On the same night that Allentown City Council was flexing its muscle, Northampton County Council was considering a series of amendments to Executive John Brown's spending for next year. It is the second most important meeting of the year. But Seth Vaughn, who works out of his home, never bothered to show up. I reported his absence because it is part of the story. I have no training as a reporter, but know I should tell try to tell readers Who, What, Why, When, Where and How.
Doing this made Seth Vaughn angry.
When I confronted him about his absence last night in the parking lot outside the courthouse, it made him very angry.
"You were absent from one of the most important meetings of the year," I charged.
"So what?"
"Who cares?"
"I'm still going to win the election next year, pal."
"Nobody reads your blog, pal."
Apparently, he must have read it.
He then called me a coward and a disbarred lawyer. Yelling, he ran off to his car and drove off. Along the way, he called Ken Kraft a coward, too.
Ordinarily, I'd say that a person who gets tetchy might be working too hard. But that conclusion is inapplicable to Vaughn.
Maybe he needs more sleep.
Seriously Bernie, I realize the rabid republicans just pull their lever and they hate the democrats but some of these guys are just wankers.
ReplyDeletehis arrogant ways will bite him square in the butt
ReplyDeleteJust remember the Rs made this gem the vice-president of council. That says a lot about them. Can't fix stupid
ReplyDeleteA true blue cocky, arrogant, disgusting individual and council politico. This is the attitude of most council members; who cares, I'll be re-elected. The sad thing, this is true. Until voter apathy turns to rage, all of these incumbents will be retained. This is why a grass roots campaign for change must be established. For a long time the people of NC have had no real choice, [except these rubber stamp bottom feeders], in electing people who represent real change! Step up and fire these incompetents!
ReplyDeleteAnd people wonder why in the heck this county turned red during the past election. This guy is the poster child of the tea bag circus now in power locally. What a disgrace he is. Voters who give a damn about this county need to remember this clown next election cycle and throw him out on his ear.
ReplyDeleteI was there when this took place and it is very disturbing at how this is being reported. I am not a fan of Vaughn and have always respected your interest in County politics but I am concerned about your version of reality. YOU were the one that called Kraft a coward and a snake and when Vaughn and Kraft both laughed at you you became enraged. I watched you get into Vaughn's personal space shuttering with rage screaming that "I can say whatever I want you fu*&ing asshole." Vaughn said "are you kidding me? You're a joke, Bernie, look at you seriously. Who do you think you are to call people names, scream at them and then come at me like you want to fight? What good do you do? You're a pathetic blogger and a disbarred lawyer....great ethics buddy." YOU then said something about making sure he doesn't get re-elected and he said "ok, buddy, we'll see". It scares me that you are taking so much time to report this when you are the one that was way out of line. It scares me that you find this type of reporting to be sharing as factual "news" and that makes me question the validity of most of your reporting. However, witnessing that type of behavior in person now validates your reputation.
ReplyDeleteActually, Seth, there are two witnesses to what happened and they both corroborate me. I was joking with Kraft in the elevator, something I often do. I did confront you over your absence from an important meeting, but at no time did I mention an election or call you a coward. As far as what good I do is concerned, I provide a public service by attempting in my own small way of keeping the public informed and holding those in power accountable. That's what I did to you, Seth, and like many of those in power, you don't like it. Too bad.
ReplyDeleteNo Mr. O'Hare my name is not Seth. I am just a disappointed reader that was hoping your reporting was truthful. The public service you speak of seems to be more of a service to your ego than the public. If you were a reporter that was interested in keeping the public informed and holding those in power accountable why do you only report on certain powers that be? I never hear anything about the school board meetings? The article we are commenting on goes into much greater detail about your personal scuffle with an elected official and really holds no value. If you want to report the attendance of public officials or lack thereof maybe that would be a worthwhile read with cited references that could be validated as a service to the voters. What you have done above is what would be considered gossip.
