Mass GOP Comes Apart at Seams over Cellucci

Executive Director John Brockelman Distorts on 'Hannity and Colmes'

 April 2001

The GOP in Massachusetts came apart at the seams on March 8 when the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Republican Party, John Brockelman, appeared on the Hannity and Colmes show on Fox News to savage those members of the party who are upset by what happened at the Fistgate scandal last year.

Brockelman told the national television audience that the rally which was held in Boston featuring Alan Keyes last summer was a "bunch of protestors crashing the State House." But Brockelman did not tell the audience that the lead "protestor" at the rally was Rep. Fran Marini, the Republican leader of the House.

He didn't tell the audience that the "protestors" were ushered to the legislature afterwards where Keyes was given a standing ovation.

It was only Gov. Cellucci who refused to see Keyes.

The parent who revealed the scandal, Brian Camenker, was obviously surprised by the strategy of the Cellucci staff. He told MassNews after the show, "They lied. Their strategy is to lie. It's like dealing with the Clintons."

Camenker says he confronted Brockelman after the show and asked him, "Why did you lie?" To this, Brockelman claimed he had not lied and said that it is his job to defend the Governor.

Camenker also appeared on the show but was surprised by the format. He was interviewed first. Then Brockelman appeared in his own segment without any chance for Camenker to rebut him. The unusual format was apparently done at the demand of the Governor's office.

Heard About It on News

The Governor didn't know anything about Fistgate until he heard it on the news, according to Brockelman.

"This is certainly a strange revelation," said Camenker after the show. "They say the Governor has to listen to the news to learn what is going on in his own administration. But that is obviously not true."

If the Governor finally heard about Fistgate because of the press, it was because Massachusetts News alerted the state to the scandal. It wasn't until it became a scandal that the state did anything.

"They still haven't corrected anything to this day," says Camenker. "Those two teachers who were fired were sacrificial lambs to make the whole matter go away. But one of them is now suing the state because she says that they knew everything she was doing all the time. For Brockelman to say that the Governor acted immediately is absurd."

Camenker repeated that he and Scott Whiteman attempted to tell the Governor's office many times about the scandalous things that were occurring even before the Fistgate conference. Finally, Whiteman taped Fistgate in order to have proof. Even then, they wouldn't listen. Thirty parents traveled to Pittsfield to a meeting of the Board of Education but were laughed out of the room.

It was only then that they went to the press with the tape and MassNews exposed Fistgate to the world.

Gov. Weld's Fault?

Brockelman denied that any state money was spent on the event, but that is not true, says Camenker. The state teachers who were there were paid to be there. There were school buses from various districts throughout the state that brought children. The teachers who attended from around the state received credit for being there. The group which sponsored the event, GLSEN, receives state money and its offices and employees were in charge of the event.

In addition, Brockelman claimed it was all Gov. Bill Weld's fault. He made that statement more than once. But Camenker points out that even though Bill Weld did begin the homosexual programs in the schools, Cellucci has increased the annual funding from $250,000 in taxpayer money to $1.5 million per year. So it's pretty difficult to blame it all on Weld.

Refused to See Keyes?

The Governor didn't refuse to meet with Alan Keyes, according to Brockelman.

Cellucci's press secretary, John Birtwell, told the Boston Herald the same thing the day before the TV show. He said that such a statement was "nonsense." He said that Cellucci was not in the building when Keyes called at this office.

But Camenker tells MassNews that a volunteer called the Governor's scheduler the day before the event and was told that he would be in the building at that time.

The actual confrontation at the door to the Governor's office is all on videotape according to Camenker who says:

"Barbara Burke, Cellucci's Director of External Relations came out of the office when the rally arrived at the Governor's door. 'Is he in the building?' she was asked. She replied, 'He is unavailable sir.' Jeannine Graf asked, "Where is the governor today?' She replied, 'We'll relay your views to the Governor.' When asked, 'Is he aware that Alan Keyes is right here in front of his door?' she walked away with no answer.

"Wouldn't you think if he was not in the building, they would say he was not in the building?  The truth is he was in the building."

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