The March 28th meeting of the Democratic Party of Orange County was something to write home about if you like beating up women.

A liberal Democratic club was fighting to take a resolution opposing domestic violence to the California Democratic Convention. They were unprepared for a well orchestrated attack against victims of violent crimes that was out of order and in violation of the party bylaws.

The DPOC has a reputation for requiring women to kiss up to Chairman Frank Barbaro and the man behind the DPOC John Hanna, son of a Congressman who went to prison for corruption. Committee women have learned to go along with Barbaro and Hanna and do whatever the two men want. There are severe repercussions for standing up to these two men. The party leadership prided itself on having humiliated two widows off the committee. Both of these widows were well respected in the community. Both had volunteered long hours for the Democratic Party. Hanna has a history of backing male Republicans over female Democratic candidates in his district. The party accepts and allows Hanna to do this.

At Monday night’s meeting, in the front row sat a DPOC member who had assisted a batterer who had come close to killing three Democratic women. In violation of the party’s own bylaws, Barbaro turned over the floor to a Greg Diamond who came with a prepared speech in which he called for an unprecedented procedural motion aimed at blocking the domestic violence resolution from being heard at the convention this year. Although clubs are independent of the DPOC, the DPOC has long used its power to keep down progressive Democrats in Orange County and to block progressive resolutions.

In recent years, most liberal Democrats have given up on the DPOC. Since 2003, leaders in the DPOC have harassed. threatened and intimidated liberal Kucinich supporters within their ranks. The progressive club pushing the resolution against domestic violence came from the Kucinich wing of the Democratic Party. When you combine Kucinich supporters with supporters of women’s rights. you find a very angry Frank Barbaro. A couple of people said he looked as if he were about to foam at the mouth as he worked to stop the club from taking the resolution to the convention.

Instead of supporting the right of women to be free from violence, one officer of the DPOC stood at the front and attacked club members for being crime victims. Barbaro, himself, attacked a domestic violence victim who had once been a long-standing member of the committee for her former husband’s violent actions against her. She appeared to have difficulty breathing but this only seemed encourage him to continue his verbal attacks. Committee members knew she was a heart patient and perhaps Barbaro was hoping to push her over the edge. There were no claims that current members of the club had done anything to violate any party rules.

Hanna smiled and laughed as the domestic violence victim was subjected to Barbaro’s rant that was clearly personal in nature. Barbaro complained that women had previously accused him of mistreating female committee members. Hanna laughed and booed at the woman as she mentioned the violence the members of her club had survived. It was less a debate than a burning at the stake as Barbaro refused to recognize speakers who supported victims’ rights. One member recalled watching in horror at the insensitivity towards crime victims

Why does the DPOC support domestic violence? Perhaps it is because one of its prior candidates for Congress was the recipient of two domestic violence restraining orders. According to case information at the Lamoreaux Justice Center, the Democratic Congressional candidate even starved and dehydrated an elderly woman while looting her funds. The restraining orders did not stop the man. His wife has almost died more than once since the restraining order because of his actions. Their daughter is also lucky to be alive.

In speaking to the club spokesperson after the meeting, she said she had sent Barbaro an email asking that they put their personal differences aside in the interest of party unity. This display was apparently his response.

Orchestrated is an understatement. They came with prepared speeches for the sole purpose of blocking the club from submitting resolutions. Jerry Brown could not have survived the attack aimed at the club.

I was shocked at they way the way Reggie and Frank tried to blame a domestic violence victim for the unlawful conduct of her husband. Even more sickening was the way Jonathon swore at the woman after the meeting.
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This isn't the first time the Democratic Party of Orange County has made money disappear. I'd like to see their second set of books. Blaming their own error on victims was disgusting.

The Kucinich club never had a chance. Marti lied to people in my part of the room before the meeting started. She told us Kucinich backed LaRouche. Kucinich never backed LaRouche. Kucinich and LaRouche are polar opposites.

I apologize for the DPOC leadership. I hope the women who were trashed realize that most of us were appalled at way they were treated.

I know the people involved

Frank Barbaro is a corrupt Democratic conservative leader who bought his position. He has been reimbursed out of Democratic funds a hundred fold. He helps the Republicans more than the Democrats. He was an apologist for convicted sheriff Michael Corona. Barbaro went to the media to try to help Corona, a Republican, stay out of prison. Barbaro has shamed both Democratic and Republican women who are principled. His view is that women should agree with him or shut up and leave.

A while back the Democratic Party refused to endorse John Hanna for school board. Hanna blames the liberal club that was under attack. This is because each election cycle Republicans send out letters that include Hanna’s endorsement. Hanna opposed Florice Hoffman, Christina Avalos and other Democrats who have trued to unseat Ed Royce. Republican Royce got both Hanna’s endorsement and money. In 2007, Hanna arranged a pro-war political maneuver at the California Democratic Convention that caused delegates to come close to rioting. The convention ended in anger and chaos.

The man in the front row was Jonathon Adler. Women in the Laguna Woods Democratic Club have accused him of bullying them. I got a glimpse of him yelling and swearing at one of the female victims the other night.

Greg Diamond is an attorney who represents employers against suits for violations of Equal Protection. Monday night he took his support for sexual discrimination from the employment setting to a political setting.

Gerrie Shipske was never elected or chosen by the central committee. She was appointed by Frank Barbaro and a few of his friends. After her six figure salary, there is no money left to help candidates. The DPOC hasn’t helped candidates in years. Gerrie made a request for more funds on Monday night. It is going to be close as to whether the party makes enough for her high salary this year.

Reggie Mundekis is the DPOC Treasurer. She may have some money problems. Apparently some of the DPOC money has disappeared. Reggie seemed eager to pass the buck at the meeting. She has a history of supporting organizations that discriminate against the economically challenged, such as her “Keep Orange Clean” or clear of poor people group.

I do not understand why any liberal club would have anything to do with this gang of clowns, bigots and bullies. The battered women should take the hint and tell the DPOC where to go.

I quit the DPOC years back because of shenanigans just like this.

Barbaro intimidates everyone with true Democratic values.

It is all about the money. What does the DPOC do with its missing donations that are never recorded? Somebody should check.