Jump to content
Washington DC Message Boards

My Last Comment


Recommended Posts

When I first wrote a post on Jonathan Rees for DCist last November, I never expected things would get this ugly. They have, and as such, I am forced to remove myself from this entire sordid affair. Before I do so, I think it's fair that I address some of the lies and misconceptions that have been spread by Rees and his supporters.

 

1) The Austermuhle/Brooks Conspiracy: I have met Sam Brooks once. We have corresponded now and then, but rarely on anything of substance. I have not worked for or expressed any support for his campaign. I profiled him on DCist months ago because he is the same age as many of our readers, but beyond that, I know little about his character and campaign to make a judgement on his candidacy. Beyond that, I don't live in Ward 3, so honestly, I don't much care who represents those who do.

 

2) The "Race Riot": Rees and his supporters have spent a good amount of time Googling me and making more of my past than really exists. Was I arrested in 2000 at a riot? Yes. Did I incite that riot? No. Was my arrest related to any violent or disorderly activities? No. Was I kicked out of Penn State for it? No. Did the student newspaper condemn my actions? No. Was it, as Rees has claimed, related to race in any way, shape, or form? Never. This may be the lowest someone has ever gone to attack me. I have no shame in admitting that I was arrested six years ago, pled guilty to a misdemeanor, and completed my community service succesfully. But for someone to insinuate or claim that my arrest was linked to a "race riot" tests the temper and the imagination. In emails back and forth with Rees yesterday, I asked that he either remove the claim or apologize for posting it. He did neither of the two, and instead hid behind the claim that my arrest record included mention of race. I doubt he had access to it because my record was expunged a year after my arrest. Beyond this, do I think one run in with the law six years ago somehow disqualifies my opinion or somehow proves that I would engage in alleged online attacks against Rees? Nope.

 

3) Other Parts of my Past: Rees also mentioned that I was a member of the Communist Party. First off, that's not true. As a young and impressionable freshman, I briefly joined the Young Socialists, for whom I did nothing and consequently left months after. I was never a member of the Communist Party, nor do I ascribe to the communist ideology.

 

4) My Opinion on Jonathan Rees: To be honest, when I first got involved with this, I was amused. Then I got annoyed when Rees and his aliases (all of whom we were able to track and link to Rees using the IP addresses the left on DCist) for posting insulting and provocative comments. Rees himself spent more time insulting me and my fellow writers than he did trying to defend himself against the claims that he was running a dirty online campaign against anyone who questioned him. Now I am just surprised. This is a small-time race for a Ward 3 seat, and I have never seen more mudslinging come from a single man than I have seen come from Rees. As much as he claims that he has been the victim of many attacks, I have yet to see any that were not a direct response to his sordid online activities. Mr. Rees, if I could propose anything, it is that you do what a political candidate should do -- focus on getting your message out the traditional way, instead of leading vicious attacks against people who dare question your means.

 

I regret having gotten involved with this at all. I'll make this the last I say on the matter, even though I imagine Mr. Rees or one of his supporters will respond with more claims about my past or my character. If this happens, I may be forced to respond. If anyone has any doubts or concerns about me, email me directly and we'll deal with them. I am just sick of dealing with allegations such as those that I started a race riot during college.

 

Martin Austermuhle

Editor-in-Chief, DCist.com

 

PS: Mr. Rees and those who support him: You are still all officially banned from commenting at DCist. Anything that slightly resembles Rees propaganda or advocacy will be promptly deleted.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You're a true gentleman Martin. Had I been subject to what he's inflicted on you, I doubt that I could maintain such a reasoned, even-handed demeanor. I've watched his little Bearing False Witness campaign against you with something approaching actual nausea, but also with genuine sympathy for you. No one should have to endure that, particularly when it appears to be completely unprovoked and utterly specious. And yet you've acquitted yourself with remarkable restraint and aplomb.

 

When a new Alias attempts to revive the transparent canards and ridiculous characterizations (and let's face it, it's inevitable) please remember that no one but the Aliases - here, on DCist and elsewhere - has ever given them the slightest bit of credence.

 

 

PS: I should like to point out "for the record" (as a certain poster/s likes to say), that I have never met Martin, spoken to him or know him at all, nor do I have any affiliation with him or any organization or person that he's affiliated (so far as I know.) I sent him one email once, which didn't require a response and didn't receive one. And no, Rees, I am not him, nor am I in any way connected to any political candidate.