ReplyDeleteSeth, I do not do school boards, I follow local government and report on them. You do not get to decide what governments I cover. The encounter with you was no "personal scuffle," though you tried to make it so, not just with me, but several others. You were childish and immature, and expressed a disdain for the people you represent. And as you know, I do an annual attendance report on county council. Last year, you were the No-Show horse of the year. We'll see where you land this year.
ReplyDeleteThere were exactly 4 people involved in this situation. Me, Seth, Bernie & 1 other. Who is this anon saying you were there?
ReplyDeleteBernie
ReplyDeleteIt is a satarday morning and with this particular article, I haven't even redd it and know there is something missing! This is the proffessor posse and itZ bearded fat lady RElocated to infect and inject the carnival circus design upon the triboro! This particular team political parasitism on the whole of the valley is one of the many modern social ills faceing the nation. They Zero in on poverty and feed and breed the types of politicalo's for life that suck the lifes blood from a rotting human carcus?
This particular subsect or subset as it is called by officials are none other than officials that are not there to protect and serve but to design circumstances that take them to the point of feeding off of carcus and all points in between claming CURE?
REpublican redd
humanist by design
This council is made up of bullies and buffoons! Seth and Ken are two prime examples! Good job Bernie of getting in their faces when needed!
ReplyDeleteGood job Bernie revealing this story. Such arrogance.
ReplyDeleteBlogger Bernie O'Hare said...
ReplyDeleteActually, Seth, there are two witnesses to what happened and they both corroborate me. I was joking with Kraft in the elevator, something I often do. I did confront you over your absence from an important meeting, but at no time did I mention an election or call you a coward. As far as what good I do is concerned, I provide a public service by attempting in my own small way of keeping the public informed and holding those in power accountable. That's what I did to you, Seth, and like many of those in power, you don't like it. Too bad.
December 2, 2016 at 1:28 PM
You do provide a huge service. That's why the following is suggested.
Regarding Open Mike Saturday. What if you took donations to pay for the required software to allow readers the opportunity to once again comment on All Things Lehigh Valley? Your Saturday blog was one of the week's highlights. Gladly pay a fee to keep.
Vote for me. My name is. I won't attend important meetings that raise your tax dollars but I look good in a suit. Vote for me.
ReplyDelete1:28, I'll scrounge and find something that is hopefully free. Already have, but need to figure it out. Then it will be back.
ReplyDeleteBernie,
ReplyDeletePlease try getting this running and if not the go fund me tool could help your dedicated readers help you for your truely informative and only truely investigative pieces! Doing pieces for the local gags sort of degrades your style and sorta could be compared to Allentown's hall wall of mayors now filled with child-like woodworking as art, if the king decree's it as art?
Bernie, What are you trying to accomplish by getting in his face. Just maybe at his age he had a domestic issue and had to stay home ,we don't know.But, he's earned what ever he gets. I'll give out free advice,don't corner or attempt to intimidate,or shame people like this young man.,you know he is not of sheepish demeanor because of his background . He's not a thief,he has not tried to skin cash out of a development project because of his seat ,or is he a former felonious type. Be happy he's who he is. Let's work on bridges instead.
ReplyDeleteActually, Peter, it is my job to get in the face of those with power. Afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted. You should have noticed this by now. You defend him bc he is a Marine. I confronted him over his absence from one of the most important meetings of the year at the one time when Council truly has power. You claim he's not a thief. What do you call a person who is elected to a position and receives payment for his services, but is not there to discharge his duties? Let me add that this was no personal attack. As the two witnesses to this encounter can tell you, I at no time called him a coward or said a word about elections. This was about good government. One of the two witnesses has already chimed in. Vaughn was bizarre.
ReplyDelete"I'll give out free advice,don't corner or attempt to intimidate,or shame people like this young man.,you know he is not of sheepish demeanor because of his background ."
ReplyDeleteLet me add that if this "young" man cannot control himself or conduct himself in a controlled manner, he should not be amongst people. Being a marine is not a free pass to be a belligerents asshole. I come from a WW II family of marine's and they had no such problem after island jumping in the south pacific. Little Seth should suck it up or get therapy.