximately four years of experience as Chairman of the Supervisory Committee of Sierra Central Credit Union. According to the following quote on the Charlie Brown for Congress website, he was quite the crusader...

"He’s remained true to his values. In 1996, Charlie was elected Chair of the Supervisory Committee of a local Credit Union. Responsible for fiscal oversight of an institution rife with waste and abuse, Charlie didn't turn a blind eye. He stood up for the fiscal responsibility that his members deserved."

Throughout the campaign, up until the 10/9 Bruce Maiman interview on KFBK, Charlie's website stated that it was a $5 million credit union. That night, a caller identified as Greg called in to the radio talk show to ask Charlie to explain a $195 million discrepancy. The call went like this:

(Caller) Greg: "Charlie, I want to ask you a little bit about your financial experience... We're going through a financial crisis right now, right? And I see on your website ... It says on your website it was a $5 million credit union. Well, you know what? I did some research, and it wasn't $5 million, it was $200 million... Where's your math? It was a $200 million credit union at that time, and since you left their Supervisory Committee, it has grown, it's tripled to a $600 million credit union. So that's why I'm curious as to the veracity, and the accuracy of your website."

Charlie: "Well, I guess... you know, while I was there, the assets I was aware of were $5 million, it has grown tremendously since then..."

(Interrupted by caller)

(Caller) Greg: "No, no, no that's not true. When you left it, when you left that Supervisory Committee, it was $200 million, that's a hundred and ninety-five..."

(Interrupted by host Bruce Maiman)

Bruce: "Who says... who says - I know, Greg? I know that the website says $5 million, who says it's $200 million??"

(Caller) Greg: "Pardon me?"

Bruce: "Who says it's $200 million?"

(Caller) Greg: "Those are the facts, Bruce."

Bruce: "Where are those facts?"

(Caller) Greg: "The facts are available. Charlie, what credit union was it?"

Charlie: "Uh...Sierra Central?"

(Caller) Greg: "Sierra Central Credit Union, it's based in Yuba City, I've been a member of that credit union for a long time. I know what the facts are, and Charlie, I can't understand what's on your website."

Charlie: "Uh, they were not, they did not have $200 million in assets when I left it."

(Caller) Greg: "Yes they did. And it's $600 million now, which means they tripled in growth since you left. What's that about?"

Bruce: "When did you leave Charlie?"

Charlie: "Uh, let's see - woulda left it right around 2000?"

Bruce: "So, between 2000 and 2006-2007, and there's been tremendous growth, has it not? Could that have anything to do with it Greg?"

(Caller) Greg: "Well, Bruce, here's my point. With the financial crises we have going on right now, it's a federal crime to make false assertions about a financial institution that might cause it harm."

Bruce: "Greg, from what I understand, the credit union says there's never been any fraud or abuse."

(Caller) Greg: "And you know what? The current management of the credit union has been absolutely stellar. Charlie left under some duress, after the current management came in, and it's grown tremendously, and yet Charlie says it was a $5 million credit union when in fact it was a $200 million credit union."

Charlie: "I think you must have it confused with the Golden One or something and need to..."

(Caller) Greg: "No, no, no, don't be giving me that stuff Charlie! I've been a member of that credit union for a long time."

Bruce: "Greg, where can we get that information, other than Charlie Brown's website?"

(Caller) Greg: "Go to www.sccu..." (Interrupted by Bruce) .... Call their CEO!!!"

Bruce: "O.K., you know what, let's do this. Greg, let me put you on hold for a minute, and can you give that information to Kendall, and then I can check on that later?

.... If we're going to talk veracity here, let's have some facts backed up that we can check."

The name of the credit union has never been on the "Charlie Brown for Congress" website, which seems strange. The description of his reign as Chairman of the Supervisory Committee lacks any specifics. It seems logical that if Charlie was the crusader who cleaned up a financial institution rife with waste and abuse, he would chronicle his successful reform measures.

Instead of compelling evidence, the reader is left with vague, unverifiable claims... "he didn't turn a blind eye" and "he stood up for the fiscal responsibility that his members deserved."

Perhaps Charlie is hoping that no one will check the facts. And he might have gotten by with it, if not for caller Greg.

A little research into Sierra Central Credit Union's history makes two things clear. Charlie Brown can't keep his numbers straight, and Sierra Central Credit Union is much better off without him.

Sierra Central Credit Union had approximately $29 million in assets when it was formed in 1981. By 1999, SCCU had approximately $242 million in assets.

These numbers raise serious doubts about Charlie Brown's competence.