 

 

When I first wrote a post on Jonathan Rees for DCist last November, I never expected things would get this ugly. They have, and as such, I am forced to remove myself from this entire sordid affair. Before I do so, I think it's fair that I address some of the lies and misconceptions that have been spread by Rees and his supporters.

 

1) The Austermuhle/Brooks Conspiracy: I have met Sam Brooks once. We have corresponded now and then, but rarely on anything of substance. I have not worked for or expressed any support for his campaign. I profiled him on DCist months ago because he is the same age as many of our readers, but beyond that, I know little about his character and campaign to make a judgement on his candidacy. Beyond that, I don't live in Ward 3, so honestly, I don't much care who represents those who do.

 

2) The "Race Riot": Rees and his supporters have spent a good amount of time Googling me and making more of my past than really exists. Was I arrested in 2000 at a riot? Yes. Did I incite that riot? No. Was my arrest related to any violent or disorderly activities? No. Was I kicked out of Penn State for it? No. Did the student newspaper condemn my actions? No. Was it, as Rees has claimed, related to race in any way, shape, or form? Never. This may be the lowest someone has ever gone to attack me. I have no shame in admitting that I was arrested six years ago, pled guilty to a misdemeanor, and completed my community service succesfully. But for someone to insinuate or claim that my arrest was linked to a "race riot" tests the temper and the imagination. In emails back and forth with Rees yesterday, I asked that he either remove the claim or apologize for posting it. He did neither of the two, and instead hid behind the claim that my arrest record included mention of race. I doubt he had access to it because my record was expunged a year after my arrest. Beyond this, do I think one run in with the law six years ago somehow disqualifies my opinion or somehow proves that I would engage in alleged online attacks against Rees? Nope.

 

3) Other Parts of my Past: Rees also mentioned that I was a member of the Communist Party. First off, that's not true. As a young and impressionable freshman, I briefly joined the Young Socialists, for whom I did nothing and consequently left months after. I was never a member of the Communist Party, nor do I ascribe to the communist ideology.

 

4) My Opinion on Jonathan Rees: To be honest, when I first got involved with this, I was amused. Then I got annoyed when Rees and his aliases (all of whom we were able to track and link to Rees using the IP addresses the left on DCist) for posting insulting and provocative comments. Rees himself spent more time insulting me and my fellow writers than he did trying to defend himself against the claims that he was running a dirty online campaign against anyone who questioned him. Now I am just surprised. This is a small-time race for a Ward 3 seat, and I have never seen more mudslinging come from a single man than I have seen come from Rees. As much as he claims that he has been the victim of many attacks, I have yet to see any that were not a direct response to his sordid online activities. Mr. Rees, if I could propose anything, it is that you do what a political candidate should do -- focus on getting your message out the traditional way, instead of leading vicious attacks against people who dare question your means.

 

I regret having gotten involved with this at all. I'll make this the last I say on the matter, even though I imagine Mr. Rees or one of his supporters will respond with more claims about my past or my character. If this happens, I may be forced to respond. If anyone has any doubts or concerns about me, email me directly and we'll deal with them. I am just sick of dealing with allegations such as those that I started a race riot during college.

 

Martin Austermuhle

Editor-in-Chief, DCist.com

 

PS: Mr. Rees and those who support him: You are still all officially banned from commenting at DCist. Anything that slightly resembles Rees propaganda or advocacy will be promptly deleted.

Edited by truthseeker
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Martin,

 

I for one, cannot believe someone would stoop as low as Mr. Rees and his alter egos have in this whole affair. The baseless allegations made against you, and made public (via emails and forum posts) is infact a serious smear campaign -- Certainly not one that befits a serious political candidate to a respected member of the Fourth Estate.

 

I hope that your personal and professional standing has not been affected too badly by this. On the otherhand, one click through this forum (and corresponding links) will be enough to see what we are all dealing with.

 

I will miss your balanced reasoning here, but hope that you will follow things from a distance, and be able to comment on them at a later date.

 

I'll continue to follow DCist, as I think it is an excellent blog (and the one good thing to come of all of this from my standpoint, is the discovery of DCist!).

 

I can't wait to see what happens when Mark Plotkin, Tom Sherwood, The Washington Times, The Washington Post, The In-Towner and The City Paper challenge our esteemed Candidate.

 

B. Frank

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
×
×
  • Create New...