Charlie Brown was Chairman of the Supervisory Committee of a credit union for several years, and he can't remember that this financial institution had over $200 million in assets? Indeed, he swears up and down it was only $5 million.

During Charlie's tenure as Chairman of the Supervisory Committee at SCCU, things went badly. Membership dropped, growth stagnated, and several key staff members left the credit union, creating a nine-month long leadership void.

It's becoming clear why caller Greg kept emphasizing the fact that SCCU grew rapidly after Charlie left. It looks as though there's a connection.

In January of 2000, SCCU's Board of Directors made a hiring decision that led to a finance management Dream Team: John Cassidy, Jim Almon, and Ron Sweeney. Their first move was to "identify problems" and begin building a new leadership team. It appears that it was during this process that Charlie left the credit union's Supervisory Committee.

These changes led to "what some still call a miraculous recovery," with an explosive growth in assets that has continued to present day.

After the Bruce Maiman show, the "$5 million" reference disappeared from the Charlie Brown for Congress website, but everything else about the credit union remained.

It might be time for 4th District voters to begin taking a long, hard look at Charlie Brown and demanding the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. He is asking us to place the future of our economy in his hands. That's a lot to ask, for a man who can't remember the difference between $5 million and $200 million.

******************************************************************************

---The initial comments post is from Miuwtant, (my Placeropolis Blog) and he actually tries to rationalize Charlie's mental lapse, by suggesting that Charlie "meant income instead of assets."

Excerpt of research article: "A credit union at which growth had stagnated and the CEO's desk had sat empty for nine months has turned itself around in a big way, thanks to management hired away from local banks.

After going the final three quarters of 1999 without a chief executive, the board of Sierra Central Credit Union filled the spot in January of 2000 with former Great Western/Washington Mutual Bank manager John Cassidy, who in turn recruited colleague Jim Almon for president/COO.

The new team, including EVP/CFO Ron Sweeney, shed rigid policies and procedures by empowering employees and implementing direct sales, a dedicated sales force and overhauling the product line offered through its 17 branches in this northern California community."

MIUWTANT said: " What's more important, Winston? Remembering a specific number eight years after the fact or making a difference in the turn-around of a financial institution as a member of its Supervisory Committee?"

***THE TRUTH: According to reports of the "miraculous recovery", Charlie had nothing to do with the turn-around. The credit union's explosive growth began right after Charlie left, "under some duress." As for Charlie's $195 million memory lapse, it's cause for concern. Any man who can't remember the difference between a $5 million and a $200 million financial institution, is unarmed intellectually for Congress.

And the stakes have never been higher, thanks to the economic meltdown, and the $700 billion bailout that Charlie Brown supported.

As Broken on the Granite Bay P-T: "Charlie Brown's 195 Million Credit Union Discrepancy"

Posted by: Aaron Park | 10/15/2008 12:51 PM

This piece of revisionist history provides much greater detail/deception than the comment on my own Blog. Coincidence? You make the call.

COMMENTS

BOB said: "...The crux of the entire thing is that Brown was asked about a data point that he couldn't remember off the top of his head by a guy playing 'Gotcha!"

***THE TRUTH: Caller Greg states clearly in his fourth sentence that Charlie's website calls "it a $5 million credit union." Then Greg immediately, clearly TELLS Charlie that Sierra Central was "a $200 million credit union." How is that playing Gotcha? He couldn't be more clear, or up front.

BOB said: "The guy (Greg somebody from the McClintock Campaign)..."

***THE TRUTH: I have no idea why Bob claims that Greg is "somebody from the McClintock Campaign." (My investigation of the credit union and Caller Greg revealed no relationship between Greg and the McClintock Campaign.) However, I have noticed that the Brown crowd relies heavily on this distraction technique when someone exposes one of their deceptions... They instantly make a dramatic announcement that this person "works for the McClintock Campaign." This willingness of "the core " Charlie Brown supporters to lie at the drop of a hat, is mystifying.

BOB said: "...found a minor numerical discrepancy on a website and tried to make it into a capital case."

***THE TRUTH: Miuwtant, if you think $195 million is a "minor numerical discrepancy," I'm going to put your name right under Charlie's on my "List of People I Don't Ever Want in Charge of My Money."

BOB said: "What he did, though, was highlight Charlie Brown's ties to his community and his leadership as the Chair of a Supervisory Committee of a credit union that was in trouble."

***THE TRUTH: Another declarative statement with no resemblance to fact (except for the part about the credit union being in trouble - that was true.)

(Get ready to fall out of your chair.)

BOB said: "Charlie Brown was the Chair of the Sierra Central Credit Union Supervisory Committee from 1996 to 2000. The Supervisory Committee is the same as a board of directors."

***THE TRUTH: I'm at a bit of a disadvantage here because I've never met you, Bob, but I can't think of anyone over the age of twelve who doesn't know, essentially, the vast difference between a Board of Directors and a Supervisory Committee.

To clarify, the SCCU Supervisory Committee is not within a hundred miles of being in the same league as the SCCU Board of Directors.

Board of Directors: Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Operating Officer (COO)/President, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Executive Vice-president, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer/Secretary.

BOB said: "Quote: From an article "Trio Of Former Bankers Help Turn Around Ailing Sierra Central, Credit Union Journal, 1/22/2001

A credit union at which growth had stagnated and the CEO's desk had sat empty for nine months has turned itself around in a big way, thanks to management hired away from local banks.

After going the final three quarters of 1999 without a chief executive, the board of Sierra Central Credit Union filled the spot in January of 2000 with former Great Western/Washington Mutual Bank manager John Cassidy, who in turn recruited colleague Jim Almon for president/COO."

BOB said: "Did you read that last paragraph? The board of the credit union--led by Brown--filled the vacant CEO spot with the guy who turned the business around. That is what boards are supposed to do."

***THE TRUTH: Charlie Brown was NEVER ON the Board of Directors of SCCU, much less "leading" it. Charlie is so underqualified for such a position that the very idea is preposterous.

BOB said (in the biggest lie of all): "As (Calller) Greg notes in Aaron's post, the credit union has done very well since. Unfortunately Greg didn't give credit where due...to the people responsible for it, Charlie Brown and the Supervisory Committee. Instead he tries unsuccessfully to blame him."

***THE TRUTH: CHARLIE WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE "MIRACULOUS RECOVERY" - NONE OF IT - NOT HIRING JOHN CASSIDY, OR the overhaul in policies, procedures and personnel that began the turnaround. The tremendous growth surge kicked into gear with Charlie's departure. Bob, Greg doesn't "try unsuccessfully to blame him" (Charlie). If (Caller ) Greg does blame Charlie for the serious problems that existed at SCCU, it's not because the idea came to him in a dream. As he states repeatedly in the call, Greg knows SCCU well, and has for many years.

BOB said: How does this matter beyond the obvious issue of dirty politics?

***THE TRUTH: I cannot imagine how you perceive this as dirty politics. Based upon reports from key insiders at SCCU, one conclusion is to be drawn. Charlie has deliberately and thoroughly misled the press, public, and most important of all, 4th District voters, about his experience at Sierra Central Credit Union.

Bob, I just want to know the truth, and I believe that all 4th District voters are entitled to know the truth about Charlie. I can tell that you really believe in him, and I respect that. I'm happy for you. I know how great it feels to have a candidate you believe in with all your heart. But Bob, you shouldn't have to protect him from perfectly reasonable questions. Maybe you can tell me this. Since SCCU is the ONLY finance experience in Charlie's record, why is he so secretive about it? Why was the name of the credit union never on Charlie's website? When interviewers press Charlie on his lack of education/experience in the critical areas of economics/finance, observe his reaction. He mentions Sierra Central Credit Union, talking faster than normal, and spends less than ten seconds on it.

Charlie's website claims he was "responsible for fiscal oversight of an institution rife with waste and abuse, Charlie didn’t turn a blind eye. He stood up for the fiscal responsibility that his members deserved." These vague lines are supposed to make him sound heroic, but we know Charlie too well now. This "description" just sounds like a dodge. WHAT, EXACTLY did Charlie do? Who else was on the Supervisory Committee that can confirm Charlie's account?

Why is this important? America is going down for the third time, in the worst economic crisis we've faced since the Great Depression. The $700 billion bailout (that Charlie supported) was signed off on a month ago, and we're in far worse shape now. Charlie is asking 4th District voters to send him to Congress, when what we need most of all, is an economics expert with sound judgment, ethics, and clear vision.

In these uncertain times, trust and integrity have skyrocketed in value.

It looks like the clock has run out on Charlie Brown's evasion campaign.

The Sierra Central Credit Union story has bred more suspicion and doubt by the day. Evasion of the SCCU story, dodging surveys on illegal immigration and gun control, and the classic: Charlie has thrown a new set of old friends under the bus, with his latest flip-flop. Charlie, the anti-war activist and surge critic, just announced a "commitment to win" in Iraq.

Think you know Charlie Brown? So did Stephen Pearcy and Cindy Sheehan.